Page 27 of Dev

“You stay right there, I’ll go and watch him for her. I’ve seen quite enough for one day.” She tucks her knitting into her bag before standing up. “It was lovely to meet you, Millie, and I’m very sorry for your loss. I only met Corey a handful of times, but he was a very polite, well-mannered boy. He reminded me of my Richie.” She smiles before heading for the door.

“Take Anita as you find her, she’s been through a lot,” Peyton explains once she’s left. “Her heart’s in the right place.”

“Not when she’s calling me a pig, it isn’t.” Alicia looks annoyed.

“She didn’t call you a pig,” Peyton assures her.

“Well, it's what she was insinuating. I can’t help that my appetite has multiplied by a hundred. I’m growing Griller’s baby, what do you all expect?”

“Griller. I’m sure I heard Corey talk about him. Isn’t he one of the brothers who died recently?” I check, and when all the girls' faces drop, I realize I’ve been insensitive.

“He was. We weren’t together, but this is his baby.” Alicia strokes her hand over her popped-out tummy. “The other guy was Saul, he was my brother,” she informs me.

“Oh, Jesus. I’m sorry. Me and my big mouth.” I want the ground to swallow me. These girls have shown me nothing but kindness; the last thing I want to do is offend them.

“Don’t be sorry, I’ve got good support…” She reaches out for the hands of the girls sitting on each side of her. “...and a beautiful nephew to spoil. I hope Lettie joins us; it would be nice for you to meet her.”

Suddenly, I feel a stir in my stomach, and an overwhelming urge to look behind me. When I give in to it, I see Dev standing by the office door. He’s not wearing his suit jacket anymore, his tie is undone, and the top three buttons of his shirt are open, revealing that strong tattooed chest. Suddenly, I feel stupid for being here. Dev doesn’t need my comfort; he has his whole family here with him. The reason I’m really here is becauseIneedhim.

He drinks from the bottle in his hand and swipes the back of his other hand over his mouth when he spots me, and all my senses come alive as he starts to walk in my direction. The most prominent one of all being fear.

“What is she doing here?” He looks past me, speaking to Peyton and ignoring me completely.

“I actually came to see if you were okay.” I stand up and turn to face him. I won’t have him treat me as if I don’t exist.

“Okay?Do I look o-fuckin’-kay?” he asks, furrowing his brow and tilting his head.

“I guess I was just–”

“I told you, you don’t belong here.” He doesn’t give me a chance to finish. “Leave!” He bellows at me so loud I gasp.

“Dev, Millie has every right to be here. This is a gathering for Corey, and everyone who cares about him.” Petyon surprises me when she stands up to him.

“Don’t do that.” Dev points the bottle he’s holding at her. “Don’t go enlisting her into your little…whatever this is.” He looks around at all the women sitting together, and when a pretty woman with long, dark hair quietly joins us, she looks confused as to what's going on.

“She ain’t one of you. She’s a privileged little princess who needs to go home.” He turns his stare from Peyton onto me. “Now beat it.”

“She’s not going anywhere.” Eden abandons her pasta and stands up. “Millie was Corey’s girlfriend. She belongs here today.”

“Hell, yeah, she does.” Freya also joins the protest.

Dev shakes his head and laughs spitefully.

“Great, you got the fuckin’ girl squad on your side.”

“She sure has.” Alicia’s next to make a stand for me, and I feel overcome with emotion as these women I don’t even know fight my corner.

“Are we gonna have a problem here, Dev?” Wrath moves to stand beside Eden, side glancing her to show he’s not thrilled by her involvement.

“Just keep her outta my way.” He tells him, pointing his finger at me harshly, before heading over to the corner of the room to be by himself.

“Thanks.” I look at all the women on their feet, very aware of the fact that the whole club is staring at us. “But maybe I should just go home, I don’t want to make today any worse for him.”

“Sit your ass back down.” The girl who just joined us orders me.

“This is Lettie.” Alicia introduces her proudly. “Lettie was my brother’s old lady. Lettie, this is?—”

“I know who she is.” Lettie smiles at me warmly. “I moved in across the yard about a month ago, Corey helped lug all my stuff up those stairs. He spoke about you…a lot.” She smiles warmly. “There's no way he’d want you to be anywhere else than here,” she assures me.

---