Page 20 of Wild and Wanted

‘Drinks on us,’ she said swiftly before looping her arm through Stevie’s and marching them in the direction of the bar.

Ivan glanced at Clay. ‘Those two are trouble.’

Clay couldn’t agree more but they followed them into the bar anyway, finding them at a booth with Beau about to take their order. Clay slid in opposite Stevie, who gave him a small, uncertain smile, which slithered right between his ribs. Ivan sat next to him because although the red vinyl seats sat three aside, Ivan took up a lot of space. Which left Dev to squeeze in next to Mags.

‘I hear you guys got an ass kicking,’ Beau said, a big grin splitting his face.

‘Yeah,’ Dev agreed. ‘But I had a handicap.’

Clay shot him a withering look. ‘Bite me, dickhead.’

‘Beers all round,’ Mags said, smiling at Beau. ‘And’ – she made a show of handing over all the cash they’d won right in front of Dev’s nose – ‘get one for yourself.’ She winked. ‘Keep the change.’

Beau honked out a laugh as he took the cash and Dev rolled his eyes. Ignoring his nemesis, he glanced past her to Stevie. ‘You play pretty good.’

Pretty good from Dev was high praise indeed.

Another small smile was directed at Dev this time. ‘We have a pool table at home, Yolly⁠—’

She cut off abruptly and Clay watched as her throat worked, like she was trying really hard to choke back emotion. The lighting was more subtle out here with the warm red glow from the lanterns, but Clay was at the right angle to see the glassy sheen in her eyes before she blinked it away.

‘My sister and I played a lot.’

There was a pregnant pause at the table, nobody sure whether they should ask about her sister or just go on. The car crash a couple of years back was no secret but out here, celebrity or not, people didn’t pry.

Thankfully, after an awkward few moments, Stevie moved the conversation on. ‘You’re very good,’ she murmured.

Dev shrugged. ‘Misspent youth.’

‘Really?’ She grinned. ‘Sounds like you have stories.’

‘Oh please,’ Mags interrupted. ‘Do not encourage the man.’

There was general laughter then as Mags begged Ivan to tell Stevie the story about the Clydesdale that had given him a love bite a couple of years back which he did in that way of his – unembellished – and the conversation ebbed and flowed from there until Beau kicked them out two hours later.

‘You don’t close for another hour,’ Mags protested.

‘Yeah but you lot are the only ones left and I own the place so watcha gonna do?’

‘Fine,’ she huffed. ‘But that’s a terrible way to do business.’

Beau shrugged again. ‘You’re welcome to go drink at Joe’s.’

Clay laughed as his sister mumbled under her breath. Very few people from Redemption went to Joe’s. It was five miles out on the highway and a total dive.

‘Fine,’ Mags huffed as she glanced at Stevie. ‘You ready to hit the road?’

‘You can’t drive,’ Dev said, frowning at Mags.

She rolled her eyes at him. ‘I have no intention of getting behind a wheel. Dad dropped us in. I told him we’d get a lift back with Clay.’

‘And what if Clay had picked up?’ Dev asked.

All eyes turned to him then – including Stevie, who watched him closely. Then everybody, bar Stevie, laughed. Even Ivan.

‘Good one,’ Mags said, slapping the table with her palm like it was the most hysterical thing she’d ever heard.

Clay shook his head. ‘You’re all comedians.’