Page 24 of Rook

Another surprise about the meeting was how casual it was, with Slash—the president—asking questions instead of demanding explanations, giving Rook a chance to explain himself, and looking to me for my feelings on the situation.

In the end, Slash made a few concerns known, but told Rook he was in charge of the situation and to report back with any concerns.

“We gotta get going,” he said as Nyx showed him something on her phone. He threw an arm over her shoulders, but gave me a nod. “It’s nice to meet you, Tessa,” he said in that deep, rumbly voice of his. “Let me know if you need anything while you’re here.”

With that, the two of them were gone. Raff insisted that he, Coach, and Colter hit the bar to find some fun, and Everleigh came in holding her smush-faced little dog, setting him down so she could literally jump into Detroit’s arms.

He caught her, hands on her ass, and kissed her silly right there in the kitchen before setting her down on the island.

“Being around this crew might make you rethink your feelings on love not being real,” Rook said, watching me watch as Everleigh said something that made Detroit throw his head back and laugh.

Two things became true at once: I believed Rook, and I really, really didn’t want to.

“So what now?” I asked, wanting to think of anything but something as dangerous as love.

“Now, you settle in,” he said, waving around the clubhouse.

“You aren’t staying?”

“I have to be at my apartment at night in case Nancy drops in.”

“But you’ve already seen her several times…”

“Yeah, she’s a pain in the ass like that,” Rook agreed, shaking his head.

“Do you want me to drive you back to town?”

“Nah. I’m gonna walk in. Gives me an excuse for why I was out if she is there waiting.”

I would love to say that I didn’t know what it was like to have to answer for every move you made. But I had far too much personal experience with that. Which was why I felt a tug of sympathy for Rook, who had no choice but to endure it.

“Okay.”

“Expect me to be blowing up your phone on and off tonight. Answer when you get time. Just so we can keep building that text history.”

“Will do,” I agreed.

Rook started to walk away, then turned back. “Hey, question.”

“Shoot.”

“What ring size are you?”

“Oh. Uh, a six.”

He nodded at that. “What are your feelings on metals?”

“I guess just… not yellow gold? I mean, it doesn’t matter, though.”

“It’s your engagement ring, babe; it matters.”

With that, and nothing more, he turned and walked out. Leaving me standing there feeling another little rush of gratitude for his consideration, for giving a shit what I liked or didn’t.

It was so new.

And so welcome.

I spent a few more minutes in the common area, greeting the new dog, getting to know Everleigh a bit.

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