Page 168 of Bone’s Choice

I wasn’t sure what, but it didn’t matter.

I ran my thumb along her cheek. “I wasn’t pissed you showed up.”

“You looked pissed.”

“That’s my face.”

She snorted. “I’ve noticed.”

“I was pissed Ma didn’t call.”

“That’s different?”

“Yeah.”

“How?”

“Would’ve liked a warning before she took over my fucking clubhouse.”

Hazel smiled. “She’s cleaning.”

“She’s terrorizing grown men with a bottle of Windex.”

“Your clubhouse could use it.”

I stared at her. “What?”

“There were three shoes by the couch.”

“Don’t start.”

“None of them matched.”

“Hazel.”

“And I saw the pizza box.”

I kissed her again just to shut her up.

It worked for about ten seconds.

When I pulled back, she was smiling. “You keep doing that.”

“Works better than arguing.”

“I don’t know. I like arguing with you.”

“I noticed.”

Her hands rested against my chest. “Are you sure I’m okay being here?”

I looked at her. There was no joke in her eyes now. She meant it.

And for some reason, that question hit differently.

This was my clubhouse.

My club. My life. I’d spent years keeping things separated.