Page 55 of Falcon

She stretched her arms over her head then kicked some gravel. “I don’t know. He already lets me stay in his room and makes sure I have food and clothes. I don’t want to bother him.”

Pointing to some wooden Adirondack chairs, we made our way over and sat down. She had on shorts and sandals with a tank top. Looking down, I realized all I had was jeans and various tops. But I was digging my new look. I didn’t really have a style before. I had worn a lot of leggings and workout clothes when I was home and had a handful of dresses for going out.

Looking over the grounds, I relaxed into the chair. The sun was shining down but it wasn’t too hot, albeit getting a little humid. The only sounds were a few clinks and clanks from the garages. I closed my eyes and soaked it in. After a few minutes, my eyes opened at the sound of a car cranking and pulling out. Mama Hen waved as she drove her midsize SUV down the driveway. Then it hit me: even though Falcon wasn’t with me, I was at ease. I was missing him, but I wasn’t in our room, I wasn’t tucked under his arm or following him around. I was sitting outside with my eyes closed. I didn’t need to see everything around me or worry that someone was going to sneak up and grab me. I wasn’t worried who’d see me sitting and resting. I was just…existing.

“I really love it here, Lacy.” I didn’t even mean to say that out loud, but it just rolled off my tongue.

She let out a content sigh. “It’s fun. And most everybody is nice.”

I reached my hand out to her and she grabbed it when she looked over. “Are you alright, Lacy? I’ve been sort of in my head. I kept thinking the other shoe was gonna drop or something. I haven’t really been there for you.”

“Daisy, are you kidding? You got me out of that place.” She put her other hand over our clasped ones. “I owe you my life.”

“No. We deserved to get out. I feel bad not knowing about the others. Or if there’s more. I doubt that night put him out of business.”

Lacy leaned back into her chair again but didn’t let go of my hand. “I hope some of them had the sense to run. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you left me behind. But I’m glad you didn’t. You could’ve just saved yourself.”

“I couldn’t leave you.” It was true. I remember Falcon holding his hand out to me, ready to go, but all I could think was I had to get her out. “You were my only friend. I thought I had friends before, but that was a joke. The second shit got real, suddenly having a friend with tons of cash wasn’t worth it anymore.”

“You’re sweet. People take advantage of that.”

“You never did.”

“Because I’m not a thundercunt.” We both laughed then she went on. “I don’t know. You were nice to me. It was so fucked up there, and lonely. Even though we all were stuck there, they were all still bitchy.”

“Well, I don’t begrudge them. It was kinda survival of the fittest. When you feel like your life’s in danger, everyone is an enemy, I suppose.”

“I was raised to believe in strength in numbers.”

Lacy didn’t talk much about her family and that statement surprised me. “Have you spoken to your family? Since we got away?”

She shook her head. “Nope. That ship sailed a long time ago.”

I didn’t want to press her, and I didn’t want to open the wounds of my childhood right then either, so I changed the subject. “Why don’t you come to the tattoo shop anymore?”

She shrugged. “Eagle’s great, but he’s one of them. I’m just hanging around until he gets tired of me. The bunnies seem to like it here.” She looked over at me. “I could be a bunny.”

“Do you not like him like that?”

She shrugged. “I’m not dumb. I’m just another blonde bimbo to him. Best I don’t get attached and get crushed. I’ll have my fun for now, and hopefully I can start working at the strip club soon. If things go south and it feels weird, I’ll be able to get my own place. Jeannie has her own place, ya know?”

I didn’t know Eagle as well as Falcon, but he didn’t strike me as one of the man-whores in the club. Sure, there were some, but I’d never seen him give a bunny a second look and he was always with Lacy at the clubhouse. “Maybe he thinks you don’t like him like that? Have you talked to him?”

She huffed. “No. Daisy, your magical pussy has put a spell on Falcon, but that’s not the norm. I’ve been spending my days here while you go sit at the shop. The girls talk. I’m just trying to be real with myself.” She squeezed my hand. “It’s okay. I’m safe, there’s a roof over my head, food in my belly, and good dick almost every night. And I don’t have to have sex with anyone I don’t want to. Well, for now.”

I raised my brow and whipped my head in her direction. “What do you mean ‘for now?’ They don’t do that here.”

“Oh, they don’t prostitute us, but the way the bunnies talk, if you hang around and you’re not claimed, you’re club ass.”

“So, they have to have sex with any random fucker that wants to because they stay here? Sounds like prostitution to me.”

Lacy rolled her eyes. “You don’t get it. They can leave anytime. They don’t mind. Hell, the way they talk, I think a few would rather stay club ass than be an old lady.”

I bit my bottom lip. It still sounded bad to me, but what they did with their bodies was their business. If they wanted to exchange some sex for this life, who was I to judge? I just couldn’t believe that all of them would want to sleep with every guy that hangs around.

After sitting outside for a while, I had a snack in the bar and took a short nap. When I got up again, all the ladies that were around congregated in the living area with the big TV and the plush couches.

One of the members carried in a bunch of pizzas and another hauled in a few coolers for us. “Okay, your pizza is in the kitchen. Now get!” Mama Hen shooed them off.

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