pressure off my shoulders. I might not tell everyone this, but I’m a people pleaser. I always want those who’re the most important people in my life to be the happiest. Sometimes, I don’t make the right decisions in their eyes and it doesn’t only hurt them. It hurts me too because I never want to be a disappointment.
“I’m glad you’re coming back,” I say with a smile.
Portia locks eyes with me. “Yeah, well, you’re my best friend and I’m not leaving you here in the middle of fucking nowhere. Obviously, I’m going to come visit you. Plus, it’s very serene out here. Peaceful and all that. A lot of people come out here for vacations and stuff, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, I think so. There are a few resorts all around Montana. People from the city come out here to get fresh air.”
Portia smiles even brighter. “Perfect. Then once every quarter or so you’d better expect me to come in crashing for about a week or so, deal?”
“Deal,” I comment, wrapping my arms around her in a massive bear hug.
“Obviously, the next time I’ll be out here will be spring break.”
“You’re not going down to Miami for spring break?” I question, pulling away from her.
She shakes her head. “Nah, it’s the same shit every year. I’m really exhausted with it all to be honest. I’d rather be here with you, to get in some quality bestie time and all.”
Her words practically bring tears to my eyes and I struggle hiding my emotions. “Thank you, for everything you’ve said.”
“You don’t have to thank me for anything. I’m just being real with you.”
“Speaking of being real with me,” I pause for a moment to clear my throat. “Are you going to get over whatever beef you had with Zorro? I heard every word of it from the other day.”
Portia sucks in a deep breath. “Yeah, I’ll get over it. You know I just . . . I come from a different type of life. The people you’ve found yourself with, and your brothers . . . you guys actually give a damn about people. Mine don’t. The only thing they give a damn about is using people for whatever advantage they can gain from them, usually in the form of a vote. Politicians are dirty like pigs, but you’d never know it. ‘Cause they don’t show you that side of them.”
“I figured what you said had something to do with your family, but I wasn’t going to interfere. I mean, even from that far away I heard you loud and clear. It’s just . . . these people mean everything to them, especially Sydney. She’s been through so much and . . . honestly, she’s like royalty to the club.”
“Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be that bitchy that day. I was just a moody cunt and I won’t be like that again.”
“Language young lady!” the woman behind the cash register huffs from behind square glasses.
“Mind your business, Gertrude. Hell, you’re selling shit like this and you’re upset because I said cunt? Well, cunty cunt cunt!” Portia holds up the pink fringe tube top and heads up to the woman, digs in her purse, and pays for the top.
“I hope you’re just passing through. We don’t need ladies like you in this town. You’re the wrong type of influence on the young girls of Billings.”
“Well, Granny, you’d better get used to my ass because my best friend Ruby over there lives here now. She’s shackin’ up with one of the Reapers MC boys.” Portia just has to tell her my business.
The older woman steps to the side and looks around to me. “The Reapers have been a blessing on this small town, making sure all the bad people stay out. Do me a favor and make sure this one does too?”
I bust out laughing and Rosa does too from the other end of the shop. Rosa goes up behind Portia with a pair of jeans and some sort of sweatshirt, hands it over and pays. In a matter of minutes, we’re out of the shop and are on our way over to Tart. I need something sweet in my life, especially after that comedy show Portia just gave us.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Everything that drowned me, taught me how to swim
~ Jenim Dibie
Zorro
Carly gave me everything I needed to know. Well, not everything but she gave me enough information to track down the rest. Between Frost and I, we’re fuckin’ resourceful. We figured out