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I grin at her, sitting back in the booth as everyone orders. Burgers all round and loaded cheesy bacon fries for everyone to share.
“We went to see Storm.” Kick says, shoving food in his face once Maddie brings it out. She’s been trying to get my attention, but I’ve steadfastly been ignoring her. There’s absolutely no reason we need to communicate outside of giving her my food order.
“And?” I reply.
“He’s better than he was last night when we brought him in. And he’s not happy with the club right now. Especially since I’ve told him he has to go to rehab or get out of the club. He actually said he’d rather leave the club than go to rehab, then kicked us out of the room. He refuses to speak to any of us. He’s retreated into himself.” I can’t hide the look of shock on my face at Kick’s words. My heart breaks for my brother, I wanted to see him, but what’s the point if he’s pissed off with all of us?
“Do you think he’s serious about leaving the club?” I ask.
“Who knows what's going on with him these days? He’s hellbent on ruining his life. But I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let him.” Kick replies with fire in his eyes.
“I miss my big brother.” Sage says sadly, as Tiny wraps an arm around her shoulders. Sage and Storm used to be close as siblings before he went to prison and things went downhill for him.
Anger overcomes me at the way Storm is acting, and I speak before thinking things through. “Why’s he being such a dick to everybody?”
Kick shoots me a look, and I shake my head. Of course, Storm is his best friend, and he’s determined to see the good in his friend, apparently. But ever since he came back from wherever he’s been this last little while, he’s been an asshole to everyone who ever cared for him. Zoe touches my arm gently, and I calm down from the anger I felt burning my gut. Having her near has that effect on me.
“Maybe we should bring Mallory in to talk to him. She might have better luck getting through to him?” Everleigh suggests, hopefully. Her best friend, Mallory and Storm, had been seeing each other off and on for years.
Kick snorts. “Or maybe that will push him further over the edge.”
Throughout this whole interaction, Zoe has been quiet, and I have no idea what to say or do to bring her out of herself. But then Lexie says something that plants a horrified expression on her beautiful face.
“Why don’t we make it girls' night tonight? Me, Zoe, Sage, and Everleigh. At the club, where I’m sure you guys will be happy to watch over us.” She tacks on with a roll of her light gray eyes, knowing we wouldn’t be able to say no to that.
Zoe’s face relaxes, knowing I would be there watching over her if they were to go out. That she relies on me makes me feel ten feet tall. But she needs to rely on herself as well.
“I came across a stray kitten that was playing in the bushes next to your apartment.” Zoe blurts out. “Chains and I took it to get it checked out at the vet.”
If her intention was to get us talking about something else, other than the women going out tonight, it worked. But all eyes were now on her, and she fidgeted nervously.
“Is it okay if I bring him home once the vet checks him out?” she quickly adds to Lexie.
“Of course it is.” Lexie replies, then adds,
“I’m guessing you’re not willing to go out even though we’d all be there tonight” Lexie replies, then she focuses on me, her eyebrows rising above her white-blonde hairline.
Zoe sighs, put out by the unwelcome conversation. Pinning her friend with a look.
“Fine. You want to go out so much. We’ll go out.” She says, and the entire table goes quiet.
“Are you sure?” Lexie questions her.
“Are you saying now you don’t want to go?” Zoe challenges, and I feel like I’m at a tennis match watching the fascinating back and forth between the two friends.
“Of course I want to go.” Lexie's face undergoes a transformation as a slow smile appears and her gray eyes sparkle. She pins everyone around the table with a triumphant stare. “That’s settled then, you heard Zoe say it herself. We’re going out tonight.” She announces.
The men at the table try not to groan, not eager to play chaperone. But inside, I was happy that Lexie had forced the issue with Zoe. And besides, Caleb wouldn’t dare show up at a club that was Devil’s Carnage MC property. I watch Zoe with the other women as they talk animatedly, and I can’t help smiling.
With short auburn curls framing her heart-shaped face, Zoe shakes her head and lets out a huff, but her features gradually relax.
“You know I can’t stay mad at you.” She tells her best friend reluctantly, smiling indulgently.
We stay for another hour, though Zoe does her best to pretend to still be mad at me, and ignores my presence, talking to Lexie instead.
The only consolation is when we finally get outside to my sled, she doesn’t fight me on getting on it, I reluctantly take her home. But I’m happy that I’ll be seeing her at the club tonight again.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
