“Oh, he's a devil, but he's mine you know? “
“And why do they call him Pope? Is he religious?”
“God no. But we met at catholic school, and when the guys found out they just started calling him it. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone call him anything but Pope in over ten years.”
“What’s his real name?”
She threw me a glance. “No real names here, Gypsy, here you get to be whoever you want to be. You’ll see on Friday. Everyone will turn out and you’ll get to meet them all.”
“All of them?” I swallowed hard. “You mean the entire club?”
“Yep. Relax, Gypsy. It’s just a party to welcome Fang home. They will leave the orgy until they are back at the clubhouse.” Her eyes scanned the bar. “Hopefully,” she added with a wink. “But we have a lot to get done before now and then.”
My mind was still reeling from her words. Orgy? She couldn't be serious. Just what kind of town was this? And more importantly, had my dad had the slightest idea what he signed me up for?
“Chill, Gypsy. They will behave themselves. And there will be plenty of single, hot men if you fancy letting that pretty hair of yours down.”
“I don’t date,” I stated.
“Who said anything about dating? I’m talking pure, primal, sweaty fun. The kind with a really big…”
I didn’t let her finish. “I don’t do men.”
“Lesbian? I mean that’s cool and stuff. We don’t care around here, but the guys will ask to watch just to warn you.” She giggled.
“No, not a lesbian. I’m just taking a break from men.”
Her dark eyebrows shot up, making her face look older as her face flashed with understanding. “Bad break up?”
Closing my eyes, I nodded. That was the understatement of the year. Not that I would ever tell her that. No one there would ever know my past if I could help it.
“Yeah, you could say that.”
* * *
“You really have donethis before haven’t you?”
The sun was setting, sending low rays of orange light through the stained-glass window. I put the final glass on the shelf before I turned to her.
“Yeah.” My back ached, in fact, my whole body was a pile of agony. I hadn’t worked so hard in a long time. Especially not with a hangover, but I had to admit that the place looked a million times better than it had that morning.
It was actually starting to look like a serviceable bar: fresh glasses on the shelves, everything was wiped down and scrubbed until it was gleaming. It was nothing at all like the bars and clubs I had grown up frequenting. But I had to admit it was charming.
“Did you doubt me?” Throwing a look at her, I grinned.
“You bet your ass I did. You do not look like someone who has ever stepped foot behind a bar, Gypsy.” She winked.
“My family… Well, we...” Chewing on my lip, I pulled two glasses from the high shelf and set them down on the bar. “Let’s just say I spent a lot of time in bars growing up and leave it there. Drink?”
For a second Sylvia looked thoughtful, and when she spoke there was a knowing look on her face. “It’s ok, Gypsy, people around here don’t ask too many questions. You’ll get the chance to start over here. Leave all the shit behind you now. We all have crappy parents.” She giggled.
Crappy parents? I should have corrected her. But I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It was just easier if she thought they were deadbeats who didn’t care for me.
“So, what shall we drink to?” she asked, her hand wrapping around the glass.
“I don’t know, how about a job well done?”
She shook her head. Raising her glass over the bar she waited until I tipped mine towards her. “How about - to new beginnings?”
