14. Roman Empire #2
"But I don't wanna drive Jesse wild!" I whine like an insolent child. "Actually, I don't wanna drive him any way whatsoever. I'll go with you but I ain't shopping. Period."
"Listen, girl," Marlow says, following the signs to the closest town with a shopping center. "Like the old adage goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do ." She glances at my baby blue sundress. "You're in Rome now, babe. Time to assimilate."
When the Romans were building them aqueducts and paving the way for modern society to flourish, I doubt they were wearing high-waisted leather leggings and lacey corset crop tops.
If we were Romans, Marlow would be a dang Legion Commander of the Imperial Army–the girl doesn't know how to take no for an answer.
I swear to God, the poor sales associate probably thought I was being assaulted in that dressing room.
I tried my best to resist Marlow's aggressive demands, but my efforts proved to be nothing but futile.
"Everyone's staring," I mutter, self-conscious, as Marlow weaves us through the bustling tables of The Flying Hog. Poe and Jiggs stare at me as we pass their table, drool dang near pooling on the floor. "Marlow, I want to go home."
"No," she says, tightening her grip on my wrist as she makes eye contact with Beau, who's sitting around a booth with Billy, Ryder, and Jimbo. "You said we could stop by for one drink.” She waves at my brother. “Hey, baby!"
"Kill me now," I whimper as the new platform boots Marlow forced me to buy draw more unwanted attention. Beau frowns as we stop at the table. "Hi..."
"What the fuck did you do to my sister?" Beau asks, shaking his head in disapproval. He glares at Marlow. "This your handy work?"
"Doesn't she look hot?" Marlow asks the group of varying-aged men. "Billy? Jim? She looks good, huh?" Marlow's gaze stops on Ryder, who keeps staring at me like I'm a juicy steak. "'Least Ry-Ry thinks she looks bomb."
"Pish." Ryder blows a gust of air from his nose as he runs a hand through his pitch-black hair. "You look sexy as fuck, Alabama." He tosses me a wink. "I'd go south on you any day."
My jaw drops.
"Dude!" Beau barks, chucking a coaster at Ryder's head. "That's my fucking sister."
"Hey!" Ryder throws his hands up in the air. "Mar's the one who asked." He casts me a sleazy smile. "I was just being honest. Girls love honesty."
I frown, crossing my arms. "I don't know you nearly well enough for you to smile at me like that, little boy."
Ryder scoffs, licking his lips. "We could always change that. Huh?" He leans on the table and whispers, "JP's not the only one with a spare bedroom, you know?"
"Shut the fuck up, kid." Jimbo smacks his son upside the head. He looks over at me, sighing. "Ignore this fucking idiot. My son clearly left his manners in the shitter." Jimbo glares at Ryder. "Say sorry to her. Right now!"
"Oh, come on, Ry-Ry ," I jeer, tapping my foot impatiently. Billy and Beau watch Ryder with amusement as he refuses to look at me. "What? Suddenly at a loss for words? You seemed to have so many a few seconds ago."
"Say it, Ryder," Billy states in a deep voice. I can see why the man never talks. He's probably worried he'll wake the devil. "Else, I'm putting you on nights."
Ryder grunts out a mumbled apology.
I blink. "Sorry, couldn't hear that. A little louder."
Ryder sucks on his teeth. "I said... I'm sorry ."
"Thank you." I flash him a satisfied grin. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
"Don't get too used to it, Alabama," Ryder grumbles. "I don't apologize often, especially not to—" He stops talking, gaze flicking over my shoulder as he sits up. "Hey..."
"Hey," Jesse says warily, scanning everyone around the table slowly.
"What's going on here—" He whips his head at me, blinking with disbelief.
My chest rises from his stunned reaction.
Oh...maybe Marlow was right. This could be fun.
"Savannah? Wha..." He clears his throat as he takes in all the tight leather wrapped around my hips. "What the fuck are you wearing?"
"You like it?" I give him a little spin for good measure. Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I add, "Marlow's got great taste, huh?" I glide my fingers up my thigh slowly, tilting my head. "I told her it was a little tight, but"—I shrug—"guess it's the style these days."
Jesse's lip twitches as he non-discreetly skims the bar; the majority of the patrons sneaking glances in our direction. "I don't like it," he states. "It doesn't suit you.”
"No?" I pout. "Should I take it off?"
"Yes," Ryder says and immediately swallows when Jesse glares at him.
I suppress a laugh. Poor boy probably thought he said it to himself.
"Alright, boys. Here you go." Andy squeezes past Marlow and me with a tray of freshly poured beer.
"You ladies drinking?" she asks, doing a double take as she makes eye contact with me.
She snorts, covering her mouth. "Oh God.
..cute. Real cute. All you're missing is a little whip, and you could be the new headmistress at Lady Carnage. "
"Oh, shut up, Andrea," Marlow says, rolling her eyes. "Green's an ugly color on you."
Andy scoffs. "I'm not jealous." Her gaze finds Jesse's for a second. "Certainly not of that."
"Get back to work, Andy," Jesse grunts. "I don't pay you to stand around and be a bitch."
Andy bites her lip seductively. "No, baby boy, you get the bitch for free." She turns her attention to Ryder. "I'm off at midnight. Still gonna give me a ride?"
"Yeah, whatever," Ryder says nonchalantly, pretending to scroll on his phone. Jesse's shoulders tense. "We ordered fries too. Where they at?"
"Umm...yeah." Andy clears her throat, bravado shrinking. "They're coming."
"Rad told us that you're gonna be helping the ladies with the fundraiser this summer," Billy says once Andy's out of sight. "I'm sure Jo will be glad for an extra set of hands. She wants it bigger than ever this year." Billy chuckles, glancing at his brother. "Jo's not one for downsizing."
"Don't I know it," Jimbo says, shaking his head. "If she had it her way, we'd be running Nevada and Arizona by now."
"Only a matter of time," Billy says, taking a long swig of beer. "Only a matter of time."
"Maybe not here," Jesse suggests. "You want to talk business, do in the club. Never know who's got ears."
"Fine," Billy agrees as Beau slides over, giving me and Marlow space to sit down. "We'll talk about friendlier things." He looks over at me. "You coming to the bonfire next week, Savannah?"
"Bonfire?" I ask, raising a brow.
"JP didn't tell you?" he asks. "It's an SOS tradition. You should be there. It'll be loads of fun."
"Yeah, you should come," Ryder chimes in, hesitating before smiling at me. "Tons of booze, food, the works." He musters enough courage to add, "I'll even roast you a marshmallow."
"How kind of you," I say. "But I think I can roast my own marshmallow. Thank you, though." I look up at Jesse, who's awkwardly loitering at the head of the table. "You wanna sit down or something? I can move over."
"How long are you gonna be here?" he asks. "You're not drinking, are you?"
"And what if I was?" I ask, combative. "You're not my daddy."
Ryder snorts. "...Yet."
"I'll put your head through a fucking wall, Ryder," Jesse states with absolute promise. He looks at Jimbo. "Take your kid home before he really pisses me off."
"No need, I'm going," Ryder says, polishing off his beer and slipping out of the booth. "See you around, Alabama."
"Alabama?" Jesse whispers, glaring down at me.
"Don't worry, Jesse," I whisper back, tossing him a wink. I shouldn't stir the pot, but I kind of like the little vein in his forehead that protrudes when he's mad. "It's just a nickname."
"Right," he says through gritted teeth. "You have an hour before we leave."
"She's staying at mine tonight," Marlow interrupts, smirking up at Jesse. "We're having a girls' night out." We are? She pauses for a purposeful second before adding, "Might take Sav to Lights Out."
Jesse's eyes darken. "The hell you are."
"Come on, man," Beau chimes in, giving Jesse a puzzled look. "The ladies will be fine. The bouncers know they're with us."
I blink, attempting to decipher Marlow's game. "Lights Out?"
"Remember?" Marlow nods, willing me to follow along. "The nightclub?"
"Right..." I draw out. "The nightclub." I swallow, afraid to meet Jesse's spine-shivering gaze. "We're going to a club...tonight."
"Absolutely not," Jesse states.
"And why's that?" Marlow tilts her head, baiting Jesse. "Worried about something?"
Jesse scoffs. "Fine. Go , but she's your responsibility tonight, got it?" He glares down at me. "Have fun, Alabama .”
"Oh, she will." Marlow grins, batting her lashes. Jesse grumbles under his breath before storming away. Marlow chuckles. "I knew it."
"What was that?" I whisper. "Since when are we going clubbing? I thought we were playing Scrabble with Pippa tonight?"
"We are," Marlow replies with a coy smile. "But Jesse doesn't have to know that."
"Why are you doing this, Mar?" I ask, watching Jesse aggressively restock the liquor shelves. "Why are you lying to him?"
"Just testing out a theory," she says with a cunning shrug. "Relax, Sav. We're not hurting anyone. Humor me, okay?"
"Okay." I swallow as a surprising rush of anxiety fills my body.
I don't think I like her theory. Not one bit.