Chapter 22
STELLA
I was eight drinks deep when I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist Daisy’s suggestions—or should I call it bullying? Either way, she had me by the balls.
After a fancy dinner and some strong cocktails, I’d let my best friend drag me to some random town in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. She swore it was some cool underground bar, where the men were drop-dead gorgeous and knew how to fuck.
I had no idea how she gained that knowledge since she had been married for nearly as long as I had.
Music thumped through the walls as we entered the bustling bar, and my intoxicated high quickly dwindled as I processed exactly where Daisy had brought me—a fucking motorcycle club.
I followed her, weaving through gyrating bodies to finally nab a vacant spot in the corner. I clutched my purse to my chest, eyeing the high table that had what looked like a sticky residue on top.
The place was grungy and full of germs, and also looked like it hadn’t had a deep clean since it opened.
“Stop being a snob and fix your face,” Daisy said, pushing me onto a frayed stool.
I narrowed my eyes, telepathically letting her know I was going to kill her. “What face?”
“Your judgy face. You’re not in the courtroom, Stells.”
“Yeah?” I asked, my gaze scanning the crowd. Geez, some of them were wearing cuts, for goodness’ sake. “I could have sworn I’ve seen some of them there... as the opposition.”
Daisy clucked as a blonde-haired biker swaggered over, sporting a cocky grin. “Welcome to Dark Shadows Clubhouse, ladies. The name’s Cannon. What can I get you? A drink, a dance, a good hard fuck?”
My best friend’s drunk ass giggled, and I wanted to throttle her. Don’t engage. But she was already lost in his twinkling, mischievous blue eyes. “A drink will do.”
“How about we come to the bar and watch it being made?” I interrupted. There was no way I was going to let those criminals roofie me. Daisy, on the other hand—well, she was already chasing behind, sniffing after his big dick energy like he was some sex god.
I watched the bartender like a damn hawk, no doubt killing the buzz of the flirtatious duo at my side, when three shot glasses were placed on the counter.
“On the house.” Cannon smirked. “Bottoms up, ladies.”
“To cutting off baggage and chasing dick!” Daisy yelled, clinking her glass to mine before downing the shot.
My brow furrowed at her random outburst before joining her, quickly followed by Cannon, whose fiery gaze settled on Daisy. “To chasing dick.”
After a couple more shots and even more drinks, we had warmed up to some of the club members. I even managed to let loose and have fun.
There was only one thing that had been playing on my mind all night. Daisy had always been a flirt and borderline inappropriate, but her cat-and-mouse game with Cannon had reached its breaking point.
Their fuck-me eyes connected again over the makeshift dance floor, and I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Daisy, why do you keep baiting him? He’s a… dog.” I didn’t mean that as an insult. It was the literal description that came to mind. Cannon glorified each piece of ass that passed him by, attention lingering on any skin on display. The biker had a wandering eye that couldn’t be contained.
Daisy scoffed. “I’m married to one. At least this one is honest.”
I grasped her hand, noticing for the first time that her wedding finger was bare, like mine. “Hey, talk to me.”
She raised her palm, displaying the indentation where her rings used to be.
“Lucus Miller.” She scoffed. “Many accolades, that man—husband, renowned international pilot and worldwide lover boy. His multitasking is unmatched, I tell you. I don’t know how he finds the time to keep all his girlfriends happy and a secret. ”
“Girlfriends? Oh, Dais.”
“Yep. One in each major city. It’s like he couldn’t keep his dick dry for longer than twenty-four hours, so he always had one on hand.”
How could I be this blind? I have been so caught up in my own grief that I failed to see hers.
I swiftly wrapped her in a tight hug. “Fuck, I’m sorry. Stay with me.”
“I can’t stay. You’re the only one who knows, Stella. And you must promise me that you’ll tell no one.”
“Does he know?”
“Oh, my dear bestie, I have learnt something from you. When Lucus finds out I know, it will be too late.”
I raised my glass high in salute to my strong, brave best friend. “TO CUTTING OFF BAGGAGE AND CHASING DICK!” I screamed so loudly that the raucous crowd chanted after me, the ceiling vibrating from our war cry.
Unfortunately, one biker took that as an invitation to rub up on me, his protruding belly digging into my back.
“Beat it, old man,” Daisy said as I slid to her side to escape the gross intruder.
“Fucking bitch—”
“You heard the women. Take off, Smoke,” Cannon said, his voice steel and intimidating. Alright, I can see the appeal. As Smoke gave a deep grumble and shuffled away, Cannon skirted his palms around Daisy’s waist. “You want another drink, darlin’?”
We both agreed, silently vowing to chuck caution to the wind and be immersed in the moment.
Daisy and I were single for the first time in over a decade. We were going to make that one night count.
It was our divorce party, after all.