Page 84 of The Souls We Claim

ARIANNE

The wail of a Guns N’ Roses song blasts through speakers as I step out into the rear yard of the clubhouse. Briar has offered to take Lola for a little while, giving this the vibe of a date between Halo and me.

There are three grills in action, all being patrolled by Niro and a little girl of about six who are in matching aprons.

The scent of sizzling meats fills the air, and I’m immediately hungry.

“Go get us hot dogs, kitten. Let Niro know it’s for me. He knows how I like them,” Halo says. “I’ll grab drinks. You want beer, wine?”

I glance around and see some of the girls drinking a fruity punch. “Could I get a glass of that, please?”

Halo shakes his head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because Briar always puts pineapple juice in it, and you’re allergic.”

“How do you know that?”

He runs a knuckle down my cheek. “The first day, when I made you a smoothie. You asked if it had pineapple in it because of your allergies.”

My heart expands. He remembered. And cares. It’s a powerful combination. “In that case, beer and a hot dog sound perfect.”

He leans his lips close to my ear. “Kinda like your tits in that swimsuit, sweetheart.” He nibbles on my earlobe as I giggle. “Go,” he says finally.

The outfit was picked to drive him wild. A swimsuit with a faded American flag, the Stars and Stripes, something Halo stood for. It looks like a tank top but has built in support that works in spite of the low-cut back. And, yes, as Gwen pointed out when we went shopping yesterday, it’s the perfect cut to highlight my assets.

As I make my way to Niro, my cellphone rings in my pocket. Patrick.

He hasn’t called in days.

I thought he’d given up.

I refuse the call before slipping my phone back in my pocket.

“I don’t know you,” the little girl in the apron says.

“I’m Arianne. I’m…friends with Halo,” I say, offering her my hand.

She shakes it. “I’m Avery. And this is my best friend, Uncle Colton.”

Niro places his hand on Avery’s head. “She’s Bates’s daughter.”

“And?” Avery says, looking up at Niro, who under any circumstance would be considered menacing.

“Oh, right. And Avery is my best friend.”

Avery fists her hand in the air, then lowers it with a drawn out, “Yessss.”

“What can we get you?” Niro asks.

“Two dogs, please. One’s for Halo. He said you’d know how he likes it.”

Niro smirks and looks me up and down. “Oh, I know. Wouldn’t have said you were it.” Then he shakes his head. “Sorry. Rewind.”

“What?”

“Uncle Colton says ‘rewind’ when he said something he didn’t mean to say,” Avery says. “He has a con…dition.” The last few words are whispered.