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She takes my concerned face incorrectly.
I wave her off. “That’s great, but not really what I’m concerned about.” These guys have come to care about Lilah on a level no one ever did in Mexico. They adore her, and I know they’ll keep her guarded when there’s a lot of people.
“I just… I don’t do well with big crowds. And the girls…”
Haley sighs, “You’re going to have to get used to the crowds, kid. And, as for the girls…” she shrugs, “Well, I guess you’re going to have to get used to them, too.”
“Wow, thanks.”
She swipes the empty place from under Lilah and walks towards the back. “Sorry, Ivy. It is what it is. You’ll have to get used to things here. The guys throw parties here, and the guys are guys. They love when the Jessie’s flow in during a big party. They’re crude and disgusting half the time, but the Jessie’s love ‘em. They won’t be stopping anytime soon, either. And from the looks of things, you aren’t going anywhere.”
“Why do you say that?” I ask, lifting Lilah from the bar stool.
Haley cocks an eyebrow in my direction. “You don’t need to have eyes to see that you guys are falling for each other. You search him out when he isn’t around. His eyes arealwayson you. You aren’t going anywhere, Ivy. Welcome to your new home.”
“We aren’t falling for each other.” I emphasis each word, feeling my stomach twist and turn.
She laughs, walking out of sight. “Call it what you like, kid. If the sky is blue, then the sky is blue.” I hear the sink turn on in the back, effectively ending our conversation.
“Mommy?”
I look down at Lilah, her skin sun kissed and her hair a tangled mess from running around outside. “What’s Halloween?”
I pause in my step, looking down at her and realizing she’s never experienced Halloween. She’s never been able to experience or enjoy dressing up or going trick or treating.
“It’s… It’s a holiday. People dress up scary or however they want, really. People go trick or treating and get candy. It’s fun.”
Her face brightens and the word candy. “Can I go to Halloween?”
My face falters. I feel like a terrible parent for not being able to show her all the wonderful things that kids can enjoy. “Um, Mommy is going to be gone for Halloween.” Her face falls and it looks like she’s going to start crying. “Okay, maybe, before bed tonight, we can see about doing some trick or treating. How does that sound?”
“Yay!”
I nod at her and walk towards the stairs. Now I just need to figure out how I can get my daughter to go trick or treating when it’s not even Halloween.”
West walks out of the bathroom as I start heading up the stairs. “Hey! West, Violet is looking for you.”
He winces and looks around like he’s looking for an escape route.
“Why are you looking like that?” I laugh.
He groans. “She’s always trying to rope me into setting up for the party. I almost gave myself a laxative beforehand so I could be stuck on the shitter until tonight.”
“That’s disgusting.” I cringe.
He shrugs. “I’ll go find her. Otherwise, she’ll hunt me down anyways.” He sighs and starts walking towards the door.
“West?”
He turns around. “Yeah?”
“I have a favor that can maybe get you out of helping Violet.”
A smile breaks out on his face. “Whatever it is, I’m in.”
* * *
Later that evening,there’s a knock on the door and it cracks open, revealing a smiling Violet. She’s decked out in a little red riding hood outfit. A little red dress and an oversized hood cover her. The hood hides her curls the bounce around her with every move she makes. Her smoky eyes make her look dangerous, and the shade of her deep red lipstick matches her dress perfectly. She finishes her outfit with laced up black combat boots, the heavy heel making her look as every bit of biker club girl that she is.
