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28
Jaynee
The sexual tension between Zander and me was at an all-time high tonight. Something was up with him. He hadn’t kissed me as I expected. Usually, he couldn’t keep his hands off me.
Had I missed something? Why was he distant?
I tossed back my tequila shot, absorbing the music in the clubhouse’s bar. Next weekend was Tara and Hero’s wedding. Instead of having a bachelor and bachelorette party, they all got together for karaoke.
Zander invited me, and I found myself sitting with the ladies. I was surprised it was more like a party. Why I was included, I had no idea. I liked the women in the club, but I hadn’t gotten to know many of them on a personal level. I mostly talked to Maddy, Emilee, and Tina.
I was glad I’d begged Karma to come with me, or I’d feel totally out of place. Nova and Sadie were in the playroom in the family unit. Tina had offered to babysit the kids with the help of her daughter, Valerie.
There was a new woman in the group,Snow, they called her. She was very pregnant and gorgeous. She’d arrived on the arm of a gladiator—not really, but Boxer could’ve been one. Zander had gone over to hug her and touched her belly. It was easy to see they were friends.
Speaking of Zander. He’d been at the bar with his MC brothers while I was at a table with the old ladies and Libby. It felt like he was avoiding me. Why invite me if he wasn’t going to hang with me?
I reached for another shot.
“So, you and Lynx?” Snow smiled sweetly.
I drank down the tequila and shook my head. “We’re just friends.” I didn’t know what else to call us. Why would she think anything more? She’d been here for—what? Thirty minutes? And in that time, Zander hadn’t been near me.
Maddy giggled, face flushed, and waved me off. “Yes, her and Lynx. Girl, don’t pretend like you two aren’t a couple.”
“Everyone sees it,” Tara added with a red cocktail straw between her lips.
I glanced sidelong at Karma, hoping she heard my silent plea for help.
“Just admit it.” Libby nudged my elbow. “We all see it.”
“How so?”
“Well, he hasn’t been with any of us since he met you.” Libby sipped her drink. “Lynx doesn’t go without sex for more than a day or two.”
I grabbed another shot and drank that baby down. I didn’t appreciate how these women knew Zander on such a personal level. When I was around the kittens, I tried not to think about them having sex with him.
What other choice did I have but to accept and not judge him for what he did before meeting me? I had a daughter with another man and bared my chest to strangers. I wasn’t perfect or untainted. If Zander and I were going to be more than friends, I had to take him as he was, just as he did me. We’d agreed the past was the past. What we did from here on out was what mattered.
Amber sashayed in at that very moment. When Zander was around, she made every effort to talk and flirt with him. When he wasn’t, she was sweet to me. I distinctly had the feeling she was trying to show me her position in his life meant more than mine did.
I jerked my head toward the laughing duo. “See that over there?”
All the women turned toward them.
“He loves women. He’ll never settle down.” I went for my fifth shot and raised it. “And I’m fine with it. Sadie and I are moving to Florida in two weeks.” I wasn’t sure what possessed me to say that. Florida was off the table for the time being, although Zander and I hadn’t talked about it.
“What?” The ladies gasped all at once.
That got the men’s attention.
“Let’s leave,” I whispered to Karma. She’d driven her own car to the compound so she could leave when she wanted. I stood and teetered a bit on my heels.
Hands snaked around my waist, hot breath engulfing my ear. “Are you okay?”
Great, just what I needed. The women stared at us. He made me look like a fool after telling them nothing was going on.
I brushed his hands off me. “Don’t,” I hissed. “Karma and I are leaving. Thanks, ladies, it was fun.” I waved.
