Page 112 of Blue

“Absolutely. I’m glad you made it,” he said to me.

McKelle and I walked toward the meeting room. “They have cookies and coffee.”

“Oh, thank god. I’m starving.”

I glanced around, expecting to see Georgia filling her mouth and her backpack with cookies. We migrated toward the snack table. “I’ve only been to a couple meetings. I don’t know anyone except this girl Georgia. But she’s not here. And Ryatt and Brad. They are always together.”

McKelle cocked a brow.

“Not like that. I mean, maybe like that, but I don’t think so. Anyway, Ryatt rides the R1. Brad rides the Ninja.”

I piled a couple of chocolate chip cookies on a napkin then filled a coffee cup. McKelle did the same. More people filed into the room and staked out seats in the clusters of chairs.

I pointed to a couple of seats in the back. Should I save a place for the others? I mean, I didn’t really know them, but we’d exchanged numbers and agreed to be there for each other, like a sponsor team.

“Hi.” Strong arms wrapped around me from behind.

I squealed. “Asshole,” I snapped and slugged Ryatt in the gut. “You scared me.”

He laughed and feigned injury by doubling over. “Fuck, I’m just fucking glad you’re here.”

Brad pulled me into a hug. “Have you heard from Georgia?”

I hugged him back. “No.” But I hadn’t expected to. She was nice, but I hadn’t connected with her the same way I had with Janie.

He glanced around the room. “I was hoping she’d be here.” He flared his nostrils on a harsh inhale. “I’m worried about her.” He turned to Ryatt, then back to me. “We were worried about you, too, when we didn’t see you.”

“Text her,” I said.

“She hasn’t answered.” Brad fired off another text. “I’m fucking worried. Without Janie, I don’t know if she has anywhere to go. We rode out to Janie’s apartment this morning to see if she wanted a ride to the meeting. She was going to stay there while Janie was visiting her family, but no one answered.”

“Maybe Ansel can help,” I said.

Brad shrugged. “NA is voluntary.” He elbowed Ryatt in the ribs. “Except for this asshole.”

Ryatt wagged his brows at McKelle. “Court ordered treatment. This was one of the options.”

“This is my friend McKelle. Ryatt and Brad,” I said and pointed at each of them as I said their names.

Brad pointed to our helmets. “I know our girl Kiss is riding behind a Heller.”

“Not today,” I interrupted. “I’m backpacking my girl.”

“What do you ride?” Ryatt asked since we were both holding helmets.

“BMW S1000RR with a pearl white wrap.”

Brad whistled.

And then the bike talk started. Ryatt sat on the edge of a table, regaling McKelle with near death experiences on his R1 last week.

McKelle tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled. Was she flirting? At an NA meeting? With my group sponsor? When our boyfriends were getting their asses chewed by the two meanest, most intimidating Hellers in the MC?

Oh, fuck no. No flirting. No hair flipping.

“I need another cookie,” I said. “Excuse us.” I grabbed McKelle. “Save our seats,” I said to Brad as I dragged McKelle toward the cookies and coffee. “What are you doing?”

She smiled as she glanced over her shoulder. “Ryatt’s hot. And he’s nice.”

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