Chapter 12

Man I Feel Like A Woman ~ Shania Twain

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Velvet

“Cheers!” I clinked Harlow’s glass and threw the shot down my throat. It burned on the way down but the warm buzz it gave me felt really fucking good. This week had been long and crappy, and I was glad it was over. I’d organised a girls night out at Graggs, a new bar in town. Never having been here before, I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was a popular place and the party atmosphere ensured we were having a great time.

Harlow’s face flushed with excitement as she ordered more drinks. “This was such a good idea, Velvet!”

Roxie bumped her hip against mine and chimed in, “Fuck, yeah! I haven’t had a girl’s night out in ages. It’s a shame that Madison couldn’t be here.”

“She’s got a good excuse though,” Harlow was almost slurring her words. We’d consumed a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time; it was probably time to slow it down because I didn’t think she could hold much more.

“What’s that?” Roxie asked.

“She’s babysitting Nash.”

Her words hit me in the gut. I hadn’t seen or heard from Nash in six days. Indigo was a lonely place without him, but he’d made his intentions clear, and I was getting on with life.

“Why does Nash need babysitting?” Roxie asked, clearly confused.

“I don’t know really, it’s just what Scott said when I asked why Nash was going over to Madison’s house. It’s a bit odd though, isn’t it?”

Roxie finished her next drink, and said, “Yeah. I mean, what biker have you ever heard of who needs babysitting?” She eyed me. “You sort your shit out with him?”

I could have killed her. I hadn’t told Harlow about Nash and I, but she was looking at me with interest now, waiting for my response as much as Roxie was. “Yes,” was all I said.

“And?” Roxie prompted.

“And nothing. He just wanted a bit of fun and now he’s done with me.” The words physically hurt to say.

Harlow’s eyes widened. “You slept with him?”

I shot Roxie a foul look before answering Harlow, “Yes, once.”

Harlow looked like she was about to burst with excitement. “I knew you two were totally suited!”

“No, we’re not.” I sculled my drink; maybe the alcohol would numb the pain that thinking about Nash caused. “Can we please change the subject?”

I must have said that with enough oomph to make them realise I really didn’t want to discuss Nash.

Roxie was straight on it. “When do you finish your beauty course? Cause I’m thinking I need a beautician in my salon.”

“Shit, that would be awesome. I finish in about a month.”

She grinned. “Good. That’s settled; we’ll get a room set up for you.” She beckoned to the bar tender to bring us more drinks while I let the happiness settle in me that she’d made that offer. Nothing in my life had ever come easy, often it felt like I was pushing shit up a hill, but some things were finally falling into place. And this was a huge step in the direction I wanted to go.

“I think we’ve had enough to drink,” I suggested, looking at Harlow who was swaying like there was a bloody cyclone passing through.

Roxie followed my gaze and began laughing. She reached out and grabbed Harlow, trying to steady her. “Doll, it might be time to take you home to lover boy.”

Harlow smiled a drunken smile. “Yeah, he’d like that.”

Roxie murmured, “Oh, I’m sure he would.” She indicated for me to help her get Harlow under control and we made our way outside to find a cab. “Does she always get this drunk this quick?”

“No, she can usually hold her liquor. Maybe she didn’t eat much today,” I suggested.

Harlow interrupted us. “Was busy at the cafe today, didn’t get to eat anything after breakfast,” she slurred.

“Scott’s going to be pissed at us for letting you drink this much,” Roxie said.

“Totally not our fault,” I said. I wasn’t taking the blame for this if Scott wanted to have a go.

Harlow giggled. “Don’t worry about Scott. He’s easy to control.”

I laughed out loud. “Umm, only for you, Harlow. No-one else gets away with the shit you do where Scott’s concerned.”

She giggled again just as a guy approached us on the footpath. “Ladies, you ready to go home?”

“That’s one of the worst pick up lines I’ve ever heard,” I scoffed. “And that’s a damn shame, dude, because you’re rocking some serious hotness there.” I drank in his muscles, his dark hair, his tats; he had the exact look that did good things to a woman, but he seriously needed to work on his flirting skills.

Nash could teach him a thing or two.

Shit. Random thought number five hundred about Nash for the week; I had to get him out of my system. Maybe this guy could help me after all.

Before I could think about that any further, Harlow trilled, “No, silly, he’s the prospect. Scott must have sent him to take us home.”

“Either that, or he sent him to keep an eye on you. That’s a little too controlling for me,” Roxie didn’t hide her aversion to men who took charge like Scott did.

Harlow cocked her head. “No, I don’t see it that way. Scott likes to make sure I’m safe; I think he only has good intentions when he does stuff like this.”