Forever, стр. 44

Chapter 20

New Friends

Eva

Holden and I stroll slowly up the street. One, because of my heels and two, because we’re not in any rush to get back to the building. Not from the sound of the bellows coming from that office.

“Those heels are going to take you out,” Holden taunts.

“Ugh, they were not meant for me to walk in them. I hadn’t planned to do more than go into the office and back to the truck to go home,” I groan.

He throws his head back and laughs. Fine, we can both laugh at my pain. It feels good to do that after all my worrying lately.

Taking a glance at his outfit, I grin. Holden is a tall lanky sort of guy. Not lanky in an awkward way. He carries himself well enough.

His burgundy slacks are a slim fit and his loafers give him a polished look. He actually looks like he could be on a magazine cover. Edgy, but not rough like King and Brick can pass off.

“Look, you modernized James Dean. Just because we all can’t pull off the loafers and caviar look doesn’t mean we’ve all failed at life,” I toss out.

“Oh,” he bursts into laughter. “Loafers and caviar? James Dean? Good one.”

“Thank you.”

“You know, I like you this way,” he says.

I look up at him, drawing my brows in. “What do you mean?”

“You smile more here and… I don’t know. You seem happy. Back home, you were always… off to yourself. Sort of guarded, I guess. I can’t blame you. Things are always intense back there. I can’t imagine it’s easy being the prez's sister,” he replies.

I shrug. “I think I blocked it all out years ago. The bunnies have never been too nice to me and the brothers kept their distance for the most part. My books were better company, with the exception of Misty and Reap.”

“Reap, now that’s one I keep my distance from.”

“Really? Why?”

He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You’re kidding?”

“No, why?”

“Can I ask you something? How much do you know about the club?”

I take a moment to think that through. “Honestly?”

“Yeah, honestly,” he replies.

“My dad was the prez and then my brother took over. We’re one of about ten chapters, I think. I get the whole business thing with some of the brothers. Oh, and Uncle Mix is the VP.

“There’s a subdivision in our chapter. That’s the Squad, they can be a bit scary. At least, the ones I know of, but after what you told me back at the office, I’m questioning that knowledge a bit,” I say truthfully.

“Yeah, you should. Maybe you should ask Brick to fill you in a bit more. I’m feeling a little out of place now that I know how little you know.”

I look up and catch the nervous look in his eyes. I make a note to ask Brick a few questions. I chew on my lip, if he considers it club business he may not answer.

That could be a problem. I’m starting to want to know more. Although, I’m still processing this Squad captain thing.

“Hey, do you remember that orgy you walked in on at the clubhouse?” Holden says.

My mouth pops open and I palm my face. With a groan, I shake my head. “You were there?”

“Nearly blew my cover laughing so hard at you,” he says. “You should have seen your face.”

“Well, I walked in by mistake. What were you doing in there?”

He snorts. “Technically, I was there first. I was trying to get high in peace. Not my fault they picked my hiding spot.”

I laugh as I remember that night. I’d been reading and walked into the room not paying much attention. Otherwise, I would have noticed the room was occupied.

“Wait, do you remember that time that one brother got so drunk he couldn’t find the bathroom so he pissed right in the middle of the clubhouse?” Holden asks next.

“Oh, yeah, I do. I was in the corner reading and looked up right as he whipped it out.”

“See, you’re always around. Just not paying attention.”

“Fine, I get your point,” I say and bump my arm into his.

“Do you remember Molly dancing on the pool table until her wig fell off?”

I squint my eyes as if that will help me remember better. This one doesn’t come back to me. I try to think harder, but still nothing.

“No, I don’t recall that one,” I say.

“Come on, you were sitting right there. You have to remember,” he says.

“What? Really?”

“Well, damn. That’s pretty amazing. No wonder you didn’t react. You weren’t paying attention.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Go on.”

“What brought you here to Georgia? How did you end up Brick’s assistant?”

I peer up at him in time to catch him rolling his eyes. “I needed a break from my brother. He means well. I know he’s just looking out for me, but it gets to be a bit much. I talked to King and here I am,” he says.

“I can totally relate to that. King can be intense sometimes. He definitely means well. I guess college gave me a reprieve,” I muse aloud.

“But he doesn’t know about this thing with Brick,” he says with a bit of caution in his voice. “I mean, Brick told me to mind my fucking business in but so many words, but I’m not going to run home and tell either way. Like I said, I like you like this.”

“No, he doesn’t know. It sort of just happened. We’re going to tell him. Brick is waiting for the right timing,” I say.

“No need to explain to me. If King ever asks if I knew, I’m blaming the memory.” He taps his temple.

“Ah, but then you would be breaking a Lost Souls rule, we don’t lie.”

“Wait, so you do know more about the life,” he says teasingly and bumps my shoulder this time. “Besides, I’m not a Lost Soul, remember? My brother has blocked that one.”

This time when he says the words, I hear something in his voice. It’s a longing