The enforcers focused their glares on me, but I wasn’t intimidated. Not if they planned to tell me to stay away from Winnie. Losing her wasn’t even an option.
“Winnie is a pretty good bowler,” Vaughn finally said and Judd glared at him. “What? So few of you shitheads can bowl. I’m sick of my woman being the only one to challenge me. What happens when she gets all round with my seed?”
“Seed?” Raven said, laughing. “I like when you use medical terms.”
Vaughn finished his beer then started tickling Raven again. She squirmed under the table, knocking against it and spilling Judd’s beer.
“Fuck it,” he said, standing up. “I’m playing pool.”
Tawny joined her husband. “Wanna play, Dylan? Those two will be at it for a while. Apparently, they just recently figured out Raven’s ticklish.”
“Don’t be fooled!” Vaughn yelled over Raven’s laughter. “Tawny and Judd will ditch you the minute one of them looks at the other one for too long and the need to fuck overwhelms them.”
“I’ll take my chances,” I said, following Judd and Tawny to a table.
After a few minutes, I felt Tawny watching me. While she’d always been friendly, I never felt comfortable around her. Mainly because her husband killed people. He was like Vaughn without the silly one-liners.
“You really like Winnie.”
Unable to respond without giving away how much I cared for Winnie, I just nodded.
“She might seem cold sometimes or maybe she pushes you away even though you sense she wishes you were closer. Be patient and she’ll find a way to get close.”
“I will,” I said, smiling at her advice. “Winnie is like no one I’ve ever met and I’ll wait for her.”
“Patience is the key,” Judd said, wrapping an arm around Tawny. “My woman was patient with me and I finally came around. I didn’t make it easy for her though.”
Tawny smirked. “Drama queen.”
When Judd smiled down at her, Vaughn’s prediction came true. I disappeared from the world as Judd and Tawny’s gazes locked on one another. They left the bar without saying another word.
“Told you,” Vaughn said, taking Judd’s stick. “Happens every time.”
“I resent how much hornier they are for each other,” Raven whined. “I mean I’m hot, right?”
Vaughn shrugged. “Sure, I guess.”
“Asshole,” she growled, tugging up at her shirt. “I’ll flash the ladies for everyone to see then take a poll about how hot I am.”
Vaughn’s smile faded. “Mine. No one sees them.”
Getting the response she wanted, Raven fixed her shirt. “Mine. Me like woman. Me talk caveman. Me lack brain cell.”
“I can’t help that you make all the blood run out of my big head to my other head.”
“You’re a poet.”
“Yeah, I am, Jellybean.”
Raven made her shot then gave me one of her looks. “Are you acting clingy and weird around Winnie like you did with Lark?”
“No,” I muttered. “My feelings for Lark were…”
“Bizarre,” Raven said when I didn’t finish.
“Misguided. I wanted her to be someone she isn’t. With Winnie, I like her the way she is.”
Raven grinned. “That’s pretty sweet. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Winnie is special, so don’t mess this up for me.”
“Mess it up how?”
“Don’t tell her the Lark thing.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t cool,” Vaughn said. “Not only is Lark your sister, she’s also a midget.” When Raven smacked his arm, he shrugged. “I mean little person.”
“Asshole. I’m giving you shitty sex tonight for that comment.”
“Bet I won’t even notice.”
“Oh, you’ll notice. Trust me about that.”
Vaughn wrapped her in his arms. “I’ll make it right. Don’t stress it, Twinkie.”
Raven pushed him off and focused on me. “I’ll keep your weird shit on the DL. I’m sure Lark will too. We both want you to be happy.”
“Thanks, Raven.”
“Heartwarming,” Vaughn said, wrapping her in his arms again. “I need reassurance. Pay attention to me.”
Raven gave me a wink then turned around in her husband’s arms and sucked on his tongue. They stayed at it for long enough that I felt the need to finish my beer and leave.
Before going home, I drove past Winnie’s house. I hoped she was sleeping soundly and looking forward to our next date. After hearing Judd’s story about the Vandals, I suspect Winnie might be having second thoughts about us.
Chapter Seven ~ Winnie
Harlow had a lot of anger and thought roller derby might help her get it out in a productive way. The problem was she wasn’t a great skater, so she asked Raven for help.
I didn’t want to join the Storm Babes, but I decided to come along to watch her train. Bailey also wanted to join us. In the chaos of making plans, I agreed to bring Jace along. He wasn’t thrilled.
“Hey, kid,” Bailey said, looking at Jace. “Sawyer is also a child. Be friends and play together, so I can ignore her and pay attention to Winnie.”
Jace frowned darkly as Sawyer took his hand. “I don’t want to skate.”
“No one cares,” Sawyer growled. “Don’t let me fall.”