Page 29 of Wicked Love

“No doubt,” I’m saying, as Rhodes and Penn walk in.

“Two for one,” Penn sings.

“How did we manage that?” Henley asks, doing the slap shake with them before I do.

“I had a quieter than normal Friday night,” Penn says. “Not intentionally, but it was for the best. I had to pull a runner out of the club last night. There was a stage 5 clinger and it was not good.” He shudders. “Sam saved the day by calling. I ended up taking him to Starlight Cafe and then home.” He shrugs. “I felt like you old coots, going to bed by ten o’clock.”

Rhodes smirks. “Going to bed by ten o’clock is my new favorite thing now that Elle is in there waiting for me.” He taps the table. “Hey, you guys are all coming over tonight, right?”

Everyone chimes in with their yeses.

“I might put Becca to bed and then come over. I’ve been in Denver a lot this week and need to spend some time with her.”

“How’s your dad?” Henley asks.

“Not good. They admitted him yesterday. I’ll be going over there in a little while.” I make a face and try to move on. I don’t enjoy talking about myself, but Ireallydon’t like talking about my family. “I’m looking forward to tonight. Should I bring anything?”

“Just yourself,” Rhodes says. “Let us know if we can do anything, Bow.”

“Will do.”

Out of all the years I’ve known these guys, they’ve only been around my parents a few times, and those times were doozies. My dad was drunk and belligerent and cussed my mom and me out when we tried to usher him out of the room. It was in German, so no one but us knew the vile things he was saying, but I’m pretty sure everyone got the gist.

“Is your brother in town?” Rhodes asks.

My brother is another topic I avoid. We’ve been estranged for years and although I hate it, I’ve learned to live with it. Well, if shoving it to the recesses of my mind to avoid thinking about it is learning to live with it…

Yeah. I’ve got issues.

“No. He wants nothing to do with my dad, so I’ll be surprised if he shows.”

If the guys are surprised by this, they don’t show it. They’ve learned not to push too much about my family and I’m grateful they don’t push now.

“Well, I hope your dad will be okay,” Henley says.

“Me too,” Penn says. “The whole thing sucks.”

I nod and am grateful when Clara knocks and steps inside the room, holding a tray of our drinks.

We all thank her and she hurries back out.

“Marv and Walter are on a tear this morning,” she mutters.

“I’ll handle them,” Penn says. He walks out of the room and we look at each other.

“What’s with that?” Rhodes asks.

Henley shrugs. “Last time we were in, I noticed that Penn seems to have a way with them.”

“Interesting,” Rhodes says. He turns to look at me and by the slow, mischievous grin that forms, I’m already nervous.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing. My wife just wanted me to encourage you to let loose tonight. Poppy will be there,” he sings.

“Fuck. Why is she everywhere?” I swipe my hand down my face and lean back in my seat, feeling what little energy I had drain out of me.

“Why not?” Rhodes says, shrugging. “She’s nice, she’s funny…she’s really great, Bowie. Honestly, she’s like a ray of sunshine in your black-and-white life. I don’t know why you’re not all over that. She’s clearly into you.” He frowns. “And you seemed into her at the wedding. A little bit like a stick was up your butt the next day, but that’s nothing new for you. Am I missing something?”

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