Like he didn’t just tilt the entire room sideways.
I stare at him for a second too long before I pull myself back together and walk out of the garage.
Lola falls into step beside me as we head down the driveway, the noise of the garage fading behind us.
“Well,” she says, glancing over, “that was… something.”
I let out a quiet breath. “That’s one way to put it.”
She studies me for a second, eyes sharp in that way that means she’s already three steps ahead of whatever I’m about to say. “You okay?”
I nod, even though it takes a second to land. “Yeah. I just—” I shake my head lightly. “I need a shower. And maybe five minutes where no one’s looking at me like I’m part of the problem.”
Her mouth curves. “Bold of you to assume you’re not.”
I bump her shoulder. “You’re not helping.”
“I’m not trying to,” she says easily. Then, softer, “You sure you’re good?”
I glance back toward the garage for half a second, like I can still feel them in there. “I will be.”
We make it halfway down the drive before she says, “So… are we really just sitting on our hands?”
I hesitate. “Bishop thinks we should.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
I huff out a quiet breath, dragging a hand through my hair. “I might have something,” I admit. “Maybe.”
Her brows lift. “I’m listening.”
“I ran into Ryder at The Pit. He mentioned something about a job, but I haven’t decided if it’s a smart play yet. We got involved with them, and look how it went.” I jerk my head to the side.
“You’re getting dicked down,that’show it’s going,” she says immediately, waggling her brows.
“Jesus, Lola,” I groan, shoving her shoulder.
“What? It’s written all over your face. One of those men is giving you the good stuff. And I, for one, am so happy for you. And I also hope it’s all of them. Don’t think I forgot about whatever the fuck that was I walked in on.”
I feel my cheeks heat, but I just shake my head.
“Plus, no offense, but you’re walking a little funny,” she muses.
I laugh and shake my head. “Oh my god. I was riding all day with Rafe—that’s why.”
“Mm-hmm.Riding.” She uses air quotes as she tries to smother her grin.
I roll my eyes. “Hismotorcycle.” I pause, letting my gaze slide to her when we reach her car. “And his dick.”
“Ha!” she crows. “I fucking knew it. You dirty little bird. Hell yeah!”
Her excitement is contagious, and it doesn’t take long for both of us to dissolve into laughter.
THIRTY
BELLAMY
Fear and excitementtwist together in my chest, tightening and releasing in uneven waves that make it hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. It feels like something alive, coiling around my ribs and squeezing every few breaths, like it’s trying to remind me that this is real.
