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Nessa laughed. “Hedidmention that, but I think after everything that’s gone on, just like you… he’s searching for some kind of normalcy. I guess you on a new bike that you quote-unquotedon’t need—thoughI’dsay, you need this bitch!—is as normal as it gets.”
“Wow.” I nodded. “That’s... really sweet.”
“Yup. Which makes me think it might be a bit of an apology gift too,” she mused, arms crossed. “I may or may not have put it in his ear that apologies should also hit the bank account.”
“I’m not going to argue with that.” I laughed. “But… how do you feel about an expensive gift like this? Just to make sure I’m not stepping on any toes,” I explained.
She waved me off. “Girl, please! You are a huge part of the reason he’s even dateable.” She shrugged. “I’d hate to see what a man like Blue looked like with no female influence in his life. He called you his sister for a reason, and I can’t see myself ever having any type of issue with what he wants to do for you; the same as he’d never be on any weird shit withmybrother.”
I laughed. “Well, I appreciate that, and your confidence in my influence over the man he is, but I can’t quite take full credit. He told you about Tali?”
“Your sister.” Nessa nodded. “Yes. I know she was his first love, and it wrecked him when she passed away.”
“Exactly,” I agreed. “She had her moments like anybody else, but mostly… she just really brought out the best in people. Brandon included. And then she passed, and it kind of brought all the worst back. He loved my sister, and then he lost her, and he kind of lost himself a little bit with it. And that was a part of him that I never saw again until he met you.”
“Wow,” Nessa murmured, shaking her head. “That’s quite a statement to make.”
“I’m only making it because it’s true,” I assured her. “For all his faults and flaws—and that nigga hassomany.” I laughed. “He really is a good man. And I think he’s lucky to have you.”
“Aaaand, you’re just embarrassing me now, with the sappy stuff,” Nessa insisted, looking away from me. “I’m a crybaby at heart, you can’t be in here doing this.”
“My bad! Let’s talk about something else,” I suggested.
“Anythingelse.” She giggled. “What you want to talk about?”
“What do youthinkI want to talk about, sis?” I asked. “How soon can I have this delivered to my house? Or better yet—can someone deliver my car? I want to ride this baby off the lot.”
***
“Three days ago, you were down with a concussion. Today you’re riding up on a brand-new bike. That doesn’t feel reckless to you?” Brandon teased as I climbed off the bike in front of the clubhouse.
“You’re the one out here spoiling me,” I countered. “You shouldn’t have done that if it was going to be a problem.”
“Hold up. I didn’t know you were going to be this anxious and just immediately be ready to take it out.”
“I feel like you did, actually.” I laughed.
Which… felt amazing.
So much over the last few weeks had been steeped in melancholy, confusion, and fear that an interaction like this felt like an overdue breath of fresh air.
Justthismoment though.
Our presence here at the clubhouse today was not exactly due to a happy occasion.
The memorial service for our fallenPredatorswas today.
Even in my relief that all the bullshit was past us now, there was no getting past the abundance of guilt I felt over the deaths of my people.
Sure wehadneeded to get some sort of levity, andBottomswas supposed to be safe; we’d put precautionary measures into place to ensure it was.
Just… not enough, apparently.
Honestly, there was still a bit of discomfort that hung with me, wondering if this wasreallythe end.
Had Renard put some sort of failsafe in place where, even with his death, there was still danger lurking? Some plan still just waiting to be carried out when we least expected it?
All I could do was hope that wasn’t the case.
