“I knew that too,” Indy smiled.
“I didn’t! Dammit! Why am I so out of the loop?” Al y snapped.
May broke into Al y’s rant, she sounded exasperated too but at me. “Oh for goodness sake, Jules, you break up with that boy you’re off my Christmas card list.” I just stared at her, keeping my mouth shut.
She took my stare and then pul ed out the big guns. “And no birthday cake for you. I know you like your cake and your birthday is tomorrow and I had a good one al planned to make for you. But, you let go of Vance Crowe, forget it,” May went on.
“May, that’s not fair!” I protested and it was true, it wasn’t fair. It was cruel. I loved her birthday cakes. Everyone loved her birthday cakes. She made the best birthday cakes ever (even better than Auntie Reba but I’d never tel Nick that).
Last year, she made me German chocolate cake with that delicious condensed milk frosting with pecans in it. It was amazing.
I carried on my argument to May. “It’s my life. I know what I’m doing!”
“Mm hmm,” was al May uttered.
The rest of the girls were looking at each other.
“Your birthday is tomorrow?” Jet asked.
“Let’s have a party!” Al y yel ed.
“Great idea,” Indy said.
“No!” I broke in. “No party.”
“Too late, Sugar. Ain’t no stoppin’ the Rock Chicks when there’s a reason to party,” Daisy told me.
there’s a reason to party,” Daisy told me.
They started smiling.
Oh crap.
I took a deep breath.
Whatever.
Time to move on. It was obvious I wasn’t going to get anywhere with this pack.
“I have to get to work,” I told them.
“We’l get together tonight, plan the party,” Al y decided.
“Eight o’clock. Brother’s.”
“We should go together, since we live close,” Indy said to me. “I’d love to ride in your Camaro.”
Daisy was watching me closely, she was smiling.
I sucked in my lips. I real y didn’t need this shit.
“I’l pick you up, quarter to eight,” I said to Indy, “after I get back from the shooting range.”
“The shooting range?” Indy asked, eyes wide with excitement. “Cool! Can I go with you?”
I stared at her. Then I sighed.
“Yeah, give me your cel . I’l program in my number.” Told you I was a fool.
Chapter Eleven
We Sleepin’ at Your Place or Mine?
Indy and I pul ed up to Heavy’s house at five thirty.
The Rock Chicks and I had al exchanged phones and numbers and Indy had cal ed me that afternoon. When I told her I had to train with Heavy before the shooting range, she asked to come along to that too.
I’d said yes.
More fool I.
I pul ed my exercise bag out of the backseat and led Indy into Heavy’s house.
“Heavy!” I cal ed. “We’re here.”
“Who’s fuckin’ ‘we’?” Heavy came out of the kitchen and stared at Indy.
“Uncle Charlie!” Indy yel ed when she saw him.
“India Savage!” Heavy yel ed back, a huge, goofy smile spreading on his face. “Get over here, girl, give your Uncle Charlie a hug.”
They hugged each other. I stared.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
They ignored me.
“I didn’t know you were cal ed Heavy,” Indy told him, leaning back in his beefy arms.
“Long story, girl. God, I haven’t seen you in ages. Not since that FOP picnic, what? Two years ago? Hear you’re shacked up with Nightingale,” Heavy replied.
Indy got al girlie and showed him her ring, wiggling her fingers for effect. “We’re getting married,” she said.
“About fuckin’ time you two got together,” Heavy replied, letting her go, “luckiest boy on the planet.” I was stil staring.
Heavy had never given any indication at al , whatsoever, that he was the kind of man who would al ow anyone to cal him “Uncle Charlie” without a swift upper cut leading directly to a KO.
Boy, I real y did not know Heavy.
I should probably learn a lesson from this and research my benefactors a bit more in future.
“Hel oooo?” I cal ed.
Heavy grinned at me. “This is Indy Savage, Tom Savage’s daughter,” he said this like I didn’t already know it already. “Tom and I worked together when I was on the Force. I’ve known Indy since she was yay-tal .” He held up his hand to about thigh level.
Then something occurred to him, his grin fled and he blinked at Indy.
“What’re you doin’ with Jules?” he asked, morphing into Father Bear at the thought that Indy was turning vigilante and joining my crusade.
“We’re going out tonight for dinner after she trains and shoots,” Indy told Heavy. “I heard she’s good. I wanted to watch.”
Heavy kept staring at her.
“Honestly, Uncle Charlie,” Indy assured him, “I’m not getting involved with Jules’s other business. Lee would handcuff me to the bed again.”
Again?
I didn’t get to ask the “handcuff to the bed again” question because Heavy’s stare sliced to me and it was my turn to get the Father Bear treatment.