Page 98 of Obliterate

He goes in there alone when he needs time to think.

Sure, he’s taking Immy in there with him, but she is a safe space for him. He needs a moment to let all this information sink in. It’s been a lot, and I don’t blame him for taking a breather.

The other girls look at me with big smiles but don’t say anything as I approach the bar. Jaz simply slides me another bourbon to help with the nerves running rampant through me as I smile at her. “Thank you. I need this.”

She chuckles as she wipes the top of the bar. “Honestly, girl. You deserve a medal. You nailed down the most eligible bachelor in this place. Kudos to you.” She raises a drink to meet mine, and I chuckle, clinking my glass to hers.

I never saw it that way.

I guess South is a really good-looking guy with a great personality.

He is one hundred percent a catch.

And out of every woman he could have had in New Orleans—he chose me.

A bright smile lights my face as I sip on my drink. Grudge slides in beside me, cigar hanging out of his mouth. We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember.

“It’s taken you many years to move on from Reaper, and you do it with someone young enough to be one of your children?” There’s an accusatory tone in his voice.

I was waiting for someone to find our relationship offensive.Damn!I guess my oldest friend at the club is going to be the culprit.

“Grudge… I didn’t plan for this to happen with South. We connect in a way I didn’t see coming. When this first started, I had reservations too, but the chemistry is too strong to deny. And it’s not just physical. We connect emotionally too. I can’t expect you to understand. You were one of Reaper’s closest friends, so it must be strange for you to see me moving on with someone el—”

“Ingrid, stop!” he scolds. “What I was going to say before you started rambling was… congratulations. It’s nice to see you finally doing something for yourself for once rather than thinking of everyone else.”

That’s not what I thought he was going to say.

“You’re not mad at me?”

He rests his hand on my knee and squeezes. “Ingrid, we can’t choose who we fall for. Love doesn’t have a reason. It’s random. Poetic in a way. It always tends to choose the person who will test us the most. The one we have to work the hardest for. To make sure the love is strong enough to last. If you can stand the trials sent your way, then that love can withstand anything. And you and South… you’ve had to overcome your own issues with the age gap, and you’ve had to hide your relationship from your family. You’ve kept your health issues between you and him, all while having club drama thrown at you. It’s a lot for a new relationship to take on, Ingrid. If you guys have survived all that within the first month of your being together? I think you have it made.”

My heart soars with Grudge’s kind words. Having the blessing from my oldest friend here means everything to me. “Thank you, Grudge. You don’t know what it means to hear you say that. To know you don’t think terrible of me.”

He reaches out, gripping my hand. “I could never think terrible of you, Ingrid. I adore you. I, like everyone here, only want to see you happy. If South is the man to do that, thenthank fuckhe transferred to our club. Because your happiness is all we want.”

“Well, what about you? When are you going to find someone and settle down? It’s been so long… it’s time, Grudge.”

He lets out a small groan. “After Cole’s mother, I don’t think I could do another relationship. That was too crazy for me. I’m happy being single… I can fuck whoever I like.” He winks, and I chuckle.

“Speaking of Cole, how’s he doing?” I ask. It’s been ages since we’ve seen Grudge’s son. The last time was when we went to see him fight in Tallahassee.

“He’s doing so well. His coach mostly trains him in Vegas, and he likes it there. Says he’s been spending time with the Exiled Eight MC. Before you ask, no, he doesn’t want to patch in. He knows we’d give him shit if he chose a different club, but I suspect it has something to do with that Blair girl. Though he won’t outright say anything about her to me.”

“Kids, huh! They’re a handful,” I tell him with a laugh.

Grudge nods his head. “You know that more than anyone. Do Novah and Nash know about South?”

“They actually do.” I grimace. “They both found out not that long ago. I’m going to have a dinner with everyone so we can get everything out in the open as a family.”

Grudge exhales. “I don’t envy you, but you’ve handled yourself well through all this, Ingrid. Just know, the rest of us are rooting for you.”

“Thanks, Grudge. Means a lot.”

South steps up beside me, now fully dressed, sporting a casual smile. “You doing okay?” South asks, sliding his arm around my shoulders.

I grin up at him. “I am now. Hiding everything was exhausting. I’m sorry I put you in the shadows. We should have been upfront from the start.”

“You were scared, and you had every right to be. They reacted exactly how we thought they would.”

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