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There’s silence at the table and they’re all staring at me. I let them. It’s time I pull myself up. Fuck, it’s past time. Thea said I needed to tackle one small thing and then move to another. Sobering my ass up is step one. I’ll try to pull myself together enough to face my old man, eventually. Right now? That seems like too big of a step. I do need to make a lot of changes. My head is a fucking mess. Maybe I can talk to Thea again. She centered me the other night. The voices in my head, the doubts, all of that shit, just disappeared when we had dinner. The two of us were friends once.
Maybe we can be again.
Chapter 8
Thea
“This probably ain’t the kind of joint you’re used to, Flame,” Raze mutters as he walks me into Poor Boys Bar and Grill. “Shit. I should have probably warned you I’m not really good at this whole dating thing.”
He sounds so sincere that I find myself stopping to reach up and run my fingers against the scruff on the side of his face. “Raze, stop. I love this place. Though, the club might give you shit for not going to the Wolf’s Den.”
His lips spread into a smile that I really like. It makes his blue eyes sparkle. He puts his hand on the small of my back and leads us to a pub table, pulling out my chair. “I didn’t want to spend the evening with you where my brothers come over and give us shit,” he mumbles, making me laugh.
“I appreciate it,” I giggle as he sits down.
“I’m going to go drain the lizard. Order me a beer, okay, Flame?” Raze requests.
“You got it.”
He winks at me and walks away. I sigh, watching him. He’s the complete opposite of Deke, and maybe that’s why I like him so much.
“Thea! Girl, it has been too long!”
My face jerks up in surprise to see Lilianna Edwards. She was one of my best friends in high school. I haven’t seen her since I left for New York. “Lili! You look gorgeous! How have you been?” I ask, standing up to give her a hug.
“Liar,” she laughs.
“I’m serious,” I argue, and I am. She’s beautiful. She has dark black hair that hangs past the middle of her back in bouncy waves. She has a pixie face of ivory skin and striking eyes that are almost gray. She’s barely over five foot, with curves for days.
“I’ve been working all night and I’m sweating in places a girl ought not sweat,” she jokes, and I giggle right along with her. “How long are you back for?”
I shrug. “I’m actually thinking of staying.”
“No shit?”
“No shit,” I laugh.
“You have to get up with me. We’ll have a girl’s day or something.”
“I’d love that,” I say, pulling out my cellphone. “Give me your number and I’ll give you a call next week.” She gives me her number and I key it in just as Raze comes back.
“You already making a date with someone else, Flame?”
“Very funny,” I laugh. “Lili is one of my best friends. I haven’t seen her since I moved to New York.”
“I see.”
“Hey, Raze.”
“Hey, Anna.”
I blink. Anna… Hmm. There must be a story there.
“What can I get you two?” Lili—or Anna—asks.
“Sangria and get me the ribeye sandwich and fries,” I answer.
“What about you, Raze?”
