Page 56 of Rough Rider (Bad Boy High)
“She can always come back here. It’s way better now that Rico is gone.” This from a blonde.
“Fawn has made a lot of changes, and it’s making all of us more money,” another blonde says. There are a lot of blondes here, most of them out of a bottle.
“I’ll let her know,” Andy replies, but I can tell that she doesn’t want her mom back here. It’s not that the club is bad but that her mom’s addictions are tied to this place. We haven’t talked much about the future, but we should probably do that so Andy doesn’t have to worry about taking care of it by herself. Even if we have to keep bouncing around where we stay each night for the time being. We’ll get it worked out.
“Ready?” Bam appears at my elbow.
“Any problems?”
“Nah, Fawn, the new manager, had the fee all tucked away in an envelope. Don’t worry, though, I counted it, and it’s all there.” He pats his chest. “You going to finish the runs with me tonight, or do you and Andy have some place to be?”
“Andy’s going over to the apartment to read to Julie, so I’m all yours.”
“I’ll have to come over this weekend and remind Julie who is the best Niki-related friend. Can’t have the newbie edging me out.”
“Andy bought three new books.”
“Bro, that’s just greedy.” Bam looks mildly disgusted.
“You gotta keep up.”
“Keep up with what?” Andy joins us.
“I hear you’re trying to buy Julie’s affections.” Bam glares at Andy.
She gives me a confused look.
“The books,” I clarify.
“Oh, well, if you can’t keep up, just come clean so that Julie can adjust her expectations. It’s a good lesson for her future.”
I grab Andy’s hand and tug her out of the club. “Julie has me, so she won’t be disappointed with the entire male race.”
“Just Bam.” Andy nods in mock dismay.
“Julie would throw both of you into the river to save me,” Bam declares, catching up. He throws an arm around each of our shoulders, pushing his large body between the two of us. “Lucky for you, I won’t ask her to do that.”
“You’re a giver, Bam.” I shove off his arm and dig into my pocket for some cash. We find a Rider with a car, and he takes us to the library, where Andy says she’ll study until we’re done with our errands, as she calls them. The collection doesn’t take much time, probably because I’m extra motivated. Bam says he’s hungry, so we go and fetch Andy.
“I can make dinner for us,” she volunteers.
I bring my arm down in a slicing motion. “No. We’ll pick something up.”
“Why, though? I’m a decent cook. What do you like, Bam?”
He opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, I slap a hand over his face and growl. “You can talk to Andy, watch my back, read books to my sister, but you do not get to eat her food. That’s for me and me alone.”
“But—“ Andy starts to say.
I shake my head. “No buts. Your food belongs to me.”
I drop my hand and stare hard at Bam until he backs up, hands in the air.
“I never asked for her food, friend. That was all on her.”
“I was just being polite. I won’t cook for anyone but you,” she says, placing her hand in mine. I relax, but I don’t stop glaring at Bam until we arrive at the Chinese takeout joint. I put in an order for orange chicken, dumplings, and egg rolls.
As we’re waiting for our food, Andy waves to a girl in one of the booths. The red table is covered in papers. The girl excitedly motions for Andy to come closer. I want to get the food and leave, but when I ask Bam if he wants extra sauce for the egg rolls, I find him looming next to the girl.
