“No,” I growled. “Keep it out of the way, though. If someone messes with it back here, it’s your problem.”
“A little ray of sunshine today, aren’t you? I thought you would be happy we were here. Was I supposed to decline the invitation?”
“I don’t know. I mean, no, I wanted you to come. I’m just…nervous. You’re nothing like my friends, and they are nothing like yours.”
He set his helmet down and threw his hands over his heart with a frown. “Aww. We’re just star-crossed lovers. Will this turn into a street fight, or are you and I going to kill each other at the end in the name of true love?”
“Ha. Ha. You make jokes now until you want to punch one of these guys. Then what?”
“Then I punch them and kidnap you. Actually, that sounds like a great plan. Better than the one I had.”
Evie slid off the back of the other bike, which I was pretty sure was Aiden’s, and came to stand next to Rook with a grin.
“Hey,” she said. “Nice to meet you not on the back of the bike.”
“Evie, I’m assuming?”
“That’s me. Thanks for inviting us. I rarely get out around people who aren’t…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes glanced around us. “Doing the things we do. You know?”
“Well, I’m glad you could come.”
Evie shrugged off the jacket, revealing her dress and, apparently, her knife on her leg.
Harper stepped up next to me, her mouth dropping open.
“I just came to introduce myself, but oh my god, I’m obsessed with you,” she said to Evie.
Evie’s smile widened. “Well, then, I’m obsessed with you, too. Can we meet everyone?”
Harper agreed, grabbing her arm and heading off into the crowd. Rook watched them for a second before looking back at me.
“Thanks,” he said quietly.
“For?”
“You two being nice to Evie.”
“Why wouldn’t we be?”
“I don’t know. She has trouble with girl friends. Between her level of crazy, the way she dresses, and hanging out with us almost exclusively, girls tend to either not be nice or try to use her.”
“Use her for what?”
His face hardened, his lips pressing together hard. “To get to us. She’s had some shit friends that used her because they liked one of us. Then some that used her just to get in the group. She’s given up a bit, and I think she’s been a little depressed about it. She couldn’t believe she was invited today.” He smiled at me, and my heart stopped. It was a real smile, not those evil little grins he liked to give me. “I had to show her your text to prove it.”
“Oh,” I said, looking over at Harper and Evie. I wasn’t sure what I would do without Harper. Even with all the guys around,sometimes you needed other girls. “Does that mean she’d like to hang out with me and Harper sometime?”
“I’m sure she would,” he said. “Can’t promise she won’t cut anyone, but she would probably like a break from us.”
“Who wouldn’t?”
He laughed again, stepping closer to me now. “If you wanted a break from me, why ask me to come over?”
“It’s a party. Everyone is invited.”
“Of course, and you always invite people like us to these things?”
“Sometimes,” I said as he leaned down.
