Erica nods. “It’s a big deal in biker culture.”
I feel my face heat. “But… I’m not his Old Lady,” I say quietly.
Tessa waves it off with a grin. “Yet, you’re not his old lady, yet. That man looks at you like you hung the moon. Trust me, you’re one of us already. Group chat is happening.”
Scarlett adds me before I can overthink it. My phone explodes with welcome messages and a new group name: “Old Lady Mafia ????”.
I nod, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in my stomach. “Yeah… this is all new for me. I’m kind of scared I’ll say something dumb.”
“You’ll be fine,” Erica says softly, linking her arm with mine. “We’ve got you.”
Tessa launches into a hilarious rant about the nightmare customers at the bar. “You guys, this one guy last night tried to tip me in quarters while telling me his entire life story. Then he got mad when I wouldn’t give him my number. I told him I was married and he still didn’t quit. I almost poured a drink on his head.”
We’re all laughing so hard we’re crying. Scarlett nearly chokes on her mimosa.
I shake my head, smiling. “You guys make it sound so easy. I still feel like I’m playing catch-up sometimes. Like… I went from barely surviving to suddenly having all of this. It’s overwhelming in the best way.”
Tessa reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You’re doing great, babe. We’ve all been there.”
Hadley’s quiet at first, but then she drops her news. “I’m pregnant,” she says softly, rubbing her stomach. “Six weeks. Wyatt and Weston are already ridiculous about it.”
I’m so happy for her it almost brings tears to my eyes. The table explodes with squeals and hugs, and I’m right there in the middle of it, laughing and congratulating her. It feels… nice. Like I’m allowed to be part of these big moments.
Later, while we’re shopping, I catch myself thinking how different this feels from my old life. We wander through a few cute shops, trying on clothes and jewelry. Tessa makes me buy a lacy bralette set “for Tiny’s sake.” Erica drags us into a bookstore where Scarlett and I both end up buying new romance novels. Hadley finds the cutest baby onesie and buys it on the spot.
By late afternoon we finally head to the tattoo shop. Erica gets a small heart on her ankle. Tessa gets a dagger on her ribs. Scarlett adds a flower to her arm sleeve. As the needle buzzes over my hip bone, the pain is sharp but bearable. Tessa holds one hand, Erica the other. Hadley keeps me distracted with baby name ideas even though she’s not getting ink today. Every sting feels like a choice I’m making for myself, for us.
When it’s done and I look down at the delicate ink on my skin, something warm and possessive settles in my chest.
This was my first girls’ day… and it felt like coming home. I already know I want a hundred more.
The sun is starting to set by the time we pull back into the Perdition parking lot, all of us laughing and carrying shopping bags. My hip is throbbing under the fresh bandage, but the butterflies in my stomach are worse. I keep touching the spot through my dress like I can feel the ink burning there.
The guys are all inside, loud, half-drunk, and glued to the big screens playing football. Tiny’s sitting with Cole, Steele, Wyatt,Weston, and Rook, beer in hand, yelling at the TV like the rest of them.
The second we walk in, the energy shifts. Tessa struts right over to Cole and plops down on his lap, tugging up her shirt to show off the new dagger on her ribs. “What do you think, babe?”
Cole’s eyes darken instantly as he runs his fingers over it. “Fuck, that’s hot.”
Erica is more shy about it, but she still shows Steele the small heart she got. He pulls her close, murmuring something in her ear that makes her blush hard. Scarlett does the same with Rook, who just stares at her new ink with that intense, quiet look of his before kissing her like they’re alone.
Tiny’s eyes find me across the room. He crooks a finger, and I walk over, heart hammering. He pulls me down onto his lap, big hand settling on my thigh. “You girls have fun?” he asks, voice low and rough.
I nod, biting my lip. The other girls are still showing off their tattoos, laughing with the guys.
Tiny leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear. “You get one too, baby?”
I hesitate for half a second, then turn my head and whisper right against his ear, “Yeah… but you can’t see it until we get home.”
He goes completely still. I feel his hand tighten on my thigh, fingers digging in possessively. His breathing changes. “Well boys,” Tiny announces suddenly, voice loud and final as he stands up with me still in his arms before setting me on my feet, “gotta head out. See you tomorrow… or the next day. I don’t fucking know.”
The guys laugh and catcall as Tiny grabs my hand and practically drags me toward the exit. I barely have time to wave goodbye to the girls, who are all grinning like idiots.
The ride home on his bike is torture. I’m pressed against his back, arms wrapped around him, the vibration of the engine making the fresh tattoo throb and my nerves worse. By the time we pull up to his place, my heart is pounding so hard I feel dizzy.
Tiny cuts the engine and helps me off the bike, but he doesn’t let go of my hand. He pulls me inside, kicking the door shut behind us. The second we’re alone, he turns to me, eyes dark and hungry. “Show me, Lucy.”
I stand there in the middle of the living room, suddenly super nervous. My fingers shake as I reach for the hem of my dress. What if he doesn’t like it? What if it’s too much? What if…
