Poe looks fucking thrilled to be coming with us to The Boulevard, dancing around Rue and laughing like pure sunshine. He doesn’t smile at her but some of the shadows in his face clear a little and when he gets a helmet out of the pack on his hog for her it has flowers on it.
My heart clenches a little at the sight of it.
Rue walks us in and talks to Axe about his plans for the night. Poe sets up all of her homework on Tomi’s desk, ignoring the state of it because there’s still paperwork everywhere, and Law ducks into the bar to grab beers before the place opens. Rue scowls at him but the smiling twin just talks his way out of trouble.
I’m dancing up first so Rue and Axe keep their debrief in the hallway where they can keep an eye on the office and the locker room. I get dressed into a corset and a thong, keeping one of Tomi’s hoodies zipped over myself so I’m not walking around in front of his family and friends bare.
I’m so fucking glad this is my last night.
I think I’m going to quit tomorrow morning to Tomi so I don’t ever have to speak to Diamond again. Fuck, it’d be amazing to just… never show up again and never tell the bitch but this place is Tomi’s and Rue’s responsibility so I can’t get away with that shit.
But it would be fucking great.
I get my bag locked up and walk over to where the guys are.
Rue gives me a nod. “I’ll be back around three to take you guys home. Are you gonna drink with them?”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to leave my truck here and… I’d rather not drink without… Tomi around.”
I don’t want to admit that but I don’t want to drink with guys around, even if they are family. I could drink with Poe but not the twins.
Lyn hates me too much.
Okay, maybe it’s not hate exactly but he definitely doesn’t trust me and that makes me fucking nervous.
“Good, I need one of you keeping your fucking head. Stay with Axe and call me if anything happens. Nod your head, Angel, I need to know you’re gonna stick to the rules tonight. Too much fucking rogue shit going on this week.”
Axe shares a look with him and my stomach drops. “Is everything… okay?”
He shrugs. “Speck’s a dickhead and there’s not much I can do about keeping his ass in a hospital bed without beating him and Keely will slit my throat if I so much as slap him right now.”
I nod, but the unease in my stomach doesn’t go anywhere. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll keep an eye on Poe, I’ve got you on speed dial… I’ll stick to the rules.”
Rue nods and a smirk starts up. “I don’t know what Tomi’s problem is, you’ve been nothing but good since his bitch-ass left town.”
I blush and duck my head when Axe cracks up laughing. “Yeah, well… maybe I just needed a minute. A girl can’t just fall into line, y’know?”
Rue chuckles and heads out, ducking his head into the office to growl one last threat at the three high schoolers already getting rowdy in there.
Oh, to be young and loved enough to live that free.
Axe strips off his cut and leaves it in the office with them before locking the door on them. I jam my feet into the hellish pair of heels I’ll be glad to burn the second this night is over and he walks me out to the back of the stage.
“Diamond only put you on this dance tonight, she sure does have her panties in a twist over you,” Axe mumbles and I shrug.
“Can you keep a secret, Axe? You seem like the type of man who can.”
He raises an eyebrow at me right as the doors open, the sounds muted but there’s clearly a big crowd streaming in. “Is this the type of secret that will get me dead when Tomi gets home because you're a nice enough girl, but no thanks.”
I chuckle and try to fight the giddy feeling in my stomach at saying it out loud. “Nah. Tomi is happy about this secret, he just doesn’t know about it yet. If Diamond only has me up here once tonight then… this is my last dance. I’m done here, college is paid for.”