Page 77 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

Once they were both wrapped up warm, they headed outside, following the other women who were being rounded up. She didn’t look for Finch. He’d either come to her house or he wouldn’t, and while she wanted the former, the latter was probably the best option for both of them at the moment, considering the craziness that was their lives.

“Ooooh, play the music, Brody!” Zoe demanded of her brother as they all stepped out into the main street.

“It’s freezing out here,” Nina protested.

“It’s tradition,” Mrs. C. said.

“Yes, play the music!” Blue punched the air again.

“Lynx should sing,” Lil added.

“I would rather jab pins into the soles of my feet,” Lynx replied.

Sighing, Brody found the music on his phone and turned up the volume. Soon everyone was dancing, except the men who were stomping their feet to keep warm and catching the women as they tripped over each other.

This was the only time you could renege on the Grapevine Twist. The sober men could watch over the drunk woman, and it was the reverse for boys’ night.

Nina tugged Leah Reynolds with her as she moved. Birdie giggled as Brody caught his mother when she stumbled, taking LouJean with her.

“Raising children is easier than taking care of you all!” he roared.

“Need a hand?”

Nina spun on her heel and found the leather-clad leader of the Bandits behind her.

“No. Go away,” Zoe said before she could. “We don’t need you here.”

The biker raised his hands and backed away. But his eyes stayed locked on Nina, which she didn’t like one bit.

“Is that one of those Bandits?” Lil asked and then stumbled sideways into Lynx, who caught her. She looked up at him with worship in her eyes. Lynx just smiled at her sweetly and settled her back on her feet.

“Okay, time to go,” Brody said when the music finished. “Into the vans, ladies.”

Still no sign of Finch, which meant Red was probably making him clean up. She climbed into the van Lynx was driving and took the seat behind him.

He shot her a smile in the mirror. “Right then, who’s first?”

“Me,” Nina said.

The drive took five minutes, and she listened as the others chattered like a nest of chicks about their evening. Happy, she thought.

Loneliness stole over her again. It started two days after her mother died and hadn’t left. By the time the van pulled up in front of her place, she was sure the tears weren’t far away, and she wanted to be alone when they fell.

“Thanks, everyone. I had the best time.” She kissed and hugged her friends, pretending that going into that cold house alone didn’t matter—like it hadn’t before her mother died. Before she knew there was a father and maybe other people who carried her blood out there somewhere.

She’d felt jealousy before, watching the Dukes and McAllister siblings connect, but now it was like a deep wound inside her that was getting wider.

What is wrong with me?

“I’ll walk you inside, Nina.”

“I’m okay, but thanks, Lynx.”

He ignored her and dogged her steps until she reached the front door.

“Nina.”

“Hmmm?” She didn’t look up, just searched for her keys.