Page 68 of Guarding Glenda

Chapter 25

Glenda

“Goddamn, he’s such a prick,” Allie said, blowing smoke from her cigarette as she stood by the table outside.

“He’s been on edge the last few weeks, that’s for sure,” Pinkie added.

Linny grabbed my hand as we sat. “It’ll be okay.”

Blowing a breath through puffed cheeks, I nodded. “I know better, but–”

“But nothing,” Allie said as she paced closer to me. She waved her cigarette-wielding hand through the air. “You weren’t trying to do shit to the club, you were destroying your ex’s shit. End of story. He’s such a fucking asshole. I can’t wait to get out of here.”

With all the shit that went down, Bama and Hammer refused to let Allie go home. She lived in Georgia, and not far from where Linny lived with her ex. Since he was a cop, they didn’t want to risk anything going down with her back home, far out of their reach. Marshall, Linny’s ex, had been working with the Bloody Scorpions. That’s the reason Ollie’s dead, Linny got taken, and I nearly had the life beat out of me. I only got bits and pieces of the story, but I’d asked her when she was going back when she came by the house over the weekend. It was a sore subject, so Linny filled me in.

Pinkie leaned closer. “Rogers seemed to have his ear. He’s fair, and level-headed. I’m sure they’ll work this out.”

Looking to the sky, I swallowed down the lump that was trying to crawl up my throat. Leigh once again was taking the heat for something I did. I’d been around clubs enough, not just this one, to know how bad it was to destroy the colors. But in the moment, all I could think about was that it was Reggie’s.

“I could’ve just packed it away or shoved it somewhere, left it behind. I dunno.” Releasing a deep breath, I said, “It’s not like it takes away being his Old Lady.”

Allie moved fast, pulling a chair close and finally sitting. Her finger was in my face. “When he jumped ship, he broke ties with the club. You were property of Royal Bastards, not just Reggie. You’re not his anymore, you hear me?” Her brown eyes stared me down.

“That’s right. Girl, you belong to Leigh now,” Pinkie said with a silly grin.

“What? I mean, I’m with him, but he hasn’t claimed me. Not like that.”

Linny let out a belly laugh. “My God. I knew you had some stuff going on, but didn’t realize you were straight up delusional.” She patted my hand. “That man would steal the stars from the sky for you. Don’t you see?”

Pinkie nodded with a smirk, and even Allie grinned.

“You know he took a lashing, right?” I asked. “It was because he came here for me. Hammer had told him to stay away until shit cooled off between him and Bama, I guess. But I didn’t know that, or I wouldn’t have called him.” My head dipped.

Allie gripped my chin. “That wasn't your fault. He got himself into hot water, then showed up knowing the consequences.”

“Alright, I get it.” I still felt awful. But Allie was not having any of my pity party or letting me take any of the blame. “I just hope Hammer’s not too hard on him and doesn’t hate me. I really would never disrespect him or the club.”

“Fuck him. I was here with you. If he has a problem with you, he has a problem with me,” Allie said as she took a drag from her smoke.

“Me, too,” Pinkie said.

“Me, three,” Linny added. “How was therapy this morning?” She changed the subject.

“Uh, good, I guess. Slow. Mostly getting to know me, I info dumped a bit but we didn’t get into too much. Talked about the last couple of weeks, though. As much as I could anyway.”

“I’m glad you’re going,” Linny said.

Allie stood. “I’m not a therapist but you always got my ear.” She flicked her cigarette away. “And I always got your back.”

“I may be going through some shit, but I always got yours, too.” I looked around. “All of you.”

Linny stood. “You know I do. I need to go move that laundry.”

I stood up, too. “I came back to help, so let’s go.”

Pinkie stopped and turned. “I’m not sure I can do much to help y’all, but I would die trying.”

We all huddled together for a quick hug before opening the door. As we walked inside, Leigh was coming down the hall.