Page 131 of Stone

“Stick to your Atari, Abe,” a voice called out. “They’re more your speed.”

A grin stole across my face as I turned toward my Marine bud Duggan, now known as Tex. He’d survived the bomb blast that day but had been left for dead. Luckily, he’d been found in time and survived, but he had a permanent limp and was sensitiveto light. He’d turned up at the club just after I got back from my road trip, asking for a place. The man had mad skills in the ring, could wrangle a horse—which he swapped for a Harley—and kept everyone laughing, so he was a welcome addition to HQ two point oh.

“Come grab a beer and some food, brother,” I called over. “That wall can wait, but the food won’t.”

Tex sauntered over, pulling his tee back on as he approached, grumbling, “Hotter than Hades here, Stone,”

“You’re from fuckin’ Texas,” Abe pointed out. “Nowhere hotter than there.”

“Different heat,” Tex declared, grabbing a sandwich and taking a big bite.

“How the fuck can heat be different?” Abe demanded. “Heat’s heat. If it’s ninety degrees, it’s ninety degrees.”

“Humidity makes you sweat more,” Tex explained through his chews.

“Right,” Abe muttered. “Every fucker sweats in ninety-degree heat.”

Tex’s stare slid to me. “Remember the Devil’s Armpit, Stone? Never known sweat like it.”

I almost balked at the memory. “It was the ripest place I’ve ever known.”

Tex barked a laugh. “Good times.”

I deadpanned.

“Who’s that?” Abe murmured, looking toward the main road.

Stretching my neck, I peered at the blue Cavalier, trundling down the road. It slowed to a crawl before taking the turn into the parking lot at a snail’s pace.

“Who the fuck drives that slow?” Tex muttered. “Anybody expectin’ their grandma?”

“Hope not,” Abe muttered dryly. “She’s been dead for twenty years.”

“Abe!” Iris slapped his chest.

I busted out laughing, turning back toward the Cavalier as it ground to a halt.

The sun shone from behind, lighting up a female silhouette, and then the door flew open, and a pair of shapely legs appeared in shorts and sneakers. “Hi!” a familiar Stevie Nicks-like husky voice called out.

I nearly dropped my sandwich.

Fuck me.

“Hi, John!” Adele sang.

I scrambled to my feet, and my eyebrows hit my hairline. “Adele! What are you doin’ here?”

“Oh, sheeeit.” Abe whistled under his breath.

“Yo! Miss Daisy,” Tex called over. “Where’s Hoke?”

Confusion washed over her features, and she looked back at her car. Then her expression became animated as his meaning dawned on her, and she threw her head back and laughed. “Good one.” She swanned over, all curvy hips and legs and pretty smile. “I’m Adele,” she announced, thrusting her hand out at KC, whose head reared back. “I like your hair!”

KC ran a hand through his long, stringy salt-and-pepper do.

Adele cocked her head to one side. “Ever thought about getting a keratin treatment? It would make those locks soft as a baby’s butt.”

Iris giggled.

---