Page 74 of Renascence

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to embarrass you. I promise I didn’t see anything.” I finally face him, taking the beer he offers. “I’m Tek.”

“Emily.”

Tek tosses his long black hair out of his face, revealing brown eyes lined with black pencil. The kid has enough metal in his face to keep TSA occupied for a week—piercings in his ears, nose, brow, and lower lip. He’s cute, though.

“You’re lucky you apologized, motherfucker. Saved me the trouble of ending you.”

Tek gives Venom his attention. “Dream on, snake boy. MaybeI’llendyou, then Emily and I can run off together.”

Oh my.

“Dream on, nerd.”

This strange interaction is busted up by Chopper and his sister, who offer us each a loaded plate.

“Which one of these idiots are you with, darlin’?” he asks.

“Um….” I look to Venom, unsure how to answer. If I do, I’m practically calling him an idiot, too.

“She’s with me.”

“And how did a motherfucker like you land a beauty like this?” a newcomer with a scar on his cheek asks. The Latino man next to him with the greasy hair looks me up and down with a lascivious grin, eyes resting on my breasts. I shift uncomfortably, covering them with my jacket.

“Every time I see Marlowe, I wonder the same thing about you, fucker.” Venom turns to the ogler. “Andyou. Eyes north, asshole.”

I observe the men, realizing what I’m in the middle of is their brotherly camaraderie. It’s sweet. Strange, but sweet. Venom introduces the men as Crow and Rico. They continue to joke around through the entire meal, making the time fly by. When Raven taps my shoulder to tell me she’s leaving, I notice there aren’t many people left hanging around.

“Let me have your number,” she says. “We’ll do lunch tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

After we exchange numbers, Gage wraps his arm around her. “Let’s get you home, baby doll. You must be tired.”

She tips her head up, a loving smile in place. A pang of jealousy rips through me. The way he looks at her? That’s the way I’ve always wanted a man to look at me—like I’m his world. I don’t even know these people, but I can see the love they share. The same thing goes for Ellen and her beau. They surface from the back where the rooms are, Einstein carrying a sleeping little boy. His free hand is gripping Ellen’s as they stride toward us, the picture of a perfectly happy family.

“We’re heading out,” Einstein announces. “See you all tomorrow.”

“Bye.” I wave to the two couples.

“It was nice meeting you, Emily,” both men say at the same time.

“You, too. Thanks for having me.”

“Anytime,” Gage assures me, his impossibly blue eyes twinkling.

Before they’re through the door, Venom wraps his arm around my waist, sliding it down to my hip. “Ready to go?”

“If you are,” I answer.

“Come on, darlin’.”

In the safety of the Jeep, I ask a question that’s been on my mind all night.

“How old is your president’s wife? She seems young.”

“She should. She’s nineteen.”

“How long have they been married?”