by Marie, Kay
“Man, get out of here with that shit,” Buster teases him. Shade and I give them both hugs and move out of the way, letting others come to congratulate them.
Minx, Raze, Shade, and I wait to show them our gifts until everyone has left for the evening. As soon as Cali opens the door to Shade’s room, she starts bawling. We got them a stroller to go with the car seat they got from Buster’s parents, the high chair they picked out and a bassinet they wanted. Plus, a bunch of diapers, wipes, clothes, and other little things they’ll need. They were so incredibly thankful for everything. This baby is going to be the most well-loved child ever.
After Cali and Buster went to bed and Minx and Raze left, Shade and I snuggle up on the couch to watch a movie.
“Today was amazing,” I tell him.
“It really was,” he agrees. “I loved having you by my side today.”
“Me too. It’s nice to have real friends for once,” I admit to him.
“They’re not just friends, they’re family. Remember that,” he says. He kisses me on the top of my head.
“I don’t know how I got so lucky,” I say.
“I’d say I’m the lucky one,” he replies.
For the first time ever, I have a real family. People that love and care about me. Who will protect me instead of hurting me. This is home. Shade is my home. As long as I have him, I have everything.
Epilogue
Sketch
A couple of weeks have gone by since Buster and Cali’s baby shower. I’m now in New Orleans with Clutch, Diesel, and Kicks to do some club business. The plan is to recruit some guys for the Menaces and the Riders. Gator told Buster that there were some potential recruits for the Menaces. He also said that he and a few guys were interested in becoming Riders. We want to expand into other states, so this is perfect.
Tonight is our first night in New Orleans and the guys want to go out. Which is nothing new and I don’t usually mind going out, but a certain blonde hair, brown eye girl has been clouding up my mind. I’ve had feelings for Wren since I first saw her at A Novel Bunch, but I’ve kept my distance for two reasons. The first being that she has a boyfriend, and the second being that she’s my best friend’s sister.
Shade has since figured out that I have some kind of feelings for Wren, and he hasn’t seemed completely freaked out. As far as her boyfriend goes, he’s a prick that doesn’t deserve her. Not saying that I do deserve her, but I would treat her a hell of a lot better than he ever has. I don’t know the whole story with the two of them, but from what Wren has told me, I’ve been able to connect the dots. I can’t figure out why she stays with him.
“I don’t know what or who has you so twisted up, but we’re getting you drunk and laid tonight,” Diesel tells me. Maybe that’s not such a bad idea. Maybe fucking some random chick will help get Wren out of my head.
“Bring on the drinks,” I say.
We walk into Saints and Sinners bar on Bourbon Street. Everything about the interior is red. Red walls, red chairs, everything. There are gorgeous women everywhere. It shouldn’t be hard to find someone to have fun with. We find a booth to sit at and a waitress, wearing red booty shorts and a skin-tight black tank top, comes by right away. As we’re ordering drinks, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and have a text from Shade.
From Shade: Call me asap.
“I gotta step outside and call Shade. It’s too loud in here,” I tell the guys. Diesel nods, letting me know he heard me. I walk outside a dial his number.
“Wren is gone,” Shade says answering his phone.
“What the fuck do you mean gone?”
“We came home to Sienna’s apartment after spending a few days at the house with Buster and Cali, and a safe Sienna and Wren shared was open with everything gone,” Shade tells me.
“Could they have been robbed,” I ask.
“No, it was hidden pretty well. Sienna said it had cash, keys to a car, and a disposable phone in it. She said it was in case either of them was ever in trouble and needed to run. Plus, some of Wren’s clothes are gone,” Shade explains. Why the fuck would she run. Unless . . .
“Do you think something happened between her and Zack?”
“I don’t know. She left her phone here and Sienna doesn’t have the number to the disposable phone. There’s no way to get a hold of her,” he says. “And I have no clue where she would go.”
As he’s talking, I notice a woman with a similar figure as Wren walk across the street. Her hair is a different blonde than Wren’s, but when she turns her head, I get a glimpse of the side of her face. It can’t be.
“Shade, I gotta go. I’ll call you back,” I tell him and hang up. She’s with a girl that has lavender-purple hair and they’re walking toward Willie’s Chicken Shake. I check for cars and jog across the street. I watch through the window and see her sit at a table with a couple more girls. She sits in a chair that’s facing me but doesn’t look my way. Now that I see her face, I know for sure it’s her. The question is, what the hell is she doing in New Orleans?
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By: Kay Marie
Pedal to the Metal
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Joy Ride
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