Chapter 19 #3
“I’m good, Delphi. Promise.”
“Alright,” I grumble, looking at Havoc. “Make sure he stays that way.”
“It’s like nobody remembers I’m the president anymore.”
“We all know you’re a badass, babe.” Neveah tugs his cut until he dips down so she can kiss him. What I’m guessing was supposed to remain chaste goes out the window when Havoc takes over, his hands moving to her ass as she sighs into his mouth.
“Close your eyes, children.”
Neveah pulls away with a giggle before looking at us. “Sorry.”
“Liar.”
She grins, happiness beaming from every pore. I have to believe that if she can feel that way, then this club must be worth it.
“Come on, bud,” Kruger says, slapping Theo on the back and leading him to where I know church is. I watch them leave, and see G get up and follow, leaving Amity at the table in the corner with Legs and Midas. Neveah leads us over, while Millie and I bring up the rear.
“So how are you finding the mother chapter?” I ask her.
“It’s okay. I miss the dogs, though.”
“You’ve got dogs?”
“Bandit and Smokey. They’re technically the MC’s dogs, but they’ve adopted Lola as their mom, a bit like me.”
“She has that sweetness about her, makes it hard not to want to be around her.”
“She said the same thing about you,” she tells me softly.
“Really? I’m not sure anyone has described me as sweet before. Prickly, maybe, but not sweet.”
“Lola said you were sweet to her, back when nobody was ever sweet.”
“I can’t believe she’s queen of the club that was so shitty to her. I hope she makes their lives hell.” I wince, realizing I probably shouldn’t have said that.
“She’s still too sweet, but you know my dad, right? He doesn’t let anyone get away with shit. It’s not fixed yet, but people are trying. Forgiveness isn’t like those Instagram posts where you click your fingers and it’s done in an instant. It takes time and work.”
“How old are you?”
She grins. “Fourteen, but I’m very mature for my age.”
We take a seat as I shake my head. “Fourteen-year-old me definitely did not have her shit together,” I mutter, making Neveah snort.
“I don’t know what you’re snorting at, lady, you were just the same way.” Amity elbows her.
“Well, we can’t all be Olympic champions. That takes some serious discipline and commitment.”
Amity shrugs it off like it was nothing. But holy fuck, the Olympics.
“You guys are killing me. I considered it a win if my socks matched.”
Legs grins. “So that was Theo, huh? I’d have thought you made him up to avoid spending time with me.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you told me you don’t love me anymore.”
“I didn’t say that at all.”
“You wouldn’t let me have the last muffin. It’s the same thing.”
“You had seven already.”
“No, I didn’t. I had three. The baby had the rest. You can’t hold me accountable for the kid’s actions.”
I lean my head down and bang it on the table.
“Whoa, Mrs. I’ve just had brain surgery, maybe don’t bang your brain around. I think it’s been through enough,” Nevaeh points out. I comply because she’s right.
“So Theo isn’t your son?” Millie asks curiously.
“It’s not my story to tell, but I’m sure he could use a friend his age right about now.”
She smiles a sweet smile that gives me a toothache. She’s fucking adorable. She’s all black clouds of emo on the outside but candy and rainbows inside. I have a feeling Theo is going to be helpless to her charms. And I have to hope Kruger can take Hannibal in a fight.
“Well, since I heard you were coming, I went ahead and organized a little something to lighten the atmosphere.”
I frown at Neveah. “I’ve only known I was coming for like an hour. What could you possibly have organized?”
She puts her fingers between her teeth and whistles. I look behind me and see the guys moving the pool table out of the way and setting up what looks to be—
“Is that a karaoke machine?”
“Maybe.”
“You just happened to have one of these lying around?”
“Please, Pip has been training for this moment her whole life. She had her first karaoke machine when she was nine or ten. Then went on to horrify her preacher dad by singing ‘Like a Virgin’ at the top of her lungs.”
Both Millie and I start laughing as Neveah covers her eyes and groans. “Not my finest moment.”
“What about the time I was working on the Death in the Details movie and you came to visit for the weekend? You told your dad you were babysitting, and then you forced me to go to a dive bar and sing karaoke with you? She sang ‘Baby Got Back,’ not realizing that it was also wet T-shirt competition night.”
“Oh god,” Legs laughs, grabbing her belly.
“Well, at least I won.”
“You won a neon pink dildo, which you used as a weapon in the parking lot when that girl accused you of looking at her man.”
“First of all, your memory is shockingly accurate. We should get you tested or something. Second, I was looking at him because he had no teeth, and I couldn’t stop looking at his gums, wondering if it made a difference when—”
She snaps her mouth shut when she looks at Millie, who bites her lip to hold back her laughter.
“So, Karaoke. What does everyone want to sing?”
“Oh no, I’m not singing.” Amity holds up her hands.
“Come on, how are you scared of this when you throw yourself off of buildings for a living?”
“I’m tone deaf, Pip. I’ll make people’s ears bleed.”
“Ears bleeding is a one-star, do not recommend from me.”
Legs stares at me.
“Still too soon?”
“You know what? I’ll go first.”
Legs gets up and waddles over to where Probe has set up. I feel like everyone is watching me every time I move, but I’m studiously avoiding eye contact.
When the opening bar of Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” comes on, I can’t help but laugh, especially when Legs starts belting it out, her eyes never leaving mine as she hams it up for the audience.
As it comes to an end, she shimmies over and gives me a quick peck on the lips, making the crowd roar.
I shake my head at her antics as Nevaeh gets up and takes her place.
The guys walk back in, obviously hearing the commotion. They join us at the table, Theo taking the empty spot next to Millie.
I look at him, trying to gauge how it went, but Neveah’s voice catches my attention. “G, this one is dedicated to you.”
G looks confused until Neveah starts singing, “Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?”
We all start laughing again as Amity flips her off. Havoc just folds his arms and scowls. When she’s done, she does a little curtsy, squealing when Amity slaps her ass on her way to grab the mic.
“Hey, G, this one is for you, too.”
When she starts singing the country anthem, “Before He Cheats”, he shakes his head and mouths the words “never.”
“How do I always get dragged into your antics?” he groans at Neveah.
“Just lucky, I guess.”
Amity isn’t an amazing singer, but she’s not nearly as bad as she made out.
I can hold a tune, though I’ve not had much to sing about lately.
The thought of standing up there in front of everyone makes me feel sick, but I don’t want to be the weak link.
I get to my feet and head to the makeshift stage area just as she is finishing up.
Probe looks at me and swallows. “Hey, Delphi.”
“Probe.” I nod nervously. I scroll through the options and grin when I find one that will work. I point at it and wait for him to nod that it’s ready before I start singing.
People are quiet, swaying along to the music until I get to the chorus and point to Legs.
“I’ll catch a grenade for you,” I sing loudly, making her cover her face with her hands as people around us start laughing.
By the time I’m done, I feel good. Really good.
The awkwardness has started to fade. Yeah, maybe pretending everything is good isn’t healthy, but for now it’s working.
I grin when Millie walks over to me. She looks nervous, so I take her hand and give it a squeeze as she picks a song. She points at “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen I whistle—big song, rather her than me. Lola and Hannibal walk in just as Millie takes the mic and the opening bars of the song start.
The second she opens her mouth and sings the first line, a hush falls over the room.
I make it back to the table, but don’t retake my chair as Kruger tugs me into his lap.
Nobody speaks. Nobody breathes while Millie sings like she’s been doing it her whole life.
Jesus, she’s so mesmerizing, it’s hard to tear my eyes away from her, but I do so I can see how other people are reacting.
Hannibal strolls toward her as if the music has him in its snare. Theo looks like he’s just fallen head over heels in love, and the rest of the room, well, they look like they’ve just witnessed a star being born.
Her voice is hauntingly beautiful. My whole body feels like live wires, and my skin is covered in goosebumps. By the time she sings her last note, I’m so out of breath I feel like I’ve just sung it with her.
The music cuts out, and the whole room is drenched in silence as Millie looks on, her face flushing with embarrassment, until Hannibal snatches her up and spins her around. The room erupts into chaos.
A smile tugs at my lips at how everyone gathers around her, wanting to tell her how amazing she is. I swear I see her grow ten feet in two minutes.
I look at Theo, who is watching me back, and a silent conversation passes between us.
Yes, Theo. This is what family is supposed to be like.