Page 24 of Firecracker

Chapter Seven

An hour later, I’m shit faced sitting at the bar watching all the people move around the room. Ginger placed me at the end of the bar which gave us access to see the room and everyone at the bar. The bartender, Maze, is a total sweetheart. My drink hasn’t been empty once while being here.

The Wolfeman MC clubhouse is not what I would have pictured a clubhouse looking like. It’s a massively tall building from the outside. When you walk through the door, it opens up into a huge warehouse type of room. There were a lot of people mingling around, but I went straight to the bar. It’s a long bar against the back wall giving the person who is behind it full view of the room.

Ginger and Quick have been by my side since we got here. I haven’t said much, and they’ve been giving me my space. Ginger has been chatting it up with members or Maze.

“Ruby, you coming to the party here tomorrow?” Maze asks gingerly.

I look up when my name is called and sit there thinking about how to answer that. Am I going to be here?

Quick grumbles, “Yes, she’s going to be here.”

Quick has been quiet since we’ve gotten here. I look over at him trying to read his face when Maze yells, “Okay, what the fucked happened tonight, because that...” —she points to Quick— “is not okay. He has been short and pissy all night.”

Maze leans onto the bar showing us her big tits, looking from Ginger to Quick. “What happened to make you all come here early and him to be so pissy. Give me something because this is stressing me out seeing him all grumpy.”

Quick looks up to face Maze, grabbing his beer taking a long swig from it. I’m about to say something when a shout echoes through the room. “Ruby Rube.”

Maze pops up off the bar throwing her hands in the air yelling, “Fuck yes, Legs! Iz’s in the motherfucking house. Finally, something to liven this place up let's get this pole dance party started.”

Izzy. Pole dance.

I’m just happy Izzy is finally here. I smile letting a deep breath out. I feel lighter just knowing she’s here. She’s like my security blanket now. I hate that I need to have someone but it was her before Brody, and I need her again.

Quick gets up, giving up his seat so Izzy can sit next to me. I turn on my stool watching her bounce over to us saying hello to people on the way. Once she is standing in front of me, she places both hands on her hips with a smile. “Rube, how you doing. Have you worked through what happened or do we need to head home to talk you through the shit that happened tonight?”

Gus and Quick move up behind Izzy waiting to hear my answer. She looks so happy and carefree. I haven’t worked this shit out, but I’m not going to let it ruin any more of my time here, so I smile. “I’m good. Maze here has been keeping me completely intoxicated, so I’m feeling pretty fucking awesome.”

Izzy beams with joy clapping her hands. “Hell yeah. Maze hook-”

Maze cuts her off shouting from behind us. “Already on it. Lining them up as we speak.”

Izzy leans in giving me a big hug. “You sure you’re good?” she whispers into my ear where no one can hear. I nod my head reassuring her that I’m okay.

She laughs. “Liar.” Giving me a tighter squeeze before letting me go.

“Shots!” Ginger yells besides us.

All of us grab a shot. The girls yell, “Cheers, biatches” followed with the fellas “Nut up, motherfuckers.”

Maze is full of smiles picking up all the shot glasses. “Legs, you need to jump on that pole and liven this party up.”

“Legs? Iz, you pole dance for them?” I say with a laugh and look around for the pole. “What pole?”

Ginger pipes up, “Iz is the pole dancing queen around here, and that’s where she got her nickname Legs.”

I lift my drink to my mouth laughing as I look to Izzy. “Really? You haven’t told me about any pole dancing.”

Izzy laughs. “Well we’ve both been kind of busy. It helps me relieve some stress.”

“Uh-huh,” I reply.

Izzy stands up, her face going from sheepish to devilish has me worried. “Actually, I think Ruby needs to show y’all how it’s done.”

Quick perks up,.“You know how to pole dance?” He smiles for the first time since being back.

This bitch is going to get it.

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