Page 9 of Rattler
“Shit.Sorry.My bad.”Thor spoke directly to Lily.“I’m not really housebroke yet, but Janet’s working on it.”
“I’m working on what?”Janet appeared behind him.
“Making me more socially acceptable.”He draped an arm around her shoulder.
Janet rolled her eyes.“Yeah.I have a feeling that’s going to be a lifetime commitment.”
“Which is why we’re getting hitched.”
She laughed.“And here I thought it was because you can’t seem to keep your hands to yourself.”
“Well, that too.”
I reached into the cab to retrieve the boxes of cupcakes.Lily stood beside the truck, looking awkward and unsure of herself.She was wearing a baseball cap pulled down low enough to almost hide the colorful black of her eye.
Janet bounced down the steps and held out her hand.“I’m Janet, the bridezilla.Rattler didn’t mention he was bringing a friend back for the cupcake tasting, but you’re welcome to join us.”To her credit, she didn’t mention the black eye or the way Lily flinched away at her approach.
Lily smiled shyly.“I’m not exactly a friend.We met at the bakery, and I asked about Riptide.I needed somewhere to go, and my brother talked about you a lot before…” Her voice trailed off just as the kitten let out a plaintive meow.
“You have a cat?”Janet’s gaze dropped to the backpack just as Scrapper managed to stick his head out from under the flap.“Can I see it?It must be stuffy in the backpack.”
“How about we all get inside and we can do introductions there?”I nudged the truck door shut with my knee and gestured for Lily to precede me up the stairs.
Janet grinned.“Good plan.Mom is waiting for us in the kitchen, and most of the old ladies are here already.Just waiting on Emma.Ace said she was finishing up something, but she’ll be here soon.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I glanced over at Lily.She had that panicky look on her face, like a wild animal right before it bolts for safety.Her knuckles were white where she held onto that backpack with a death grip.The kitten was looking around with its ears pricked up but made no attempt to get out of the backpack.
I got it.We could be overwhelming at first, and she’d had a rough time of it already.The bruises on her face and arms were sure to raise questions that she might not want to answer.I wanted to wrap my arms around her and reassure her, but my hands were full with the boxes of cupcakes.I glared at Thor.“Get your ass down here and take these.I’m not the one getting hitched.”
Thor bounded down and relieved me of the cupcakes.Being the VP gave me the authority to bark out orders, and I occasionally took advantage of it.When I said jump, everyone but Ace jumped.
I stepped over to Lily and wrapped an arm around her.She melted into my side as if she wanted to disappear.Fuck, but that hit every protective button I had.
Thor looked thoughtful, and I could see the wheels turning in his head.I didn’t care.She’d been through enough in the past twenty-four hours.She didn’t need any more stress.
We all headed inside, and sure enough, Mom was waiting for us in the kitchen along with Sophia and Rylie.“Just in time!”Mom bustled over to take the boxes from Thor.“The ladies are out back and they’re already into the drinks.You know how they can get when they have a few under their belts.”
Thor slanted a look at Janet.“I thought you weren’t going to start until Rattler here got back with the cupcakes.”
Janet shrugged.“They were getting restless, and I didn’t know Rattler was bringing someone back with him.I figured a few beers would hold them for a while.”
He nodded.“True.”
“Are you going to introduce us to your friend?”Mom slanted a glance at me as she opened a box and arranged cupcakes on two serving platters she’d laid out on the table.
“This is Lily.Her brother was in our platoon and didn’t make it back.She needed somewhere to regroup and decide what to do next, and she remembered her brother telling her about us.”
“I came into town on the bus and ran into Rattler at the bakery.Just a coincidence but I asked if he knew where to find Riptide, and he offered to bring me with him.”Lily lifted her chin as if defying anyone to question her right to be here.
“Nice to meet you, Lily.”Mom was sensitive enough not to overwhelm Lily with questions.She addressed her next remark to me.“You took long enough.”
I shook my head.“The cupcakes weren’t ready when I got there.The order got mixed up and they thought we were picking them up later, so I had to wait while they finished them.”I glanced over at Thor.“Sorry.Should have texted to let you know.”
“Well, you’re here now so that’s what matters, and these all look delicious.It’s going to be hard to make a decision.”Mom smiled at Janet.“Luckily I’m not the one who has to decide.”
Just then Scrapper decided he’d had enough of the backpack.Digging his little claws into the material, he pulled himself up and jumped to the floor.Landing on all fours, he looked around defiantly before sauntering over to Mom, purring loudly as he rubbed his little body against her leg.
