Page 12 of Edge

“I guess that’ll be okay,” I said.

“Great!” she said excitedly. “I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

An hour would barely be enough time for me to shower and get ready. I could do it if I hurried and did my makeup in the car. I was in the middle of washing my hair when it dawned on me that I didn’t know what to wear to the party. The options I had to choose from were limited, and they weren’t what I would call party clothes. “Crap, crap, crap. Why did I agree to this?”

I hastily rinsed the conditioner from my hair and hopped out of the shower, slipping on the floor and almost busting my ass as I ran across my trailer to get my phone. “What are you wearing?” I said between breaths when Irene answered my call.

“Why is that question always accompanied by heavy breathing?”

“Sorry, I just got out of the shower.”

“Must’ve been some shower,” she laughed.

“I don’t know what to wear,” I confessed.

“You don’t need to dress up or anything. A black T-shirt and jeans will be fine. Really any color T-shirt except red. That’s what I’m wearing, and we don’t want to be all matchy-matchy.”

“Got it,” I said. “See you in a bit.”

When she knocked on my door, I was dressed and my hair was dry, but I was also sweaty and flustered. “You ready to go?”

“Yeah, let me just grab my stuff,” I said. I also got a paper towel and used it to dry my face. “Sorry, I always get hot after I dry my hair.”

“Well, it’s no wonder. You’ve got so much of it,” she said.

“Yeah, I probably should cut it. It’s a lot to manage.”

“Don’t you dare. Plenty of women would kill for hair like yours. Keep it like it is for as long as you can,” she said.

“Thank you,” I said sincerely and followed her out to her car. Once inside, she put the AC on full blast, and I wanted to thank her again. “Do you mind if I do my makeup?”

“Go right ahead,” she said and pulled out of her driveway.

By the time we reached Croftridge, I was much more put together and felt sort of okay about the party. Then she pulled up to a gate and rolled down her window. A man in a leather vest stepped out of the booth and asked for her name. “Irene. I’m Byte’s friend.”

“You’re good to go. Have you been here before?”

“A few times,” she said.

He nodded. “Have a good time.”

“Where are we?” I asked and tried to hide the trepidation in my voice.

“The Blackwings MC clubhouse,” she said, like it was no big deal. Meanwhile, I was internally freaking out. I didn’t want to go inside. In fact, I wanted to run as far away as I could and never look back.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I don’t think I can go in there,” I admitted.

“You don’t have anything to worry about. I wouldn’t have brought you if it wasn’t safe. Some of them may look a little rough, but they’re all big teddy bears.”

“I don’t know.” I hated how scared I sounded, but it couldn’t be helped.

“You’re really scared, aren’t you?”

I could only nod. My throat felt thick, and I was on the verge of tears.

“I would never put you in harm’s way. I promise. When we go inside, stay right beside me. I won’t leave you for a second. They’re the good guys. You’ll see.”