Page 93 of X's and O's

Bliss laughed, but Rebel looked a little horrified.

She glanced past me toward my bedroom. “You didn’t though, right? I mean, I’m just asking. I don’t know youtoo well yet, but, girl, if you need a body disposed of, we know people.”

I giggled. “I didn’t leave him bleeding out on the floor. He’s fine.” I shrugged. “Well, I assume he is. We made out like we were teenagers last night, but that was as far as it went. I think we fell asleep at some point. I didn’t hear him leave.” I wrapped my arms around my middle. “Should I be worried about that? Do you think he saw me drooling on my pillow or something and decided he’d made a huge mistake?”

“No,” both women said in unison, without a hint of doubt in their voices.

Their faith in my ability to keep a man interested was probably misguided, but sweet nonetheless.

Bliss tapped her nails on the kitchen countertop. “You’re probably wondering why we’re here.”

I pointed at my jacket that I’d left at Psychos when I’d run out in a rush, slung through the strap of her purse. “I just assumed you were returning that.”

She glanced down at it like she’d completely forgotten it was there. “Oh! Yes. Your jacket. Here.” She pulled it out and handed it over. “But I wanted to talk to you as well. It’s been a few days, and I know things happened between you and Levi last time you were at Psychos…” Bliss clasped her hands together in prayer formation. “But please take the job. We really need someone, and we really want it to be you and not some random stranger.”

I laughed. “I kind of am a random stranger though.”

Rebel shook her head. “Hate to break it to you, but like it or not, you’re family now. And that’s what Psychos is. Family.”

I’d just gotten another week of half-day shifts from Francine, as well as a dressing-down because one of my clients had cancelled, which of course had to be my fault. Not to mention the fact rent was due, and I’d already borrowed money from Toby to pay Whip…though that money was still burning a hole in my purse.

I needed the extra work.

But more than that, I needed the family.

“I can take the extra shifts.” I glanced at Rebel. “As long as you aren’t going to have sex with my brother while I’m working there.”

She snorted on a laugh. “We can work out a roster. When you’re at the club, he’ll keep his pants on.”

It didn’t seem to matter that Fang and I had only been reunited for a hot minute. I was definitely already seeing him in that big brother light, and the idea of him with his pants off turned my stomach. “Thank you. I’ve never had a family, so this is all new to me.”

“But nice, right?” Bliss asked.

I nodded slowly. “I think so. Yes.”

Rebel shifted on her stool. “The Slayers are a family too, you know. We have family day coming up. I know it would mean a lot to Fang if you’d come.”

I screwed my nose up at the mention of the biker club Levi had spent a year telling me about. “I don’t think the Slayers are people I want to get involved with.” I glanced at Rebel. “Apart from Fang.”

Bliss’s face fell. “Come to family day. Give them a chance. I really think you’ll like them. Rebel and I didn’t have much in the way of family when we first started hanging out with the Slayers either, but they took us in, and they’ve had our backs through a lot of ups anddowns. I couldn’t even imagine my life without them now.”

Rebel’s expression was just as hopeful. “You can meet all your nieces and nephews.”

I desperately wanted that. But… “I think I should let Levi have his space.”

Bliss eyed me. “Or…you could come and sort it out with him instead of avoiding him. I don’t think you’re going to be able to avoid him forever, what with him being Fang’s best friend.”

“Are you serious?” I threw my hands up in the air. “Because of course he and Fang are besties. God, why does the universe keep throwing me back into Levi’s orbit? I can’t escape him, no matter where I go or what I do, he just keeps turning up.”

“There might be a reason for that,” Bliss said gently.

“Yeah, like I have shitty taste in men and I’m being punished.”

“Or he’s who you’re supposed to be with.”

I sighed. “He doesn’t want me like that.”

Rebel cocked her head to one side. “The man started a fight in the middle of a restaurant because he saw you on a date with someone else. You sure about his feelings? Because I don’t know about you, but I’ve never started a fight over a man I didn’t give a shit about.”