Page 113 of Blue

“He’s a felon. Did you miss the part where he said court ordered treatment?”

“Blue and Cruz are felons.” Her lips twisted with a smirk. “Ryatt just got caught.”

“NA meetings aren’t the best place for hookups.”

“Good,” she said with a tone of sauciness. “Because I’m not interested in fucking him. But he wants to talksportbikes, not Harleys so he might just be my new best friend.” She chomped into a cookie.

I snorted and grabbed a cookie. “I thought that’s whatIwas.”

Ansel entered the room, and we hurried back to our seats, although Brad, McKelle, and Ryatt took over the focus of the meeting. At least for me. Their huddled discussion included the pros and cons of engine size, brand, and gearing.

Once the meeting was over, I left McKelle with Brad and Ryatt and joined Ansel at the front of the room.

“If you hear from Georgia, will you let me know?” I asked him.

“Give her a couple days. She’ll be back.” A sad smile hinted at his lips, almost as if he hoped that what he said would be true. He took a breath to say something then sighed, and his shoulders slumped. “I thought about you last night.”

I nervously shifted from my right foot to my left.Please, don’t make this awkward.I needed the NA meetings. I’d just finished scolding McKelle for vibing with Ryatt. I know I hadn’t given any mixed signals to any guy because I was only into Blue.

“Sometimes, letting go of friendships is the hardest part of getting clean. We put ourselves in situations that have the possibility of jeopardizing our sobriety.”

Theweandourin his advice was actuallymeandmy, but he didn’t need to worry. I’d never been this committed to anything in my life. Sobriety was important because Blue had slipped into my veins better than any drug. Only there wasn’t the high followed by the crash or the need to do anything to get the next hit.

There was just us. Broken pieces who fit together perfectly. “It wasn’t hard for me, not this time.”

He rested his left butt cheek on the table and folded his hands in his lap. “I know you haven’t been here long, but you’ll make friends.” He paused, and the mask of keeping it together slipped a little. His mouth pinched making his mustache twitch. “I’m going to miss her.” He blinked back tears. “I know everyone is hurting. I just wanted to check in with you.” He stood and smoothed down his pants. “I’m worried about Georgia.”

“If the guys or I hear something, we’ll let you know, too.”

He nodded, and when I turned to go back to McKelle, she, Brad, and Ryatt were gone.

At the chairs, I grabbed my helmet off the floor, stomped to the reception area, and scanned the room. Nope. Not here either. I shoved open the main door to the parking lot.

Of course, they were gathered around the bikes.

Ryatt handed McKelle his cigarette. She took a drag, then handed it back. When she saw me, she waved. I was pissed, but I hadn’t figured out the reason why yet.

Whispering through the meeting.Yep.

Latching on to the only two people in the room I’d connected with.Um, yes, that, too.

Leaving me in there like I was an afterthought.Add that one, too. I knew the feeling of being discarded well. There was a time it would have made me feel so insecure I’d want nothing more than to get high.

I continued making a mental list.

Acting as if she hadn’t done anything wrong.In my book, she had. So, check that one as a yes.

“We wanted to give you privacy with Ansel,” Brad said. “He’s taking Janie’s death pretty hard.”

Okay. We were all hurting because of Janie. That they’d noticed Ansel’s hurt, when they were feeling it too, was exceptionally empathetic on their part. Not a usual trait for addicts. I erased a couple of irritants off my list.

“I didn’t want you to feel rushed by standing around waiting for you.” McKelle’s gaze assuaged my mounting irritation.

I didn’t have anything left on my list to be pissed about. I’d been bitchy and a bit jealous that she’d fit in so easily with Brad and Ryatt.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked me.

I nodded and tugged on my helmet.

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