Cami's hand, she pulled her friend around Paco, feeling her face burn with embarrassment. He hadn't known she was coming, and she should've stayed away. Going by his expression, he wasn't happy to see her.
Outside, Cami slowed beside her. "Did you see them?"
"Who?" She kept walking to the car.
"The women..." Cami moved to the passenger side and looked at Josie over the roof. "I think they're prostitutes."
"I don't know." She unlocked the door and popped the lock before sliding into the seat. Once Cami got inside, she said, "The women were there the day I waited for Paco to bring you back from the casino, so I don't think they are."
"Then, they want to be with those men?"
"I don't know that either." Lately, she found that was the answer to every question.
She didn't know if Paco was interested in her. She didn't know if he was going to see her again. She didn't know why she missed him. She didn't know why she cared. She didn't know if Askook was dead or which two men Paco killed. She didn't know if Paco was going to be arrested for the murders.
She didn't know anything.
Maybe she was foolish for thinking sex with him was something special. He was a lot older than her. She had no idea what men his age thought about getting together with someone. If he was someone her age, they'd be going with each other after sleeping together.
He probably had sex just to have sex, like those bikers in there with the women.
Cami slumped in the seat. "I thought I was ready to see those who'd helped me, but I don't think I am. Seeing them now, they're so different than what I imagined."
She wasn't the only one feeling out of place. When she finally came near Paco, she'd expected some sign of the intimacy they'd shared. A hello or smile, something. Certainly not anger coming from him.
The shock of the sweeping change in him wore off, and she found herself angry. How dare he act that way.
If he wanted a one-night stand, fine. If he never wanted to see her again, fine. But to deny they shared something wonderful together...frankly, it was cruel.
Age difference or not, a person who went out of their way and was intimate with someone else, should have the decency to at least be polite.
He wasn't Thunder Bird.
He was a biker.
He probably forgot about her the moment he walked out the door of her apartment and then made himself at home with one of those women in the clubhouse.
"Who's that?" whispered Cami.
She looked at her friend and followed her gaze, finding a biker walking toward the car. "That's Chrischris. He works at the body shop and is the one who invited us to the party."
Before she could ask if Cami remembered seeing him during her rescue, Chrischris approached the passenger side door.
"Should I roll down the window?" whispered Cami.
She relaxed, knowing Chrischris was harmless. "Yes."
Chrischris popped his head in the car. "Aren't you staying?"
With a quick glance at Cami, Josie said, "I think we're going to leave."
"Nah, you can't go yet." Chrischris softened his voice. "Stay and have a drink or not. At least listen to the music and keep me company for a bit."
Knowing Cami's hesitation about being around the others and her desire not to be around Paco, she decided to tell him the truth. "It's not really our scene."
"Come and sit out back. There's a picnic table. I'll open the back door, and we can listen to music from outside. No use staying home on a Saturday night." Chrischris straightened, his head going out of view.
She shrugged at Cami. "Your choice."
"We can stay out back for a little while." Cami reached for the handle but the door opened before she could get her fingers around the lever.
Josie got back out and locked the car, walking with Chrischris and Cami around the building. There were several members huddled together on the side of the clubhouse, but they ignored them.
In the closed alley, she found a picnic table like Chrischris promised and sat on the end. Hopefully, Paco wouldn't see her hanging around outside. Though she was invited and he had no say in what she chose to do.
Chrischris stayed standing. "Drinks?"
She shook her head. "No, thanks."
Having lived seeing the destruction of alcohol on her people, she never touched the stuff.
"I can't." Cami sat down on the opposite side of the table, giving no other explanation on why she couldn't drink alcohol.
Chrischris