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Not that they’d take her to a bar, anyway. That would be ridiculous.

I parked and got out. Halfway across the parking lot, a guy in a dusty leather jacket gave me the hairy eyeball. “Nice Hummer, douche.”

“Thanks,” I said.

His smirk twisted into a scowl. Annoyed, maybe, that I didn’t take the bait.

I hurried my step, not looking to get into a brawl in the parking lot. My night was shitty enough as it was. I hauled open a heavy metal door and stepped inside.

The interior was dim. I paused a moment to let my eyes adjust. To my right, balls clacked on pool tables. I recognized Flynn’s boyfriend, Bailey, lining up a shot. I didn’t spot Flynn, but he was probably here somewhere.

I turned toward the tables. Knight waved a hand in the air to catch my attention. Shit, the whole gang was here. Knight’s boyfriend, Aiden, was beside him, and Hollywood and Tex were across from them. Ghost sat at the far end of the table. And there was the missing Flynn, standing next to Knight, beer in hand, gaze flicking over to the pool tables every few seconds.

I crossed the room, feet dragging. I hadn’t really wanted to see Hollywood, much less everybody.

“Hey, Joey,” Hollywood said gently. “Grab a seat.”

There was one open chair at the opposite end from Ghost. They’d pushed two tables together to accommodate six people.

“You didn’t have to drag everyone out here for me,” I said, hovering by the table, unsure I wanted to stay for whatever kind of intervention this would be.

“I didn’t have to drag anyone,” Hollywood said. “They were already here.”

My heart dropped. “You guys planned a meetup without me?”

“No, kid,” Knight said with a rusty chuckle. “We came here so we could celebrate with you. You did a hard thing tonight. We’re damn proud of you.”

I shook my head. “Don’t. There’s nothing to celebrate. I… If you’d seen Kit’s hopeful expression, and the way it shifted to confusion and suspicion. I can’t even imagine what he’s thinking right now. That letter—” My voice cracked. “Maybe it was a bad idea.”

“This isn’t about Kit, though,” Hollywood reminded me.

I inhaled. “I know, but it’s going to hurt him. Don’t you think?”

“Yeah,” Ghost said, never one to sugarcoat things. “It will. But there’s no avoiding that.”

“I hate this.”

Flynn circled the table and dropped a big hand to my shoulder. “I’m gonna get back to Bailey. But I feel for you, Joyride. I know how hard this is. I had to tell my boyfriend and his brothers that I killed a man…and I was sure they’d never understand it. People surprise you, sometimes.”

“It’s not the same, though. You didn’t hurt them or their loved ones.”

He nodded. “I know. You’ve got a tougher road to travel. Just remember that you’re not one mistake or one sin. You’re a whole life, made up of good and bad decisions, and all you can do is try to be the best version of yourself from here on out.”

He walked away. Bailey greeted him with a smile. He’d clearly forgiven Flynn’s sins with his whole heart. But I didn’t see how Dakota or Kit could ever do the same.

“Here.” Aiden placed a plate with a burger in front of me, along with a soda of some sort. “Eat. You’ll feel better.”

“Is that your official treatment plan, Doc? Eat away my troubles?” I pulled out the chair and finally sat down, giving in to the inevitable.

“I don’t recommend it as a long-term approach. But for tonight? Yeah, it’s a start.”

“I don’t get a beer?”

“I think it’s probably not the best idea for you to drink tonight.”

Disappearing into a haze of alcohol sounded really fucking good to me. Which was why Aiden hadn’t gotten me a beer. Well, there was always later. I’d get through this dinner, go home, and raid my parents’ liquor cabinet. With any luck, I could finally quiet my mind and pass out drunk.

I had no appetite, but I made myself eat a fry because everyone was staring at me. Hollywood visibly relaxed when I did.