Page 197 of Burning Ember

I leave the dark interior and for a moment, I’m blinded by sunlight. Then Mav is there and he’s checking me over. He then pulls the bag from my shoulder, palms my face with his other hand. “How’d it go?”

I shake my head. “We’ll see. Can we wait for a little bit?”

He nods and says, “Yeah. Let me put this in my saddle bag.”

I ask Mav and Taz to wait by the bikes in case she comes out, and I lean against the brick building. Every few minutes, I check my phone. When eleven minutes pass, I head toward Mav. He pulls me in for a hug and whispers in my ear, “We’ll try again after she’s had some time to think about it.”

Taz throws his leg over his bike and starts it up. But then immediately he shuts it down. When I look his way, I notice his eyes are focused on something behind me. Turning, I see Ivy standing with one hand around the belly of a charcoal-colored cat, and the other clutching the strap of the gym bag she’s got over her shoulder. She’s standing in the open doorway again. Her gaze bounces from Mav to Taz, and then to me.

I approach her slowly. Her leaf-like green eyes are striking against her pale skin, even though there’s a ring of black eyeliner surrounding them. She’s dressed in black like before and wearing those same laced up boots.

“Hey,” I say, I didn’t think you we’re going to come out.”

“Neither did I.”

Her eyes roam over me. “You look good, Red. Healthy.”

“Thanks.”

“So you’re a biker chick now, huh?”

A slow smile spreads across my face. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“And you’re really preggers?”

“Yes, just over four months along.”

Her mouth twitches. “So you didn’t really take my advice about buying some protection.”

I grin. “I was buying condoms when I found that friend I was talking about.” The cat wiggles in her arms and tries to get loose, but she adjusts her grip on him.

“Who’s this?” I ask and motion to the cat. Reaching out, I pet the cat, and it lifts its head to meet my hand.

“I call her BB. Black Betty” She rolls her eyes. “And yes, I realize she’s not black.”

She looks from me to Mav. “So is he the baby dadda?”

“Yes. That’s Mav. Or people call him Luce. He’s my boyfriend.” Mav mutters a hello to her from behind me. Her gaze swings back to Taz. “And that’s Taz, his friend,” I say. “They’re only here because they wouldn’t let me come alone.”

“For good reason,” Mav rasps in aggravated tone.

Dropping her voice, Ivy asks, “How come that one is lookin’ at me like he wants to gnaw on my bones and spit them out after?”

I shrug. “That’s just how Taz looks at everyone. But don’t worry about it. He’ll be on his best behavior. He owes me, so to collect I’ve asked him to give you a ride back to where we live.”

“You’re gonna have to leave the cat,” Taz states.

He pulls a toothpick from his pocket, but pauses when she says, loud enough for him to hear, “Look, I don’t know you from Adam, but fuck you asshole if you think I’m leavin’ my cat.”

Taz growls and the toothpick falls from his fingers.

I bite my lip to stifle my laugh.

Taz glares at her and then me. Mav comes forward and offers, “I’ve got one empty saddle bag if you think she’ll be okay ridin’ in there. It’ll be about a fifteen—maybe twenty minute drive.”

Ivy nods, but before she hands over the cat, she asks Mav, “No strings, right? If I want to leave—”

“You do as you please. Consider it my way of sayin’ thanks for helpin’ Ember when you did.”