Chapter 20 LEXIE
LEXIE
“Wait right here.” Bear pointed to a couch that had seen better days. It sat outside the closed door where they held church. “You’ll need to give a report on what happened tonight.”
Great. Déjà vu. My favorite. My nerves were shot and the last thing I wanted to do was sit here alone and think about what had happened. Or what had almost happened.
I shivered as I sat down.
“‘Sup, old man.” A teenage boy walked into the hallway, carrying a bag of hot fries and several bottles of water. He plopped down on the couch next to me. “Took you long enough to get here.”
Bear sighed and rubbed his temples.
I waited a beat, but no one spoke. Men. “Bear? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
He sighed. “Yeah, right. Lexie, Michael. Michael, Lexie. Mike, you been in yet?”
Michael crossed his arms and huffed. “Fuck no. I told Mav what you said, and he called emergency church and told me to sit my ass right here. Fuck him. He’s not the boss of me. If I knew where my room was, I’d leave, but I still don’t know where I’m supposed to fucking sleep tonight.”
I held back a laugh as Bear took a deep breath and looked at the ceiling. “Right. We still need to get that sorted. Don’t worry, kid, you’ll have a bed tonight.”
“I wasn’t fucking worried,” he mumbled through a mouthful of hot fries.
“I’m giving you a pass on account of your major life adjustment, but that pass expires tomorrow. We’ll call you in when we’re good and damn well ready, so you will sit here until then.”
Bear ripped the door open and stepped inside, then stepped back out. “And don’t give Lexie any shit,” he added before slamming the door behind him.
I couldn’t hold the laughter back anymore. “Geez. You really know how to get under his skin. I haven’t known Bear long, but I’ve never seen him this riled up.”
Michael shrugged, slouching into the couch. “It’s a gift. Adults can’t stand me.”
Oh, my poor, sweet baby. My heart clenched as my trauma recognized his. “So, uh, major life adjustment? What’s that about?” I asked, reaching a hand toward his hot fries.
“Nothing you would understand.” He tilted the bag in my direction.
“You think so?” I grabbed a couple of hot fries and crunched down, trying not to make a face. They were nasty, but I was trying to make a connection.
Michael rolled his eyes and handed me one of his unopened water bottles.
“Thanks.” I took several gulps to clear out the taste. “I have a feeling we have more in common than you’d think.”
“Oh yeah?” His eyes narrowed. “Was your mom a skanky club whore who abandoned you at an MC clubhouse, only for your president dad to ignore you for years until he finally got put in the ground?”
I blinked and my mouth dropped open. Did I just find my spirit animal? I scooted over next to my new friend and patted him on the knee. “Not exactly, but pretty darn close.”