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Opening the fridge, I found a pound of bacon and tossed it to the counter. Pulling out a big cookie sheet, I lined it with the bacon while the oven was heating. Once it was all laid out and in the oven, I hurried to the shower.
“What’er you doin’, sour puss?”
I looked over my shoulder as Rocket’s face split into a cocky grin. “Fixin’ to mop the floor with your smug ass.” I pointed at him. “Do not call me sour puss in front of anyone. You do, I’ll start callin’ you dumbshit.”
He leaned in and kissed me. If Effie hadn’t been awake I’d have dragged him into the shower with me. But she was. Beside, someone had to keep an eye on breakfast.
“Timer’s set for twenty minutes. I ain’t out, check on the bacon. If it’s not just this side of burned, do not touch it.”
“Burnt bacon.” He chuckled. “I like it.”
“I don’t care if you like it or not. You touch it before it’s done, you die. Capice?”
He raised his hands in surrender before heading back down the hall. “Understood, sour puss.”
“Don’t call me that!” My ire was met with his deep laugh. I made a face behind his back.
“I saw that.”
“Did not.” He pointed to a nearby mirror and I realized he probably had seen me. He hadn’t lied. “Fine. Point taken.”
I hurried through the shower. I was sore as a mother, but not from the sex we’d shared the night before. OK, I was sore from that, but not like I was from the beating I’d taken when I’d rescued Effie. And yeah. I’d given up trying to call her Euphemia even in my head, because poor kid. We’d have to come up with a road name for her. If we were going to vanish off the grid, we could totally do that. Might help her feel like she fit in.
Rocket had set some real clothes out for me on our bed and, yes, my property cut was there. I grinned. Apple was gonna be so jealous.
I reached for my phone to snap a pic for her, only to remember I didn’t have one. Which is when I remembered that Dani and Apple would be worried. Wylde too but fuck him. He was a grown-ass man.
I sighed. No. I’d never tell a soul, but I loved Wylde as much as I did Apple and Dani. I didn’t want him to worry.
When I made it to the kitchen, I was fully dressed and sporting my new vest, skintight jeans, a white tank top that showed my belly, and fucking fabulous motorcycle boots. I found Effie and Rocket chatting and eating eggs and toast with their bacon. Along with strawberry jam. I ruffled Effie’s hair before picking up a piece of bacon from Rocket’s plate and studying it. It was crispy but there was still a speck or two of brown on it.
“You get a pass this time ‘cause you’re new, but it needed another three or four minutes.”
“Woman, it’s burnt to a crisp. Any more burned and it’d be ash.”
I blinked at him. “What’s your point?”
Effie giggled and scooped a forkful of egg through her jam and shoved it into her mouth. “I think it’s delicious.” For emphasis, she picked up a piece and popped it into her mouth.
“Don’t go takin’ his side, you little imp. We girls gotta stick together.”
“What about Gina?” Effie looked up at me, her eyes wide. “Shouldn’t we stick with her too?”
“I’m going to fix that as soon as we finish breakfast,” I said. I avoided looking at Rocket because I knew he was probably grinning. I also knew that out of the mouth of babes…
“I like Gina. She read me my favorite story three times and never once complained.”
“She did, huh?”
“Uh-huh. Are we going back to Gina’s house?”
“Yeah. We are. But. You have to promise to do what I tell you to. If I tell you to go with Byte, I want you to do it. I promise it won’t be long.”
She nodded eagerly. “I like Byte.” Then she frowned. “But Gina doesn’t. Maybe I’ll just stay with you. That way Byte doesn’t scare Gina.” She grinned and I knew I was being played. How did I know? Because it was exactly something I’d say. Besides, it was the perfect excuse I needed for me to get Gina one on one and away from the guys in the club. So, in a way, Effie had helped me play Rocket. I was good with that.
“Right. Awesome idea, kid.” I held out my hand for a high five. Which Effie gave me eagerly.
I ushered Effie out the door with Rocket right behind me. “Did that just fuckin’ happen?”
