“Who knows, you may find a girlfriend.” Crow wiggled his eyebrows, then busted out laughing when Jigger gave him the finger.
Steel’s phone pinged, and he looked at the text.
Breanna:Thinking bout U.
He smiled.
Steel:I like that.
Breanna:What’re U & Chenoa doing?
Steel:At the club.
Breanna:WTF?
Steel:???
Breanna:She’s not supposed to B @ club.
Steel gritted his teeth.
Steel:What’s ur fucking point?
Breanna:Ur mad @ me.
Steel:Busy. Gotta go.
Breanna:Don’t shut down on me.
Steel:I’m not.
Breanna:It’s just I’m worried bout Dept & Chenoa.
His lips pressed into a white slash; she was pissing him the hell off.
Steel:Don’t B. She’s not ur kid.
When he hit “Send” he knew she’d be hurt, but he didn’t want her questioning his decisions. When it came to Chenoa, he was very protective.
As he waited for a response from her that never came, he knew he’d crossed the line. The truth was that he was thrilled Breanna cared about Chenoa; she genuinely liked her. He ran his fingers through his hair.Shimá’s right—I’m a hothead.
He wasn’t used to apologizing, especially to women. For him, it was a sign of weakness or an attestation that he’d failed at something.
He started to type an apology to her when Chenoa burst through the door, her hair tousled, her eyes bright, and her voice shrill with excitement. “It was the best, Dad. Uncle Rooster’s Harley is so badass.” She went over to him and plopped down. “What’re you eating? It looks good.”
“Roast beef. I’ll get you one. Is Rooster’s bike better than your old man’s?”
She smiled slyly. “No. Nothing’s better than yours.”
“Right answer.” He ruffled her hair.
“I’m gonna fix up. I’ll just go into the kitchen and fix my own sandwich.” She rose to her feet.
“Ask Lena to do it. She likes doing that shit.” He watched as she bounced away, and then he turned to Rooster. “Thanks, man.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.” He clasped Steel’s shoulder.
The rest of the afternoon he and Chenoa hung out with the brothers. She lost two games of pool to Paco, but she beat his ass at darts. It was the perfect day.
