Page 103 of Filthy Liar

“Aw, that’s so nice of you,” she teased, tapping her baseball bat on the toe of her shoe. “For the record, I’m sorry things went the way they did.”

“I appreciate you and your family taking care of the medical bills. We never could’ve paid the hospital bills, let alone kept up with medication or follow up appointments. We would’ve lost him,” I said quietly, images of his bloodied body flashing through my mind.

“We wouldn’t have left you guys to figure it out,” she promised, holding up her knuckles. “We’re good, right?”

I tapped mine against hers with a small smile, nodding. “Yeah, we’re good.”

“How are you feeling about that?” Riley asked, lifting her chin in Zavier’s direction. He was busy pouring drinks, laughing and joking with people.

“It’s growing on me,” I admitted, not hiding my annoyance very well when a girl walked up to the bar and started flirting up a storm with him.

“You get used to it,” she said with a wince, nudging me. “They’ll try to get their claws in him for a few weeks, then give up. He has zero interest in them. If it makes you feel better though, I’ll let you borrow my bat to threaten them a little?”

I considered it, wanting to let the bitch know to leave my man alone, but Zavier shook his head at her and motioned in my direction, wiggling his fingers at me in a cute little wave to make it obvious he was taken.

The girl seemed to be sizing me up from the way she studied me, and I casually pulled my knife out and toyed with it as I stared right back, her eyes going wide before she turned around to grab her drink and headed back outside.

Zavier winked at me, not caring about the guys at the bar giving him shit for it as he blew me a kiss.

“He’s such a softie,” Riley snorted, grabbing Luna’s hand and tugging her onto her lap. “We should have a girl’s day.”

“I’m scared to ask what that even means,” I said slowly as I put my knife away, and Luna grinned.

“We can just hang out and get drunk at home.”

“I don’t really drink,” I said hesitantly, but they didn’t seem bothered.

“You can bring soda instead, no biggie. We hang out at Harley’s Bar a lot too. Just for a bite to eat and for some rounds of pool. The guys can come to stuff like that, Ander used to.”

I looked over at Ander, finding him already watching us. Riley had been his best friend last year, and he’d barely seen her since coming back.

“You know, maybe we can celebrate surviving the mafia when all of this is over and go to the bar,” I replied, looking back at Riley. “You guys don’t do weird shit like play never have I ever or truth or dare, right?”

Luna snorted, and Riley grinned. “Nah. Last time I played truth or dare, I kissed my straight best friend.”

“You make that sound like a bad thing,” I said with amusement.

“Oh, it totally is. Now I can’t get her to fucking leave,” Riley sighed dramatically, and Luna scolded her playfully, the pair of them laughing.

Ander joined us, lifting me and stealing my seat so he could place me on his lap and force me to straddle him.

He started talking cars with Riley, and Luna and I shared a look. These two could talk for hours about their damn cars.

I started to relax more, and it was definitely easier once the group split up a little. The Thieves decided it was time to head home with Penn. Zane, Jett, and Maddox got hungry and wanted to go and find some food, Riley and Luna spotted Landon and went to talk to him, and Logan and Reid were in a deep discussion about fuck knows what, while Ander had wandered over to talk to Zavier.

Beckett came and sat beside me, glancing around the room. “It’s not that bad here, right?”

“When no one’s getting shot at, sure,” I replied dryly, making her chuckle.

“It doesn’t happen all that often. Not anymore. I see you and Riley made up.”

“It’s not like it was really her fault that I was mad. Personal issues,” I shrugged.

She was quiet for a second before scowling, crossing her arms defensively. “I’m sorry for getting mad and trying to get your boyfriend killed.”

I scoffed, giving her the side-eye. “An apology from Beckett Donovan? Did hell freeze over?”

“Don’t push it,” she grunted, glaring at me. “I still don’t trust him.”

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