Page 49 of Darlin'

I blink. "Sorry, couldn't hear that. A little louder."

Ryder sucks on his teeth. "I said...I'm sorry."

"Thank you." I flash him a satisfied grin. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Don't get too used to it, Alabama," Ryder grumbles. "I don't apologize often, especially not to—" He stops talking, gaze flicking over my shoulder as he sits up. "Hey..."

"Hey," Jesse says warily, scanning everyone around the table slowly. "What's going on here—" He whips his head at me, blinking with disbelief. My chest rises from his stunned reaction. Oh...maybe Marlow was right. Thiscouldbe fun. "Savannah? Wha..." He clears his throat as he takes in all the tight leather wrapped around my hips. "What the fuck are you wearing?"

"You like it?" I give him a little spin for good measure. Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I add, "Marlow's got great taste, huh?" I glide my fingers up my thigh slowly, tilting my head. "I told her it was a little tight, but"—I shrug—"guess it's the style these days."

Jesse's lip twitches as he non-discreetly skims the bar;the majority of the patrons sneaking glances in our direction. "I don't like it," he states. "It doesn't suit you.”

"No?" I pout. "Should I take it off?"

"Yes," Ryder says and immediately swallows when Jesse glares at him.

I suppress a laugh. Poor boy probably thought he said it to himself.

"Alright, boys. Here you go." Andy squeezes past Marlow and me with a tray of freshly poured beer. "You ladies drinking?" she asks, doing a double take as she makes eye contact with me. She snorts, covering her mouth. "Oh God...cute. Real cute. All you're missing is a little whip, and you could be the new headmistress at Lady Carnage."

"Oh, shut up, Andrea," Marlow says, rolling her eyes. "Green's an ugly color on you."

Andy scoffs. "I'm not jealous." Her gaze finds Jesse's for a second. "Certainly not of that."

"Get back to work, Andy," Jesse grunts. "I don't pay you to stand around and be a bitch."

Andy bites her lip seductively. "No, baby boy, you get the bitch for free." She turns her attention to Ryder. "I'm off at midnight. Still gonna give me a ride?"

"Yeah, whatever," Ryder says nonchalantly, pretending to scroll on his phone. Jesse's shoulders tense. "We ordered fries too. Where they at?"

"Umm...yeah." Andy clears her throat, bravado shrinking. "They're coming."

"Rad told us that you're gonna be helping the ladies with the fundraiser this summer," Billy says once Andy's out of sight. "I'm sure Jo will be glad for an extra set ofhands. She wants it bigger than ever this year." Billy chuckles, glancing at his brother. "Jo's not one for downsizing."

"Don't I know it," Jimbo says, shaking his head. "If she had it her way, we'd be running Nevada and Arizona by now."

"Only a matter of time," Billy says, taking a long swig of beer. "Only a matter of time."

"Maybe not here," Jesse suggests. "You want to talk business, do in the club. Never know who's got ears."

"Fine," Billy agrees as Beau slides over, giving me and Marlow space to sit down. "We'll talk about friendlier things." He looks over at me. "You coming to the bonfire next week, Savannah?"

"Bonfire?" I ask, raising a brow.

"JP didn't tell you?" he asks. "It's an SOS tradition. You should be there. It'll be loads of fun."

"Yeah, you should come," Ryder chimes in, hesitating before smiling at me. "Tons of booze, food, the works." He musters enough courage to add, "I'll even roast you a marshmallow."

"How kind of you," I say. "But I think I can roast my own marshmallow. Thank you, though." I look up at Jesse, who's awkwardly loitering at the head of the table. "You wanna sit down or something? I can move over."

"How long are you gonna be here?" he asks. "You're not drinking, are you?"

"And what if I was?" I ask, combative. "You're not my daddy."

Ryder snorts. "...Yet."

"I'll put your head through a fucking wall, Ryder,"Jesse states with absolute promise. He looks at Jimbo. "Take your kid home before he really pisses me off."

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