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He chuckles. “Jesse had to hit the head, and we knew you’d be pulling up, so I said I’d come out, seeing as everyone else is occupied.”
I smirk. “Frankie not taking up your attention?”
Raid sighs. “She won’t quit. She knows she’s an Old Lady now, but it’s hard to get the head club girl out of her system, you know what I mean? She’s fussing about in there, ensuring everything is done right. Poor Storm attempts to take charge as the new head club girl, but Frankie has trouble letting go.”
I nod in understanding.Strong women tend to have that problem.I know because I am one. “You need to find something to replace it with. She adores Addi, right?”
Raid shrugs and dips his chin. “Absolutely, yeah.”
“So get Frankie to focus her time on your daughter. Honestly, Addi and her get along so well that Addi would love the extra attention. She just lost her mother. It’s her first Christmas without her. Addi needs all the love and support she can get right now, and Frankie is the right woman for that job.”
Raid smiles. “Maxxy, you’re fucking legendary. Anyone ever tell you that?”
I let out an incredibly unladylike snort. “Unlikely, but I’m gonna drive through now. Lock the gate and go find Frankie. Don’t wait for me. I can make my way into the clubhouse.”
“You sure? I don’t mind waitin—”
“Raid, go. Be with your family. It’s Christmas. I’ll be in, in a minute. I’m just gonna park my car.”
He smiles as I drive off to park in the lot. I glance in the rearview to see him shut the gate, then turn to walk toward the clubhouse.
Good.
I’m glad he’s going to talk to Frankie.
She is such a good woman. She deserves to be happy and let go a little.
Turning off my engine, I catch my reflection in the mirror, noticing a stray piece of confetti in my hair. I snicker and pull it out, throwing it out the door. Locking my car as I walk toward the clubhouse, I hear a commotion coming from inside. It’s not the bad kind but the kind where everyone is laughing and having thebesttime.
As I enter the clubhouse, the tree sits proudly in the corner, decorated—probably by Frankie—let’s be honest.I smile at the long trestle table in the middle of the clubhouse set out, ready for the feast.
I’ve only heard about these big lunches, never having been to one, but they have always sounded like such a fun atmosphere. Making my way through the crowd, I spot Ingrid, Novah, and Bayou sitting with Nash and Brianna. Nash is out of his usual tailored suit, opting for casual jeans and a button-down. I had no idea Nash and his girl would be here. But then again, theyarefamily, so why wouldn’t they?
I step over, and instantly Ingrid glances up at me, her gorgeous smile lighting her face. The woman was like a second mother to me growing up. Her strawberry blonde hair still shows no signs of gray for her age of fifty-five. “Maxxy? Oh, darling, I didn’t know you were coming. I would have brought your present with me.”
“You didn’t have to buy me anything, Ingrid—”
“Nonsense, you’ve always been a part of the family, Maxxy, and I know with your mother passing this last year, times like this are harder. I should have known Hurricane would invite you.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her it was an afterthought.
“I’m glad I have you guys. Honestly, Christmases with my mother were never that… great, so it’s nice to be spending it with people Iactuallylike.”
“Except for Hoodoo,” Bayou quips, and I smirk, nodding.
“Yes, except for him. No one likes him,” I mock.
We all chuckle while Hoodoo rounds the corner and spots me. He instantly exhales, his body sagging, and I can’t tell if he is relieved I’m here or utterly disappointed. “You!” he snaps.
Disappointed, it is.
“Merry Christmas to you too.”
He groans, craning his neck to the side. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant… I’m surprised to see you here, is all.”
Bayou chuckles, patting the seat next to him. “Come take a seat, Maxxy. Ignore that idiot. It’s good to have you here.”
“Yeah, really good that you’re here, Maxxy,” Novah states, smiling wide at me as Ingrid reaches out, taking my hand while I sit between her and Bayou.
