Page 51 of Eagle

Way to snap me out of my brattiness. I practically melted into a puddle. I considered leaving him on read, but my romantic heart couldn’t help itself.

Me: I miss you

Swiping away from the message, I realized the phone was nearly dead. I hadn’t plugged it in since I got it. It would take some getting used to. When I got trapped by Tony, he took everything I had so I hadn’t had one for a long time. Close to a year between that and the time I’d been at the clubhouse.

Once I found the charger in the box it came in, and he had the sense to include a block for it, I plugged it in and went back to finding my outfit.

After having a snack and asking Jeannie if I could borrow a cute dress for later, I packed up my things and we headed to the club.

“Date night, huh? I wonder where he’s taking you.”

“Not sure. He just said have a change of clothes. He tried to take me out last night but it was all still up in the air and Ilooked like I just worked a shift at a strip club,” I said with a laugh.

“He probably wouldn’t care if you had pajamas on. You’re his woman, so you can look however you want.”

“I’m not his woman. He hasn’t claimed me.” We were in a much different place than just last week, but he never said that. Just another reason to take this slow.

Jeannie scoffed. “You’re so delusional. These guys don’t wax poetic, Lacy. He was on his knees. That’s him telling you he wants you.”

Shrugging, I said, “They also have their code. They claim their women, then when it’s serious and forever, they patch them in.”

“So you need him to exclaim it like a caveman? Because that’s how they are. And why is that so fucking hot?”

I giggled. “I wish I knew. I’d be better off if I didn’t think it was but, shit...it just is.”

“Mmmhmm.”

She pulled around, and unlucky for me, Butch was at the door. “Great.”

“Oh he’s harmless. But I wouldn’t mention Eagle to him. Their egos are as big as they are, if not bigger.”

“He shouldn’t have fought with Eagle about me. It was just shitty. Eagle wouldn’t say what happened, but it was over me.”

“Yeah, but they’re all wound up still over Raven and all the shit going on. When tensions are high, even the best of friends get stupid with each other.”

“I guess so.” I didn’t have a lot of close friends over the years, but the ones I did never fought like that. But men were different I supposed. Women held onto grudges where men could usuallyduke it out then be best buds again.

Grabbing my bag that included my outfit, dress, platforms, and the sandals Jeannie let me borrow for the dress, I told her thanks for the ride, then headed inside. I smiled as I passed Butch and asked, “How’s it going?”

He didn’t say anything but crossed his arms, blowing out a plume of smoke. I waved my hand through it and went for the door. At least he didn’t say anything, I guess.

A few girls were already there hanging in the dressing room and I plopped down at an open vanity.

“Knock, knock,” Rayne said from the door.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

He came in and leaned on the wall next to the mirror I was using. “Good. So, tell me everything.”

I smiled but kept working on my makeup and watching myself in the mirror. “You mean Eagle?”

“Girl, yes. He was intense.”

“He’s not normally like that.” I finally looked over at him. “We were sort of…not fighting exactly. And not really broken up because we weren’t really together. Hard to explain.”

“He seemed to think you were together. I know that machismo stance anywhere. Try being a gay man at a club. Testerone and egos as far as the eye can see.” He smirked. “So yummy.”

“It can be. It can also be a bit much.” I looked around. “Is Butch so pushy with all the girls?”

---