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She paused for a moment, looked around the faces standing in the lot and nodded, “Probably. Wait here.”

I was more than grateful. I didn’t want to go inside.

Not right now.

Shit, maybe never again.

I groaned and wiped my face with my hand while gravitating toward the edge of the lot.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

Kingston Crowe?

Was I seriously over here giving a second damn thought to Kingston fucking Crowe? He was a douche canoe on a good day, and a parasitic ass worm when the polish wore off.

We all knew it.

The gentle hum of a motor idled next to me, but I was dedicated to beating myself up, I didn’t notice right away.

“Ready?” Roach spoke up.

“Huh? Shit. Yeah.” I yanked the door of the club van open and hopped in the passenger seat. “Sorry. I was… deep in thought.”

“Can’t blame you there.” She smiled, her eyes twinkling as she studied me for a moment before pulling onto the street.

“No. This isn’t…”

I cleared my throat and the silence brewed.

“Well, what is it?”

I took a deep breath, searched for the right words, but came up empty, “A joke. It was just a joke.”

“What? Girl, that wasn’t no joke. That was intense as hell. I thought you two were going to eat each other’s faces off back there.”

“Oh, God.” I groaned.

Roach laughed and flipped a switch.

“Fuck me, why hasn’t anybody fixed that thing?” I complained at the obnoxious, rapid ticking of the turn signal.

“I don’t know. Probably because it has more than two wheels, which means we’re lucky if the registration is current and the insurance is even paid. Don’t try to change the subject.” She laughed.

I shook my head, ran my fingers through my hair and exhaled heavily, “I don’t know what the fuck that was. Maybe it was just me trying to stab at Rigs.”

“Girl, there was more to that kiss than a third party fuck you. You know it, and I know it. I’ve seen a lot of face sucking over the years at the clubhouse. I know a thing or few when I see it,” Roach teased, coming out of her shell a little more with each passing block.

“Why do you stay there? Roach, not one of those assholes deserves you. Believe that.”

She instantly grew as quiet as I’d tried to be when she turned the topic on Kingston.

Things in the van remained that way, until we pulled in at the Kids Center.

“Who knows. One day I might ride off into the sunset with a tolerable asshole.”

I pivoted my head, catching an appreciative grunt in my throat at what I thought was slick wit on her Roach’s part. When there wasn’t any sign of jesting on her face, I gave a slow nod.

“A tolerable asshole all of your own.” I tipped my head and pointed to the spot I’d parked in. “Some girls want money and mansions, some just exclusiveness on the mood swings and bail bonds.”