Page 82 of Desert Heat

“Think she’ll say, ‘yes’? We’ve been talking for months. It’s long distance and we haven’t discussed us but I pay thousands to her OnlyFans. Broke a few phones thinking about all the men seeing my girl. I’m shutting that shit down. She gets the ring and I delete her account.”

“She doesn’t get the ring, Tank. She gets you. The most loyal, baddest mother fucker in her corner. You’re the catch here. Remember that?”

Tank swallowed hard. “You gonna be my best man?”

I clapped him on the back. “As long as you’ll be mine when the day comes. I have a confession, too. Savvy and I have been texting. I left her a burner when we left Maine. I texted her every night for months. They always went unanswered until Valentine’s Day.”

“Ah, the V-day. Get’s them every time.”

“Our break up hit her harder than she’d ever admit. Valentine’s Day was the crack in armor. Once the door was opened, I barred right through. We’ve been texting almost daily ever since. It’s cute she thinks I didn’t know about her ‘secret’ trips home. One time… I was so close to grabbing her and going straight to Vegas.”

“No shit?”

“It was July. Hot as hell. We got hit on the road by the migrant gang.”

“Fuck that was a bloody one.”

“Yeah, I was tired as all hell. We almost lost Jinx after the took three shots after The Outlaws were still pushing the boundaries of their turf.”

“It didn’t help that Reese hooked up with an ol’ lady of one of the Outlaws,” Tank shrugged.

“He didn’t know! She hit him up on Tinder!”

“It was a mess,” Tank agreed. “I’m gonna sober up by packing. Chief’’s here. If he wasn’t drunk as fuck, I’d ask for a fresh cut. Gotta look good when I see my girl.”

“You think Savvy will dig my beard. Remember when I had to shave it to be Hunter?”

“Women love facial hair. Especially when… well you know.”

“Then I’m about to drive her fuckin’ crazy.”

“You think they’ll let us in their beds?”

“Hell, no. They are both gonna make us work to get back there. Frankly, I’m looking forward to it.”

“We need to make a pit stop to get gifts. I’m thinking Gucci for Brandi and Cartier for Savvy?”

“Is that a hint that I should bring a diamond too? Nah, Savvy is gonna get a custom turquoise colored diamond.”

“They come in that shade?”

“Come enough if you pay enough. And nothing is too much to spend on that girl. You surf you don’t want to fly?”

“Fuck that. Planes fall outta the sky and I need to live long enough to make Brandi mine again.”

“It’s a long ass drive we better leave by dawn.”

“Our campus mole just reported in. They just texted that the girls are planning on attending the bonfire. And that they are expecting’ us to show.”

“No, I want a sneak attack. I’m not showing somewhere they’ll be ready.”

“The house is still watched by Dean and his crew. Brandi’s place, as well.”

“Well, then I guess it’s a good thing we have twelve more hours to formulate a plan.” I tapped on on the steering wheel buttons until the song I wanted came on.

“Oh fuck,” Tank groaned as I grinned and started belting out my new favorite tune for the fiftieth time since we’d been on the road, George Birge’s song, “I Got My Mind On You.”

“Well, baby, you're a wildfire. That'll light me up, little out of control

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