Page 46 of Flint

I also apparently have someone trying to run me down in broad daylight. I heard Flint say that, but we’re both playing that waiting game. I trust him to tell me when he can, and he trusts that I won’t go insane on questions right now. Later, of course, if we’re alone, but not now.

Especially with this fake chick bumping my girl Bailey and spilling her drink. And now she wants to name-call? Yeah, I’m not okay with that. I don’t know her, know nothing about her, but her words make me assume they know each other. And if they are acquainted, I’ve got the feeling the whole table is. Especially after the misfit comment. Which I love, by the way. I love the fact that I have a little club and it’s abnormal. Makes me feel special.

“Hey, babe, want another drink?” Gator says in a seductive tone that has me widening my eyes.

Wait, when did he get up? I swear he was on the other side of the table like a second ago, but now he’s standing right behind Bailey. I see her stiffen, and she has yet to really look back at the bleached blonde with fake titties out to here, who has less clothes on than a street pole, standing behind her.

“Oh, hi. You are so sweet. Yes, I would love another cosmo. Oh wow, it’s been so long since someone older bought me a drink. Aren’t you just the sweetest ever?”

I look at Jordan, then Miles. Even Meekail and Gidget. Everyone’s glaring, so I get that we don’t like this woman. I got that on my own, really, but everyone else is seeing what I am, right?

“Um, she’s our age, isn’t she?” I ask to no one in particular.

“Older,” Jordan pipes up. Loud enough for the bimbo to cast eyes our way, but she’s on whatever game she’s playing and doesn’t rise to the bait.

Not saying Gator doesn’t look older than he probably is. I mean, he was in the Army. That shit ages you right? At least I think it would, from what I know. But this woman, whoever the fuck she is, is not a twentysomething-year-old. No, I think she left that decade a while ago—a long while ago. I can see the wrinkles from here, along with the different tone color from her makeup along her neck and ears. And she’s trying way too hard with that skimpy dress. Guess if her husband is stepping out, she ain’t waiting at home like a good little wife.

“Yo, you getting her a drink or what?” Bass comes up behind the group, forcing the bimbo and everyone at the table to look at them. He’s leading the other two bikers with him like the point of a triangle.

Skank, a.k.a. Carolyn, smiles even bigger, if it’s possible. Does she really think she’s getting all this attention? Wait, is she? Now I’m the one who’s confused. No one is using names, so how the hell do I know who’s being talked to and not? Should I intervene? I mean, Bailey is now drenched, and I’m pretty sure her top is silk, and from how the drink spilled over her shoulder, I think it’s changing colors. Does that come out?

And how come no one is cleaning up the spilled drink on the table? Again, not much that was spilled reached the table, but you got to think the reaction would be to clean it up, right? I spilled my M&M’s the other day and crawled under the couch to get the ones that fell. Of course, that’s chocolate we’re talking about. Totally different devotion for some of us, me included.

Focus, Julianne. Get candy later.

Should I be doing something? Is that what the old me would do? Do I care what I used to do? Should I be doing something now because I’m all badass and this chick is pissing me off, and the boys a bit too? Bailey’s my friend, and I’m not going to let her sit there and everyone just pretend she doesn’t exist.

“You guys really do know how to make a girl feel so special.” Ugh, the Carolyn bitch is batting her damn fake eyelashes. I can see from here that they aren’t even on right. “If this cow wasn’t here, I’m sure I wouldn’t have spilled my drink. But then I wouldn’t have met all of you, so I guess us pretty people got to appreciate the ugly ones in life, right? Oh, you’re a Hound? You’re all Hounds? Wow. I, um, I’ve been trying to get an invite out there. You think you could get me in or something?”

Okay, that’s it. I’m done. I stand up to go… well, I haven’t gotten that far in my plan, but something needs to happen, right?

“Stop, Kitten.” My hand is grabbed and pulled back, so I fall back into my seat, and an arm comes over my shoulder to anchor me to it.

I look at him and see his profile, as he’s still focused on the others. He must feel my eyes, my glare on him, because he looks over at me and is quick to smile.

“Relax.” He leans in and kisses my forehead. A simple kiss, but I’m totally reminded about the last one we shared, and I sort of forget about everything else as things dim to me only seeing his lips. Bad, I know, but come on. The guy’s got like nirvana lips, and I’m a slut when it comes to them. Putty in his hands just for another hit.

“Give the boys a chance before you rush in.” His mumbled words, for my ears only, have my breath hitching as I fight the tingle that skates across my skin at his warm breath on my neck. It takes a full ten seconds to register what he said.

A chance? At what? Hitting on the enemy?

He must read my look, making him laugh softly to not disturb the others. “Trust me.”

I purse my lips together ’cause he’s got me. That’s one thing this guy has—my trust.

Fucking hell.

I cross my arms and pout as I go back to the drama in front of me. He just laughs some more and leans closer to me, never taking his arm off my shoulder, and I’m not hating it. He goes as far as running his fingers along my arm and putting them through my hair. Seems to be his thing, and I got half a mind to think it calms him.

I catch Jordan giving us the side-eye. He’s not blatantly looking at us, but he sees us, and the eyebrow raise tells me all I need to know. This isn’t normal Julianne behavior again. Then he smirks and grabs Meekail’s hand to hold on the table. I guess he gives his approval.

Bass gives the bimbo a once-over, a slow one at that. “Sure, hon, we can get you in. Just need to do a quick check to make sure you’re all good.”

“Of course, I totally get it. Can’t just let anyone in.” She nods at the table, and I really, really want to give her the smackdown, but Captain Jackass won’t let me. Yeah, he’s no longer just Flint, not when he’s holding me back from protecting my homegirl. I mean, he’s still cute and all, but I’ve got to have the backs of those who give me life, and Bailey has done that several times, I think.

“So, you want to do this now or go someplace? I ain’t shy, but most potentials need some warming up before they go public,” Bass says as if he’s bored, glancing around the bar before looking back to Carolyn.

“Ah, um, I guess we can go now. I just need to let my girls know and get my coat.”

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