“Maybe,” Devyn sang.
“And now you in a good mood and want us around.” Koren pouted, and Devyn went back to feeling bad.
“I probably wouldn’t have come anyway,” Emilia said with a note of anxiety in her tone.
“I get that,” Devyn said. The last time Emilia had been around the Vicious Kings, she’d been shot. Devyn felt insensitive to even suggest that she should be here.
“I want you to have fun, though, and be safe,” Emilia encouraged.
Devyn smiled. “I’ll do my best on both fronts.”
“And next time there’s a party, I better get an invite,” Koren snapped.
“I got you, girl.” Devyn giggled. Devyn heard the front door of the room open, and her smile grew. “I gotta go, ladies. I’ll check in later.”
“You better,” Koren said.
“Love you,” Emilia added.
They hung up just as Haze walked into the bathroom. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
When they woke up that morning, Haze had given her a black crop top with the Vicious Kings crest on it. He wore a black T-shirt with the same crest. She wore blue jeans while he wore black ones. They looked really good together. Devyn admired their reflection while Haze asked, “Who was you talkin’ to?”
“Koren and Emilia, my cousin and best friend. You saw them briefly the day we met.”
He nodded. “You should have invited them. You know your people are always invited.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t know that, but now I do. Besides, I didn’t really know what the vibe was going to be between us. I’ll invite them next time, but I don’t think Emilia will come. Koren will for sure.”
“Emilia’s the one that got shot?” he asked.
Devyn nodded sadly. “Yeah.”
Haze kissed her cheek and then turned her around. “I hope with time she can see it’s safe for her to be around us. If your friends are as important to you as my club is to me, then I assume you want them to be around.”
“I do, but I won’t push her on it.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I don’t blame you. You ready to go?”
“Yup. Just need to grab my fanny pack.”
“Fanny pack is crazy.” Haze chuckled as she walked around him.
Devyn ignored him and walked into the bedroom to retrieve the black fanny pack she’d already gotten together with everything she’d need for the day. Haze could make fun of her all he wanted, but she bet he wouldn’t laugh when he needed some hand sanitizer or a tissue and she produced it from her fanny pack.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
Hand in hand, they walked out of the room and toward the elevator. Once they were on the elevator, Haze hugged her to his chest. She felt so full and complete in his arms. The fact that he had even forgiven her for keeping their daughter from him said a lot about his character. Haze had a bigger heart than anyone would ever know because he kept that part of himself locked up so tightly. Devyn was thankful that she got to see that part of him.
Once they were in the lobby, Devyn spotted Glimmer and Gideon. They were hard to miss because Gideon was a giant.Haze led them toward his people, and when they were within arm’s length, Glimmer pulled Devyn into a hug.
“Hey, girl. I’m glad you came.” Glimmer beamed and then whispered loudly, “And welcome to the family.”
Devyn blushed. “Thank you.”
“Someone been runnin’ his mouth, I see.” Haze joked as he playfully hit Gideon on his arm.
“Haze wifed up? Damn sure I’ma gossip wit’ my wife about that. Neither of us ever thought we’d see the day.”
