Page 9 of Fury

“I’m sorry Fury messed you around,” Bonnie offers, extending her hand toward a seat for me to sit.

“Is For ... ah, Fury, often so unorganized?”

Acacia snorts. “No, he’s probably the most organized. He’s just not ... well, dad material.”

She’s not kidding.

“He doesn’t need to be dad material,” I say, sarcastically, “he just needs to know how to put a pair of socks on a child.”

Acacia laughs. “He’s still doing that, huh?”

“Yes. Does he stay here with Hope?”

“No,” Bonnie explains. “She is here after school until it’s time for dinner, then she goes back to his house with him for the night. He drops her off at school. If he can’t, then she stays here with us. More often than not, she is here with us. He will come by in the morning and get her ready, but he doesn’t seem to know how to interact with her.”

That makes more sense.

“Is his sister going to be away for a while?” I ask.

Bonnie shrugs. “We’re not sure, but it’s not looking good. Even if she does get out, her track record isn’t great. That poor little girl deserves better.”

She’s right about that.

“Well, I’m glad she has all of you.”

I offer them a smile.

“Did you talk to anyone over at the club?” Acacia asks as Myla returns with a plate of muffins.

“Ah, Mex?”

Acacia grins. “Oh, he’s with me. I hope he was nice because if he wasn’t, girl you have permission to bring him down.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Well, he told me not to clench too hard or the stick up my ass might hurt me. That was probably the highlight of our conversation.’’

Acacia gasps. “He didn’t.”

Bonnie’s eyes widen.

Myla presses a hand over her mouth.

“Oh, he did,” I say, then I can’t help it, a giggle bursts forth. “It’s pretty funny, actually. Don’t worry, I’m used to it. Everyone assumes because I’m a teacher that I don’t know how to have fun. It’s not true, of course. Though, this damn dress doesn’t help.”

I tug at the dress.

It’s a pretty dress, don’t get me wrong, but it’s very proper. It makes me look innocent, sweet, like a little virgin who has never been into trouble in her life. Not exactly the look that draws men like those bikers back there.

“That dress is fire,” Myla throws in. “You’re the most adorable person I think I’ve ever seen.”

I snort. “Now you’re just being nice.”

“Seriously,” Bonnie shakes her head at my reaction, “you’re bloody adorable, woman.”

Standing here, with these women, it’s hard for me not to feel a pang of sadness. Once, I had a friend, someone I could confide in, trust, love, and she betrayed me in the worst possible way. Ever since I lost her that tragic day, I haven’t made more friends. This just makes me realize how much I miss it. I long for the company, someone to talk to, a way to escape my nightmarish life.

These girls are the kinds of people I’d kill to have as friends.

“Heard you were lookin’ for me.”

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