“I’ve got a loose hold on my temper right now.I’d never take it out on you, but I need you to come here.”
She came to me, slow and almost skittish.
I cupped her jaw with both hands.“You havenothingto be sorry about.You and that jackass are done, and everything that happened is on him.”
Her head tilted.“You were the one who hit him.”
“Because he insulted you – and my sister – but it was mainly because of you.”
She bit back her smile.“You’re being all sweet again.”
“There’s nothing mortifying about what happened.Not for you.He’s an imbecile.I’m just glad you kicked him to the curb.”
She nodded.
I grabbed her hand.“Let’s go get some food.”
Chapter 22
Good Choices
Ivy
“Itookthelibertyof ordering you a gimlet.Rumor has it, you prefer vodka to tequila,” Mickayla said when Ryan and I sat down.
“Why?”I asked.
She lowered her chin while giving me a pointed look.“It’s always stressful to run into an ex.I can see exactly why you tossed him aside.”She held up a finger toward Ryan – who didn’t look too happy from what I could see from the corner of my eye.“None of what happened is a reflection on you, but I imagine you’re stressed after that bullshit.”
I nodded.“Thanks.That’s thoughtful of you.”
“Was it Tundra who told you she prefers vodka to tequila?”Ryan asked.
Mickayla smiled at him, and I admired her anew.Her smile looked exactly like Ryan’s, and her eyes were downright mischievous.“I never reveal my source, and just to say, he wasn’t the only man there that night.”
Even though she wasn’t waiting tables, Jasmine brought out our drinks along with a basket of chips and salsa.Seemed Mickayla had ordered a sweet tea for Ryan and a water for herself.
As soon we were alone again, Ryan looked up from his menu to his sister.“You’re getting awful chummy with Tundra.”
Mickayla set her menu down.“Seriously?I’ve known him – no,we’veknown him since we were kids.I wouldn’t say I’m getting chummy with him, and besides, he’s involved with someone.”
“Could fool me,” Ryan muttered.
Mickayla focused on her menu.“Not every brother makes good choices about women.”
Ryan closed his menu.“How would you know he hasn’t made good choices?”
Mickayla’s expression fell.“He told me.”She shook her head.“We’re not doing this right now because there’s nothing going on with me and Tundra.”
This exchange made me recall one of my first impressions about Ryan: that he had an issue with women who dated older men.I wondered if this was the reason why, but I hoped it wasn’t.If Mickayla was attracted to one of the other bikers, it seemed like that wouldn’t be a problem regardless of age… but I had to bide my time before asking about this.
I picked up a tortilla chip.“Do the two of you get to go to Biketoberfest?Or will Lark leave you in charge of the restaurant?”
Mickayla sipped her water.“I won’t be going to Daytona.”She tipped her head at Ryan.“Now that he and Killian are patched members, I’m not sure if they’ll have to stick around On a Lark or not.”
Ryan gently bumped his shoulder into mine.“Why do you ask?”
I shrugged.“No reason, really.I was surprised that there’s women wrestling there.”
