Page 91 of The Loves We Lost

“You heard me. At least go tell her to leave him alone.”

I shake my head. “That’s Miles’s job.”

“Maybe. I mean, he’s not encouraging her, in case you were worried. He’s just humoring her.”

He’s not encouraging her, but he’s smiling as she talks. And when she places her hand on him, he doesn’t remove it.

“Look,” Niro says. “We’re men. We’re clueless. We fuck who we want until we don’t want them anymore. Until we find the one. You’ve been his one for years. He’s not gonna fuck this up for Penny. Trust me. Can I say something without you getting offended?”

I turn my eyes away from Miles. “When you say that, Niro, you usually say something that really pisses me off.”

He rubs a hand over his jaw. “Was that a yes?”

“Fine. It’s a yes.”

“This isn’t how they usually are together. Like, Penny is a sure thing.”

“That’s gross.”

Niro shrugs. “Her choice. Bates probably doesn’t see an issue because usually she’d be on her knees sucking his cock already. This probably feels friendly and nothing more to Bates. The thing is, Penny doesn’t think he’s taken yet. Club girls will do anything to become someone’s old lady. Penny obviously thinks Bates is still an option for her. It’s up to you to tell her it isn’tthrough one of two things: making a very public claim on Bates, or telling her to fuck off.”

“I’m not cut out for this.”

“Sweet cheeks, you grabbed your kid, hid in a shed from your enemies, ’fessed up to your baby daddy you’d been hiding his kid, and got firebombed. Oh, and you didn’t bat an eye when your man rocked up at your house, inches from death, and cared for him as he bled over your bathroom floor. I’m pretty sure you can handle Penny.”

“As pep talks go, that might be the oddest string of sentences.”

“But I have a point, don’t I? Cat!” Niro shouts and waves his old lady over.

She sits down on his lap. “What’s up?”

“Loan Vi your rings. She’s gonna speak with Penny.”

“What?” I ask as Cat slips two rings off her right hand. They’re spiked and solid.

“Here,” Cat says, slipping them on my fingers. They’re warm. “Good luck. Aim for her nose or the throat. I’ve got your back.”

“This is ridiculous,” I say. “Avery is right over there playing with those kids. The last thing she needs to see is me—”

Niro nudges Cat off his lap, then stands. “I got Avery. She’ll be in the kitchen eating cookie dough with me until you come and get her. Do something public to show your man you’re fighting for him. I feel like he’s done a whole lot of showing up for you, and you haven’t done a whole bunch of reciprocating. Like we didn’t both see him tell you he loved you and you leave him hanging at the service.”

Cat shakes her head. “That should have been an inside thought.”

He’s right though. I didn’t. I can’t even explain what stopped me. Maybe the idea that once I say it, I’d have no excuses for not staying here forever.

“Fuck,” Niro mutters. “Sorry. I got Avery.” He lifts Cat off his lap, and I see him gather my girl into his arms. Whatever he says makes her smile as they disappear around the front of the clubhouse.

I turn back to Cat. “I’m not—” Penny leans in to Miles as if to kiss his neck. And while Miles puts his hands up to push her away, I see red.

I eat up the lot in large strides, step between Miles and Penny, and shove her with all my might.

“What the hell are you doing?” she shrieks.

“Putting some distance between the two of you,” I shout.

Penny grins smugly. “Perhaps Bates likes it when there isn’t a lot of distance between us.”

“I have an idea of what happened between you and Bates before.” It’s rare I use his road name, but it seems appropriate in this moment. “But it’s not happening again.”