Page 36 of Bronco

“If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t ask you what she should wear.” The unsaidduhhangs in the air.

A vision of her wearing lacy underwear, her legs spread across the bar as I take in her sexy little body springs to mind, and I’ve gotta stop thinking about her like this. I don’t know why the fuck this is happening now after years of us being friends. I didn’t want this. Idon’tfucking want this. But clearly, some unspoken part of my subconscious seems to want it.

“Are you tryin’ to get my hopes up?”

“Aha!” she exclaims, clicking her fingers together. “So you do like her more than a friend?” I don’t know why she has to sound so triumphant.

“I’ve thought about it,” I say honestly. “But I’ll tell you what I told my asshat friend, Nevada: I don’t wanna ruin the friendship. What we have is special.”

A look crosses her face; it kinda resembles when I held little Caprice for the first time and all the girls pawed over how cute it was. She squeezes my arm. “I have no idea why you’re so freaking sweet and still single.”

“Uh, because I wanted to be single.”Until recently.

Of course, Crystal picks up on the one word I didn’t omit out of that sentence. “Wanted?As in past tense.”

I look around in case anybody has come in behind us, not wanting the entire world to hear what I’m about to say. “I’ve been having some… uh, well,feelings,recently, but I’m figurin’ that’s because it’s been a while since I’ve fooled around.”

“And why is that the cutest thing ever?”

“It’s not cute.”

“Yes, it is. Subconsciously you’re saving yourself for Amber,” she sings in a dramatic voice.

I rub my chin, thinking about her words. “I don’t think I’m doing that.”

She lowers her voice. “Really? Then let’s examine the evidence: how long has it been?”

I blink like a deer caught in headlights. “Since I had sex?”

She nods like I’m a five-year-old.

I think back, using my fingers to count on.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake! Approximately,” she sighs. “I haven’t got all day. I’ve got a kid’s party to set up.”

“Gimme a second, jeez, woman! This shit is heavy.” I come up with the exact month. “Six months!” I declare with a grin, then it fades as fast as it appears.Why the fuck am I bragging about that?

“Six months!” She balks, a hand over her mouth. “Oh, wow, you have it bad.”

“I don’t have it bad!” I sound whiny even to myself. “I just wanna really consider the ramifications of us gettin’ together and it not workin’ out.”

“I guess you’ll never know if you don’t try.”

I blow out a breath. It’s annoying that Crystal has gotten to the crux of it pretty quickly. I only hope she doesn’t go blabbing in the group chat. I know what these women, and Manny, are like. “That’s what Nevada said, only slightly less eloquent.”

“Don’t take advice from Nevada, it’s pure luck that he scored a woman like Star, which does make me realize that miracles can happen.” She smiles softly. “You can find your happily ever after if you really want it.”

I don’t know why I’m such a sentimental fuckface at the moment. Is it possible for men to be hormonal? Maybe there’s something in the water at the moment?

Still, it’s best to blow it off. I don’t want to be the laughing stock of the Queens of the MC chat; not that I think Crystal is mean spirited or would do anything malicious, but the girls loveto spread gossip among themselves and I’d be the subject of intense scrutiny and I don’t want to put Amber through that.

“Who says I want it?”

She gives me a pointed look. “You haven’t had sex in six months, and you’re a good looking guy, Bronc. You want it.”

Annoying little mind reader. “Fine, you wanna know what it really is with us?”

“I’m all ears.” She smiles sweetly, leaning back against the pool table.

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