Church is the usual shit. I'm only half listening, thumb digging into an old gouge in the table while my mind stays stuck on her.
"Tiny."
I snap back. Pres is giving me that look.
"Yeah. I'm here."
The second we're done, I follow the guys over to Perdition. Tessa's behind the counter. Cole's already draped over it, flirting hard.
I drop onto my usual stool and check my phone again.
Cole notices. "Waiting on something?"
I shrug.
"You've checked that thing like ten times already," he says.
Steele snorts. "He's been doing it since church."
Jax and Knox wander over. "Something happen?" Jax asks.
"No."
"Bullshit," Knox says.
Scarlett and Rook come through the door. She spots me and lights up. "Hey. How's our favorite flu patient?"
"Alive."
She studies my face. "You don't look very happy about surviving."
I let out a long breath. "Lucy has a date tonight."
Scarlett's smile fades. "Oh."
Hadley frowns. "I thought she didn't want to go."
"She doesn't. Her dad told her she was."
The table goes quiet.
"I hate it," I mutter. "I hate thinking about her forcing a smile for some guy she doesn't even want to be around."
Steele sets his bottle down. "That's rough."
Jax leans in. "So where's he taking her?"
"Romano's."
Cole turns to Wyatt. Wyatt looks at Weston. Weston grins.
I point at them. "No. I don't want her embarrassed."
Cole tries to play innocent. "What?"
"I know that look. Don't."
Steele shrugs. "I could eat."
