Page 34 of Outlaws’ Runaway

“Sure, but I have to warn you, I’ve only played a couple times.”

“You'll do fine.” She leads me into the field and picks up four red beanbags. “We’re going to play from the same side so we can gossip.”

Crank’s already grabbed the blue ones. “Those aren’t the rules.”

“Don’t care! So… How are you holding up? Ghost didn’t know much about your situation.”

“I’m still standing. Does that count? I don’t think anyone knows what’s going to happen to me, though.”

She nods and hands me two bags. “I know what you mean. When I first came here, it was seriously overwhelming. Savage, Crank and Poe will take care of you, though. I don’t know Crank and Poe that well, but Ghost and Savage work together a lot and I don’t think Savage would team up with anyone who you couldn’t depend on.”

Crank yells from the other end of the lawn. “You girls gonna throw or just yap all day?”

Jessica rolls her eyes and throws her first bean bag. It doesn't even hit the frame, just drops straight through the hole. Then she gives Crank the finger.

I step up to take a toss. “So you’re with Ghost? You’re not one of the…” Ugh. I don’t want to say it.

“Sluts? No.” She laughs softly. “I just call them club girls usually. They don’t seem to care but it still feels weird. And no, old ladies are official. I have my own patch and everything,” she says proudly. “Property of Ghost, Tex and Riot.”

“Three guys? I thought you just said Ghost!” My bag goes wild, not even hitting the board.

“Well, I mean… IamGhost’s old lady. That’s why I heard about you, but I’m also Tex’s old lady, and Riot’s. I know it’s not exactly normal, but it works for us.” Jessica looks over, a little shy for the first time since she ran up. “And that’s what counts, right?”

All three guys? Is that why Savage and the others don’t seem to get jealous even though there’s been a lot of flirting with all of them? “How does it even work?”

“Well, sometimes I get on my hands and knees in the middle and then—Ha! If you could see your face.” Jessica bursts out laughing. “Sorry, too soon? I grew up kinda sheltered and now I spend most of my time around bikers. Pretty soon I’m not going to be fit for decent company.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll never finish this game so you won’t need to go anywhere,” Savage yells.

I look down to find all four of their bean bags on our side already. I hadn’t even noticed they’d gotten bored and taken their turns. “Fine!”

After the first round, we leave it for someone else to take a turn while we get more food. I take a beer, and sit down on the grass next to Savage and Crank as they talk about bikes. I tell Jessica the condensed version of how I ended up at the club, and she opens up a little bit about herself. It turns out she wasn’t caught like me, but actually kidnapped! I mean, it all worked out for the best, but it sounds like she came very close to not getting her happily ever after. A while later, Jessica's guys show up, and after a brief hello, they whisk her away in the direction of the building where Savage and Ghost live.

I take a second beer, and get coaxed into joining a game where me and Crank play against Savage and a guy named Sinner. By the time I’m on my third—or is it my fourth?—beer, my cornhole game has got up and gone. “I think I’m done.”

“One more shot.” Crank wraps his hand around mine and we throw together.

The shot is not only perfect, it knocks my other bean bag in with it, scoring me double. “Yes!” I turn to Crank with a massive grin and stretch up on my toes. Our lips meet in a sudden kiss that makes every neuron in my brain fire at once. He captures the back of my head with his big hand before I can disengage and holds me there, teasing my mouth open. His thick beard tickles my face, but when his tongue slips into my mouth, I tighten my grip around him, pressing my whole body against his. Wow.

I pull away before I do anything stupid. “Whoops.”

His blue eyes are bright with excitement, obviously eager to continue what I started, but everything spins for a second and I have to grab his arm to steady myself. God, too much beer. Either that, or he's just kissed me dizzy. Maybe both. I laugh. “I guess you weren’t lying when you told Georgia that two can fit in the same hole.”

For once, I’m pretty sure I managed to shock Crank instead of the other way around. He chuckles as he steadies me. “I wasn’t, and it’s good to know you were interested enough to pay close attention.”

“Not interested! It was just very m—memorable,” I correct, my tongue stumbling over the words.

“How about you tell me that again when you're fucking sober.” He captures my chin and tilts my head up so he can place a softer kiss on my lips before pulling back. “I think Paige might be ready for a break.”

“Hey!” I might not be a big drinker, but I’m not a total lightweight, either.

Savage jogs over. “Enough fun and games? It’s getting late, anyway. You and Poe slept most of the day away.”

I squeak in surprise when he sweeps me into his arms and carries me off like I don't weigh a thing. “Where are we going?”

“Taking you back to my quarters. You can sleep it off there.” He nods to Crank. “Check with Poe, see if he’s gotten anywhere.”

“Sure thing. I’ll bring him dinner.”

---