Page 17 of Baja
Sukie nods. “Love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, doll.” Sukie’s look tells me she wants to push the conversation but won’t in front of an audience.
After a quick goodbye, I make a hasty exit, refusing to look at the blonde and holding back tears of embarrassment and disappointment. I’m angry with myself for getting caught up in my feelings for a man.
I realize now that I was naive to let my feelings cloud my judgment. By prioritizing my heart over reason, I opened myself up to vulnerability.
Being alone feels like the only way to protect myself.
8
BAJA
After dropping Arabella off at the salon, I need downtime, and there’s no better place to do that than here at the clubhouse, listening to good music, enjoying Mystic’s mom’s home-cooked food, and having a cold beer with my brothers.
I take a long swig, letting the liquid slide down my throat, as Laredo fills us in on his current problem with a clingy one-night stand that’s borderline restraining order status.
Juneau leans back in his chair and points his beer bottle at Laredo. “So, let me get this straight…” he tries—and fails—to keep a straight face, “… you banged the chic once.Once. And now she’s stalkin’ you?”
Laredo growls as he flicks a lighter to ignite a cigarette. “She said she was passing through Salem. That was four days ago. And now? She’s been hangin’ around the club every night as if she has nothing better to do.”
“I hope you wrapped it up, brother, ’cause you’ve dipped your love stick in crazy!” I rib, and the whole table bursts out laughing.
Laredo groans and drops his head into his hands.
“She cock blockin’ potential pussy or causin’ other problems?” Mystic asks.
“Not yet. But she’s always watching, lurking around like a hawk. It’s drivin’ me bat-shit crazy,” Laredo grumbles.
“She knows you’re not interested in a repeat performance?” Mystic asks.
“Kinda thought she’d get the hint after seeing me get sucked off in the VIP lounge by a redhead two nights ago.”
Harlem smirks around the cigarette dangling from his lips. “See, brother, this is why you don’t always go in like a jackhammer. Maybe you should’ve gone in lazy and kept expectations low.”
Laredo shoots daggers at Harlem. “I don’t fuck half-assed.Ever.” He lets out a long groan. “Fuck, it’s not like I promised her sunsets and shit.”
I let out a laugh. “You gave a crazy bitch somethin’ akin to crack, and now she’s tweakin’ for another fix. Brother, you are cooked.”
Laredo downs a swig of his beer. “It was a regular hookup. No strings, no promises, no nothing. I was upfront with her. Now she’s hanging around town. For Christ’s sake, she left a note on my fuckin’ bike today… I shit you not.”
“No shit?” I look at Laredo. “Let me see it.”
Laredo reaches into his cut, pulls out a crumpled piece of paper, and tosses it on the table. I snatch it up, unfold it, and smooth out the wrinkles.
I can’t stop thinking about you.
Blackthorne Lodge room 69.
The note is sealed with a pink lipstick kiss.
I toss it over to Mystic, and it quickly makes its rounds with the rest of the crew so they can give it a once-over. I bring the beer bottle to my lips, pausing for a dramatic beat before I take another swig. “Sixty-nine?” I grin, arching an eyebrow.
“Shut the fuck up.” Laredo chucks a beer tab my way.
I chuckle, slamming back the last of my beer. I know I shouldn’t get a kick out of my brother’s struggles, but damn, this fuckery is precisely what I need today.
“Speaking of women.” Prez looks at me. “You and Alice still playing this ridiculous game of hide-and-seek?”
