Page 120 of Rest In Pieces

Lil looks at her thoughtfully. “You might be right. There’s a lot less drama now.”

“Plus, it’s nice having a friend to turn to—someone you know will always have your back.” Legs smiles at Lil.

“You mentioned old ladies? Are they still around? I don’t remember meeting any, well, except Sunshine.”

“No. Not anymore. I won’t go into too much detail, but we had some bad brothers who tried to tear the club apart. They failed, obviously, but that still left us with scars. I don’t know the specifics behind them leaving, but I don’t blame them for going. Not after everything that happened. They left to be safe, and I stayed for the same reason,” she says, her eyes going distant like she’s lost in a memory before she snaps out of it and looks at me. “But being here now is the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Looking at Lil, I study her face and find no lie. She means what she says, and even though I don’t understand how she finds happiness in how she lives her life, it sure as shit isn’t for me to judge. I’ve never walked in her shoes, so I’ll never tell her which path she should’ve taken. That reminds me too much of Nevaeh’s father and his attitude toward people.

“I’m glad. I won’t lie, the first time I came here, I never wanted to come back. I thought everyone here was insane and wanted no part of it.”

“Why did you come back then?” Lil asks. There’s no anger in her voice, only curiosity.

“Because it was important to G. And then the more I came back, the more I started to understand what it is about this place he loves.”

“And what’s that?”

“The people. You’re his family. It feels like coming home every time he walks through those doors, and it’s not just because he sleeps here.”

“I get what you mean. It’s why it’s taken me so long to get up the courage to leave.”

Lil huffs, and Legs tenses. But Lil doesn’t say anything. She takes another sip of her coffee and tries to appear unaffected.

“I’m not leaving you, Lil. Or any of the guys. Not really. Family isn’t a place; it’s the people, just like Amity said. And even though I won’t be living here, I’ll visit as often as I can.”

“It won’t be the same,” Lil mutters. “Though it will be nice to have a place to stay when I need a break from all the testosterone around here.”

“Exactly. Silver lining, right? And I know this is weird, but I never got to do the whole sleepover thing when I was a kid. So I want to do that now, but with wine and a charcuterie board. Because I’m an adult and classy as fuck.”

We all burst into laughter, which I didn’t think would happen after last night.

“You’ll both come, right? And bring Nevaeh?”

“She’d love it,” I tell her. And she would.

“What about the other club girls?”

“Kiki and Stacey are only interested in the guys and each other. Tina, Rose, and Glory kind of keep to themselves. We get along, but I don’t think any of them would be comfortable leaving the guys for a night.”

“Are they that worried about their safety?”

“I don’t think it’s that. None of us come from very happy homes. And now, here, they’re being treated like they matter, even if it’s because of their bodies. I think part of them thinks that if they leave, they’ll be replaced, and the family they thought they had will turn out to be an illusion,” Legs says softly.

“Please tell me you don’t think that way!” Lil snaps at her.

“It’s what I know, Lil. I love the guys and gals here. And like I said, I’ll visit and expect you all to visit me. But I know things will never be the same once I leave. Out of sight, out of mind, and all that. I’ve been replaced so many times,” she whispers.

“Not by me. I know I don’t give you screaming orgasms every night—not that I couldn’t if I swung that way—but you’re my sister from another mister. There’s no replacing you,” Lil tells her firmly.

I pick up my coffee and use the mug to cover my grin. “I have some new friends coming to check out the set this week. Nevaeh was supposed to be there to keep them company while I work, but she got called away. So, I was wondering if you guys would want to come and help me out?”

“What new friends?” Legs questions me.

“The ones I made, obviously. What can I say? I’m awesome.”

“Hmm… Yeah, that must be it. Nothing to do with the possibility of meeting a celebrity.”

“Trust me, when you meet them, you’ll realize they’re nothing special. They eat, shit, and fuck up just like the rest of us.”

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