Page 5 of Joyride
“The one with long hair pulled back into a bun,” I tell her.
“The Viking looking one with all the tattoos,” she says. “He’s cute. What’s his name?”
“He goes by Sketch. He’s an amazing artist. On paper and tattoos,” I say. “He’s a good guy.”
“So what happened? Why didn’t you want to talk to him?”
“Honestly, I’m afraid to. I haven’t been the greatest friend to him the past few months,” I admit.
“How close were you two,” she asks.
“We talked almost every day. I was starting to consider him one of my best friends,” I tell her. We walk into the club and conversation about Sketch ends.
“First things first. Drinks!” Aria says to us. The bar is packed with people trying to get drinks. We somehow manage to get a spot close to the bartender. Aria flashes him her sexy pout, and he’s over to us next.
“What can I get you, ladies,” he asks us.
“Four scooby snack shots, and I’ll have a Hurricane,” Aria tells him. Harper and Elena both order drinks, then he looks to me.
“I’ll have a Bahama Mama, please,” I say to him. He nods and hurries off to make our drinks. I glance around the bar. My eyes fall to the front door where Sketch and the guys are walking in.
“Oh, shit,” I mutter.
4
Sketch
Wren was shockedto see us when we walked into the Chicken Shack. Her friend with the lavender hair, Aria, came over to introduce herself to Clutch when Wren went to the bathroom. They exchanged numbers and she told him where they were going next. So, here we are. I’m not one for clubs, but I’ll do anything to see Wren again.
I still don’t know what happened for her to ice me out. Things were fine before Buster and Cali’s wedding. Something happened that night, and I can’t for the life of me remember what it was. I got pretty shit-faced that night and have regretted it ever since. Because whatever it was, cost me Wren. Not that I had her, but I at least had her friendship. I valued her friendship so fucking much. Now, I need to figure out why she left Texas without telling anyone and what I did to screw up our friendship. This should be interesting, to say the least.
We walk into the club, and the bar is packed with people waiting to get drinks. I scan the room for Wren. Before I find her, Clutch is dragging us through the crowd and to a table.
“I’m gonna go grab some drinks. What do y’all want,” Kicks asks.
“I’ll take a beer,” I tell him. Clutch goes with Kicks to the bar to help with the drinks. The music they’re playing isn’t what I normally listen to. This is some pop, top forties shit. Most of it has a good beat to dance to, but other than that, it’s annoying. I’m more into classic rock.
“Wren hasn’t spoken to you in months. You really think she’s gonna talk to you now,” Diesel asks.
“Honestly, brother, I have no fucking idea if she will, but I gotta try,” I admit. “I gotta at least try to find out why she left without so much as a word to anyone.”
He nods his head. A few minutes go by and Kicks and Clutch come back with our drinks and the girls.
“Look who we found at the bar,” Clutch says with a smirk. Aria is standing next to him and behind them is Wren and another girl. “Have a seat, ladies.”
As two of the girls sit down, the group next to us gets up to leave. Kicks grabs their table, pulling it closer to ours, while Clutch grabs the chairs. Wren sits at the opposite end of where I am. It stings a little, having her so close yet so far away.
“So, are you guys from around here,” Aria asks.
“No, we’re from Texas,” Clutch tells her.
“Oh! Wren’s from Texas, too,” she replies.
“We know,” I say to Aria, but my eyes are on Wren.
“Huh? How do you . . .” Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Aria’s eyes are as wide as saucers. The girl next to Wren shakes her head, then whispers something to Wren. She rolls her eyes.
“Aria, these guys are in the same motorcycle club as my brother, Shade,” Wren says. She scoots her chair back and stands. “I’m gonna go dance.”
