dad lives. A feeling of unease spreads through me at that thought, as her dad is the last person I’d want to see.
“I’m glad you’ve upgraded your friends,” Anna says with a straight face.
“Me too.” I laugh. “Then again, if she didn’t take me out with her that night, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now with you guys.”
Anna holds up her drink. “To fate!”
Everyone cheers.
Irish, Vinnie, Ronan, and Trace join us at our table. When Vinnie brings a handful of shot glasses and two bottles, one gin and one whiskey, I can tell the night is going to get a little crazy.
When those bottles are empty in just a few minutes, I know it’s going to get crazy. Lana and I head into the kitchen to get more alcohol, and she makes me a vodka tonic.
I take a sip and tell her I like it. I’ve never tried tonic before, and I didn’t think I would like it.
“Told you,” she says, making herself a gin and tonic and putting a slice of cucumber in it.
“Cucumber?”
“Yeah,” she says. “It gives it a fresh taste. I really like it.”
She then shoves one of the extra slices in her mouth. “How’re things with Rake? You two look really cute and couple-like.”
I take a sip of my drink before I reply. “I have no idea what’s going on, neither of us do, but I’m just enjoying the now. I like being with him. I’m trying to forget the past shit and move forward, you know? I don’t want to keep looking back forever; it doesn’t help or fix anything. Time to let it all go and move forward.” I pause. “And I’m really, really enjoying the sex.”
We both share a cheeky grin.
Lana eyes me, opens her mouth, then closes it.
“What?” I ask, knowing she wants to ask something.
“It’s just . . . I’ve heard a few things about Rake in bed. Are they true?” she asks, her cheeks flushing a little.
“What have you heard?” I ask, leaning my hip against the kitchen countertop.
“Just that he has a thing for tying women up, binding their hands and stuff,” she says, shrugging. “Also that he can be kind of dominant and generally has more than one—”
Vinnie walks up to us, interrupting the discussion and whatever Lana was about to say.
“How many women does it take to get the alcohol from the kitchen?” he asks, a smirk on his face.
“How many?” Lana asks, raising an eyebrow and silently daring him to continue.
“More than two, clearly,” he says, grabbing a bottle in each hand. Lana eats another slice of cucumber, and Vinnie opens his mouth, silently asking for one. She pops it in his mouth, and he chews slowly. “Having a good time tonight, Bails?”
Looks like another nickname was catching on in the club.
“Yeah,” I say, nodding my head. “I think because I’ve already spent time with so many people here, it’s actually pretty cool.” I make a face. “Besides the women trying to get my man.”
Vinnie grins wolfishly. “Your man, hey? This shit official now?”
Warmth rushes up my neck. “Well, no, but you know . . .”
“No, I don’t,” he says, clearly enjoying watching me squirm. “Why don’t you tell me?”
Tracker walks into the kitchen at that moment, eyeing the three of us. “Alcohol, people, we need alcohol. The crowd is getting impatient.”
“How many bikers does it take to get the alcohol from the kitchen?” I ask, smirking into my drink.
When Arrow walks into the kitchen, Lana and I share an amused look. “Three so far.”
My eyes widen as Arrow grabs a bottle, opens it and drinks straight from it.
No chaser, no glass, no nothing.
I glance at Tracker with wide eyes, but he just shrugs. “Told you people were getting impatient.”
We all walk back to the table and reclaim our seats. A pretty redhead sits on Vinnie’s lap, a blonde on Irish’s. Trace’s old lady, Jess, comes and chats with us for a little while, and I instantly like her. Rake continuously touches me throughout the night, even if it’s just his hand resting next to mine. I like the fact that he’s being attentive, asking me if I want anything, and if I’m all right. I feel a little awkward when Vinnie and his woman start making out and her top slides down, showing off her breasts. She doesn’t bother fixing herself, and when Vinnie starts rubbing his hands all over them, I look away and don’t look back again.