Page 17 of Defended by Bama (Royal Bastards MC: Mobile, Alabama #1)
Brooklyn
Ollie was good company but he didn’t hang out too long. He ate, chatted with Sadie a bit, then said he wanted to get back to work. I guess it was his job to keep an eye on us.
Sadie was watching TV when I heard someone pulling up. I peeked through the blinds, and a car was pulling in. When I saw Glenda hop out with a bag of food and a six pack, I smiled and went to open the door.
“Thought you could use some company,” she said as she walked up the steps.
“It’s good to see you.” That was true. It was a little awkward that she and Bama had something, which was nothing according to him, but for some reason I gravitated toward her warmth.
“Hey, sweetie. I don’t know if you remember me, but we met briefly the other night,” Glenda said as she stepped inside and saw Sadie.
Sadie scrunched her face. “I thought I was dreaming but I remember your face.”
Glenda giggled. “Nope. That was me. I’m Glenda.”
“I’m Sadie,” she said with a smile. “You have dimples like me and Mommy.”
“I do. You know what else I got?” She shook the bag. “Chickie nuggies!”
Sadie practically vibrated in her seat, so I said, “At the table, go wash your hands first.”
“Yay!” she squealed before flying off the couch and into the kitchen.
“I swear every time I turn around there’s food,” I joked as I followed her to the table.
“Here,” she said, holding the beer out to me after she took one. “Want to stick those in the fridge and grab yourself one?”
“Thanks.” I took the handle and carried them to the fridge, pulling one out for me. She was helping Sadie with the food when I walked back over. “You didn’t have to do all this. I’m just glad to have some company.”
We both twisted the caps off our bottles then she held hers up. “Hey, that’s what friends are for, right?”
I clinked my bottle to hers, then took a sip. “Fast friends.”
“I like to go fast,” she said before taking a sip. “You hungry? I got lots of nuggets and fries.”
“Maybe in a bit. Bama brought food earlier. He keeps feeding me,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Well, the quickest way to a man’s heart is their stomach, so they think it works in reverse.”
Beer spewed out of my mouth and Glenda giggled while Sadie said, “Mommy, you made a mess.”
Coughing to clear my throat, I grabbed some of the napkins on the table and patted at my shirt, then checked that I didn’t spit all over Glenda. “I didn’t get you, did I?”
“I’m good, love. Didn’t mean to choke you.”
Heat filled my face. “Just went down the wrong way,” I said, still coughing a little. “Sadie, we’re going out back. When you’re done you can come outside, okay?”
I opened the back door and followed Glenda outside. It was hot and humid, but it was only mildly worse than Georgia, so I adjusted quickly.
Glenda took a seat and sighed, taking a long sip from her beer.
“Long day?”
She shrugged. “Busy day. But I prefer it that way.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to go stir crazy here. But it’s not my house, so besides cleaning what’s already out in the open, there’s only so much I can do.”
“There’s plenty to do around the clubhouse. It’s pretty quiet during the day.” She leaned closer. “Honestly, it’s only crazy like the other night when they have a big party, and that’s not all the time. But I can keep your mind off stuff.”
My brows rose. “You’re a beautiful woman, but I eliminated that interest in high school. Just wasn’t for me, but I support anyone’s–”
“I didn’t mean I could fuck you into forgetting,” she said, barely able to get the words out through her laughter. “I meant you could help me clean the clubhouse or cook. I, too, tested that out and found it wasn’t for me. Although, I can look at a woman and appreciate her beauty.”
My face heated for the second time in only minutes. “I’m sorry. Just didn’t want to have any mixed signals being out there.”
“I appreciate that. So, how you holding up?”
Looking out into the yard that met heavy woods, I thought for a minute before answering. “Hard to explain. Hard to really grasp, too.” Looking back over at Glenda, I said, “I remember everything, and I know things are absolutely fucked right now. But also…”
She nodded, encouraging me to continue.
“Marshall never took us far, or anywhere particularly exotic, but a few times he took us camping. He’d be fishing most of the time, leaving Sadie and I to hang out at the campsite, swim, fish off the bank, build fires, and roast marshmallows.
” The memories made me smile. “It was only a few days a year, and even though he was there, I was able to turn my brain off and just be in the moment. Part of me knew he’d never hurt me in such an open and public place, so I could actually relax. At least a little.”
“Disassociating.”
My head whipped to her. “You know, I never put that together, but yeah.” That made sense.
Every time he had beat me, after the first few hits, I would mentally check out.
I felt each blow, but in my mind, I was at the park with Sadie or at the library browsing the spines until something caught my eye.
It was usually in the aftermath that everything came flooding back, replaying over and over. But only bits and pieces.
“It’s a damn shame women are conditioned to suffer, but that’s how we learn to cope and keep going,” Glenda said. Her normally cheerful demeanor faltered briefly.
“Have you ever… Do you have an abusive ex? You know what, that was rude, just ignore me.”
She waved me off. “Not rude. We’re friends now, remember?” She giggled, her lightheartedness returning. “A couple of times. And I was assaulted by my squad leader in the military.”
“You served?” I don’t know why I was shocked. Maybe because she was probably five foot two and cute as a button, but honestly, women were tough.
“I did. But finally got discharged. They did me dirty so the only way to try to move on was to leave. But that’s how I met Reggie, so I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Oh,” I said, pleasantly surprised. “I thought you and Bama… ya know.”
She nodded. “We had an arrangement of sorts. But I never saw him like that.”
My brow furrowed. I was confused and didn’t want to sound like an ass. Maybe they had an open relationship. Or maybe it was on the side. None of which were my business.
“He’s dead.”
My heart skipped. “Wait, no, I–”
“Not Bama. He’s fine. Or at least he was when I ran into him at the clubhouse earlier. Reggie’s gone.” She took a long sip, finishing off her beer, then put it on the porch.
Once my panic calmed, sorrow for my new friend sunk in. “I’m so sorry.”
She grinned over at me. “Me, too. He was the love of my life. He wasn’t there to stop my attack, but he was the only one that believed me and even though it got him tossed out, he defended me.”
“They didn’t…” I knew there was corrupt shit everywhere, but surely they didn’t kill him.
“No, but he got a dishonorable discharge so no benefits. I get my benefits, and now I get extra because of what happened.”
“I feel weird saying that’s good, considering what happened to you.”
“Right? Like, what do you say to that? Congrats, men are trash, so here’s a check?” She laughed hard.
“I’m sorry about Reggie.”
She reached over, gripping my hand. “I’ll be okay, love. But if I learned anything from him, it’s don’t wait around. You never know how much time you have. Don’t waste it. I know you went through some shit, but Bama’s a good guy. He’ll take care of you.”
“I’m not sure he thinks of me that way. I thought there was a moment, but I totally read it wrong.”
“No. He wants you. He told me straight away our arrangement was off. He’s probably having a hard time reading you. He’s sensitive to women, probably thanks to his sister. They had a hard life, and she took care of him. But you know what, I’ll let him tell you all that.”
A small flutter filled my belly, but I was conflicted. “It’s a little weird, knowing the two of you–”
“It shouldn’t be. Hell, he knows you had a thing with someone before. You have a kid.”
“True, but he doesn't personally know him.”
“Look,” she said, squeezing my hand, “I cannot stress enough that there were never emotions at play. And it’s over. I’d never betray a friend. That was before you met him. How long ago doesn’t matter.” She squeezed my hand again, then let go. “Another cold one?”
I started to stand, but she waved me off. “Chill. I’ll check on Sadie and grab them. Enjoy the suffocating humidity.”
Chuckling as I watched her go inside, I let out a sigh and looked around. Maybe she was right. Maybe he did like me. I thought I liked him, but it also seemed so fast. Could it be a rebound? But what she said was worth thinking about. You never know how much time you have. Don’t waste it.