“Perhaps.” She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know, maybe.” I shrugged. “I’mnot sure who will be there aside from Wes and Connie. But you know, Kat,” Ibegan after a pause, “these guys aren’t typically relationship material,” Iwarned. “I just don’t want you to get hurt,” I explained. I knew Kat could holdher own, she’d always been incredibly confident andfeisty. But I’d never seen her take an interest the way she had in Sal and itwas my duty as her best friend to warn her.
“I know,” she said and smiled at mewarmly. I’d always been a bit of a mother hen with her, she was used to it.“I’ll proceed with caution,” she assured me. “Plus, you know me, since when amI looking for a relationship anyway?” she said as she wrinkled her brow withdistaste.
“True,” I laughed.
We headed out through the door thatCole had repaired before he’d left that morning. My stomach fluttered withexcitement at the thought of seeing him, but I also felt nervous to see hisfather again and to go to a party at the club. I’d been to a million Sinners’barbeques but that felt like a lifetime ago.
We arrived well after dark and could hearfrom the street that things were in full swing.
“Here goes,” I muttered as we walkedtoward the building I’d been to once before. But instead of going inside, I didas Cole had instructed and came around the side since everyone was out back.The music was loud but voices and laughter were louder when we reached theback. It was a simple space with a large concrete patio, a couple of picnictables, and plenty of folding chairs strewn about. There were large fires goingin two fire pits, with flames dancing and providing hints of the desert thatlay beyond.
The grill was full of meat and thebeer was flowing, all in all just what I’d expected. I searched for Cole butdidn’t see him at first, and I was instantly thankful that Kat was with me.“Let’s get a drink,” I suggested, heading toward one of the kegs.
“Let me get that for you ladies,” anolder biker offered, pouring our cups full of beer.
“Thanks, have you seen Cole?” I askedwhen he handed me my cup.
“Not long ago, over that way,” he said,pointing to the back of the building.
I nodded and Kat followed me throughthe boisterous crowd. It didn’t take us long to find him, and my heart droppedat what I saw. He was sitting casually at one of the tables with three othermen. But that wasn’t where my attention went. There was a blond woman standingnext to him, her fingers combing through his hair, her chest provocativelypressed to his shoulder. Clearly they knew each other well, intimately even.And he was doing nothing to dissuade her. The sight of her hands on him made atemper rise up in me that I didn’t know I had. I felt sick and like a completeand total fool.
“Shit,” I heard Kat mutter.
“We’re outta here,” I replied, turningon my heel and stalking back to my car. Kat followed without a word, knowingthere was no talking me out of it--not that she would try in this situation.
“Hey, Scarlet,” Wes greeted steppingin front of us. “Cole’s waiting for you.”
“Yeah, well he’ll continue to fuckingwait,” I growled. “Wegottago,” I told him, unableto temper my rudeness. Wes knit his brows in confusion, but shrugged and let uspassed.
“Let’s go get drunk,” I said firmlyonce we were back at my car.
“Okay,” Kat answered quietly. “ButScar, I know that looked bad but he knew you were coming. If he was going to dosomething shady, why would he do it while he was waiting for you? She’sprobably just some hanger-on that he couldn’t get rid of,” she said, and I wassurprised she was coming to his defense.
“I don’t care who she was. The factthat he was sitting there letting her touch him like that speaks volumes,” Ireplied angrily, starting my car and roaring off just as my phone started toring.
“Speak of the devil,” I muttered,reaching over to turn it off.
I heard Kat sigh but she didn’t sayanything as I drove us downtown. We headed back to Jupiter where the drinkswere free and we could hang out with our coworkers.
“Sorry you missed your chance to seeSal,” I apologized as we sipped our drinks following the shot that Frank, ourbartender, had insisted on. Clearly my car was staying put and we were cabbingit tonight.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Scar, you atleast have to answer that,” she pleaded as my phone began to ring again. “Heworries,” she added.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Since whendid you become team Cole?” I accused.
“I’m always team Scarlet, always,” sheassured me. “But I think he’s a good guy. I’d at least hear him out.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. “I’ll be back,” Imuttered as I slid off my stool at the bar and went outside to take his call.
“Yeah?” I answered.
“Yeah?” he asked incredulously. “Wherethe fuck are you?” he growled. “Wes said you high tailed it out of here lookingall pissed off.”
“It seems I had a change of plans forthe evening,” I quipped.
“You had a change of plans,” hestated, his voice low with anger. Clearly Cole had never been stood up. Hedidn’t seem to like it much. Well, to fucking bad.