Chapter 2

Quinn

 

I wasn’t much of a drinker. The most alcohol I had ever had at one time was maybe half a bottle of wine. Considering my best friend owned a bar, I was pretty sure he was ashamed of the fact that I couldn’t handle more than two shots of tequila before I was drunk.

Tossing my lime wedge on the table between us, I licked the lingering juice from my lips. Around me, my friends were already on their third shot. Raven and Flick laughed at the face I made as I stared dubiously at my third shot while they picked up their fourth.

Kelli reached around me, picked it up, and downed it, along with her own shot, thankfully taking the decision out of my hands.

I reached for the untouched red solo cup of some kind of fruity rum punch that one of the old ladies had made. The first sip was kind of refreshing, so I took a bigger gulp, before Colt was reaching for the cup, trying to pull it out of my hand.

“Easy there, buttercup. This shit is lethal.”

I snatched it back and took another thirsty swallow before he could take it away again.

“It doesn’t taste like there is even anything in it but juice,” I complained when he lifted the cup over his head. He was such an ass when he did that. He was at least a foot taller than me. I could have kicked him in the balls to get it back, but I loved him too much to damage his boy parts.

“That’s the point, babe,” Kelli told me as she took a drink from her own solo cup. “Mask the taste of liquor and you’ll drink it all night. Then you won’t remember anything come morning when you’re holding the porcelain throne, praying you won’t fall off the ground.”

I gave them both a pout. Then I turned back to Raven and Flick, and Flick handed over her own cup with a wink.

I heard Colt groan from behind me and saw Raven shoot him a glare. To that, he muttered something under his breath before walking away.

“How the fuck did you do that?” Kelli demanded as she sat her cup on the table between us and leaned forward. “Do you have superpowers or something? Teach me!”

Blonde brows lifted toward the ceiling as Raven turned her green gaze on me. “Is she drunk already?”

I nearly snorted my punch up my nose. Coughing, I shook my head. “Nope. She’s still as sober as you.”

Raven could hold her liquor better than any woman I had ever seen. She could have drunk half the tequila bottle by herself and still would have been just as coherent as if she’d had nothing to drink at all. I wasn’t completely sure she was human.

“Huh.” Raven’s lips twitched with humor. “Stick around, Kelli. I’ll teach you a few tricks.”

I stood there, enjoying my punch and watching the people around us. Some of the old ladies were at a table across the room from us, laughing and having a good time. MC brothers were spread around the room, drinking beer, and shooting pool at the four tables in what was considered the living room. Every now and then, I would catch a glimpse of one of my sisters hanging off some random guy.

I was just thankful they weren’t fucking around with Raider tonight.

Thinking of that particular MC brother, I started gulping my punch. Within seconds, my cup was empty.

Raven stepped closer to me and exchanged my empty cup for her almost full one with a wink.

“Colt is going to be so pissed.” I giggled and took a sip.

“Colt’s an old mother hen where you’re concerned. Don’t worry; I won’t let him ground you.” Raven playfully bumped my hip with hers. “Take it easy with this cup, though. I don’t want to be responsible for you getting alcohol poisoning.”

I was starting to feel very relaxed and at ease. I liked it. Nothing could have bothered me right then. I was numb to the constant dull pain around my heart and when I saw my oldest sister, Heather, giving me the stink eye, I didn’t even care. Instead, I grinned at her and lifted my cup, almost daring her to mess with me.

When Raven shifted beside me, Heather’s gaze was drawn to her. Whatever she saw when she looked at my friend had her quickly turning away.

Curious, I glanced at Raven to find that darkness on her face that could scare the piss out of more than half the females in the room at any given moment.

“Why don’t you just stomp those bitches and be done with it?” Raven muttered low enough so only I could hear her.

I shrugged. “Probably because they would fight dirty, and it would turn into a three on one where I ended up bald and toothless.”

I had been in enough fights with my sisters over the years to know what the outcome would be, and the odds were definitely not in my favor.

I was the good girl of my mother’s four daughters. I had graduated from high school, worked hard, and when Mom had gotten sick, I had been the one to take care of her. After she had passed away, I had tried to stay in the house where I had grown up, but my sisters had made that impossible. Thankfully, Colt had helped me find the house I was renting now.

“Hey, Raven.” We both turned to find Willa and Gracie standing a few feet away. “Can you help us out in the kitchen with something?”

“Yeah, I’m coming.” She gave me a grim smile, her eyes on my red solo cup. “Sip that.”

Once she was gone, it was just Flick and Kelli there to keep me company. The other two started talking about what Flick was doing now that she was home for good. She had been some rocker’s nanny for over a year, but now that she was back, it wasn’t like she could just find another rich family with kids to babysit.

“I’m helping out Uncle Jack for now, and I waitress at the bar when the guys need an extra hand.” She made a funny face. “It’s basically like taking care of a bunch of overgrown kids, so my job hasn’t really changed much.”

I tuned them out when I caught a glimpse of dark blond hair cut short, those wide shoulders with that leather cut and a black T-shirt over them. His jeans had holes in the knees, but they hugged his ass perfectly.

My hand froze with my cup halfway to my mouth, the air seeming to be sucked forcefully out of my lungs when he looked my way and our eyes locked.

Maybe it was the punch mixed with those two shots of tequila. Maybe I was imagining what I read in his eyes. I could blame it on being almost drunk. I had wanted to see that hungry look directed at me for so long that I didn’t completely trust it as he kept walking, his gaze never leaving mine.

It was only when someone moved in front of me that our connection was broken.

I sucked in a gasping breath, my heart suddenly beating so hard my shirt actually bounced with the force of it. My mouth felt bone-dry, while lower, my panties were suddenly uncomfortably wet.

I lifted the cup to my lips and took a few sips, hoping the coolness of the drink would help calm down my overheated body.

“Well, that’s new,” I heard Flick mutter and turned my head to find her watching me.

She had obviously seen the exchange between me and Raider.

An uncontrollable blush filled my cheeks, and I hurriedly looked away, gulping down more of my drink, as I felt her and Kelli move in around me.

“Is something going on with you and Raider?” Flick demanded in a fierce whisper. “He just looked at you like you were his favorite new toy.”

“No, of course not. I don’t know what that look was about, but nothing has changed between us.” My head was spinning, and I wasn’t completely sure it was all from the alcohol.

“Remember what we talked about outside?” Kelli pulled my cup from my hand, forcing me to give them my complete attention.

“What were you talking about outside?” Flick asked, being nosy.

“I can’t understand why she loves that prick so much.” Kelli wasn’t shy about confiding in Flick about our earlier conversation. If it had been anyone else, I would have been pissed at my roommate for blabbing about something that was private. But I knew Flick wouldn’t tell a soul, not even Raven or Jet.

“Valid question,” my old friend agreed.

“Well, I want her to figure out if she really does love him or if she’s just built up the whole thing in her head. Dreams and reality are two completely different scenarios.”

“Truth,” Flick muttered half under her breath, then turned those blue eyes on me. “Girl’s right; maybe it’s time to figure it out, Quinn.”

I glared at them both. “I do have it figured out, thank you very much.”

“Oh yeah?” Kelli looked skeptical.

“Yeah,” I snapped. “I’m moving on. I am officially done with letting Raider Hannigan stomp on my heart. I might even find one of the brothers and lose my v-card to him tonight.”

I was all talk, all three of us knew it, but it felt good to say those words out loud. I was going to get over Raider. I was done being the pathetic chick who wore her heart on her sleeve for a guy who barely even knew she was alive.