Page 10 of Firecracker

Ginger pours us another stiff drink and continues telling me about her father’s club and how she left there at nineteen to move here. How Shy was her first love and then her first heartbreak.

“For fuck’s sake,” I breathed, slamming back half of my drink.

She’s telling me about how Shy took over an MC club here in New York, so he could be with her. It all sounded crazy, but it kept my mind off my own problems. I reply with my support for her and shock over all that she is telling me.

Goddamn, this woman has been through so much.I slam the rest of the drink.

She pours us another drink. I love watching her tell me the stories but when she keeps going on about being chased by bikers, fights in the club and when she told me about a finger being left for her, I freaked out and told her to shut the fuck up.

I’m completely buzzed and obviously feeling comfortable with her because I start to let loose about my fucked-up marriage. I don’t tell her much, just how stupid I feel for being so upset over the fuckwad when they have been through so much more. We go back and forth with stories, and before long we are both totally shit faced, laughing, talking shit. I can’t believe all the shit that has happened. It’s shocking, and I can’t think straight.

I slam my drink and sit back in the chair, trying to wrap my head around all the shit she just told me when all of a sudden Ginger jumps up. I bolt up after her ready for anything, especially after what she just told me, but there is nothing.

“Ruby, let’s dance,” Ginger yells all amped up.

“Fuckin’ hell, Gin, you scared the shit out of me. I thought there was a fight or someone coming to kill us.”

I clench my chest and start to laugh at how silly we probably looked. Moving around so fast has all the alcohol rushing to my head, and I get light-headed.

“Easy Gin. Don’t make the lass throw up,” Gus says from next to me when he grabs my elbow steadying me.

All I can do is giggle and try to focus on standing up straight.

“Sit down. Let me get you some water. Gin, watch her an sweet Jesus, don’t give her anymore to drink,” Gus growls.

I fall back into the chair now hysterically laughing. Ginger moves in front of me dancing, she leans down placing her hands on either side of the big lounge chair.

“Oh, my God. Are you okay?” Ginger says giggling.

I keep laughing. “Hell yes, I’m okay.”

I lean back in my chair with a smile, thinking how this woman just woke me the fuck up.

Fuck.I’ve been in my own head for so long that I didn't take the time to look around. There are other things going on in life that are way worse than what I’m going through. I’m just getting divorced. My life isn’t over. Things will be okay. I will be fine. Shit, my life is just beginning.

Feeling good about myself and my little pep talk, I try to stand up to dance with Ginger but fail, falling back into the big cushion chair. Ginger comes to my aid, but we both just end up laughing trying to get me out of the chair to dance. Shy comes up behind Ginger grabbing her around the waist lifting her up. She squeals laughing, yelling at him to put her down.

I lean forward placing my hands on my knees, taking a deep breath. I see Gus moving toward us from the bar. I take another deep breath and try to pull myself up out of this fucking chair when suddenly I’m lifted up effortlessly by two strong hands that come from behind me.

Who the fuck?

“Jesus Christ, woman, you’re tiny as fuck without that marshmallow engulfing you. And this fucking hair...” Quick says, purring next to my ear before taking in a deep breath.

Jesus, Quick! Did he just smell my hair? His breath on my neck sends a wakeup call to every nerve in my body.

I swing around losing my balance and falling back, but Quick reaches out catching me as he pulls me into

his massive chest. I place my hands on him, leaning back to look up at his face and spout off, “For fuck’s sake quit calling me marshmallow.”

Quick’s smile widens showing me his pearly whites. “You’re a feisty little shit,” he drawls sexily.

I’m dizzy, and it isn’t all from being drunk. Fuck, he’s fine.

“You always this feisty or is it just me you like to fuck with?” Quick says down at me with a devilish smirk.

How can anyone talk to him when he looks so good I want to devour him. I know it’s been a while but Jesus if he doesn’t have my lady parts stirring to life. Quick starts to chuckle under his breath, and I realize I haven’t answered him.

“I’m a bitch to everyone,” I huff, giving myself a high five for making a complete sentence without slurring.

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