Chapter 6 #5
Toni blinked, shocked at the subject change.
“What? No, you’re not done telling me about turning Jasmine’s ex’s truck into a toilet.
” But from the pointed look Sophia was giving her, that story was not the one she wanted told next.
“Please don’t be done,” Toni begged, eyes flicking to Jasmine for help.
Unfortunately, Jasmine’s blue eyes looked just as curious as Sophia’s. Just slightly less intrusive.
Toni let out a long sigh. “What do you want to know?”
“Well, I’ve narrowed it down to three possible candidates,” Sophia said. She shoved the donut into her mouth, speaking around the pastry as she ticked off on her fingers. “‘oots, Liglaw, nor Picker.”
Thankfully, Jasmine translated for her. “Boots, Jigsaw, or Poker.”
Toni tried to keep her face neutral. She didn’t know who any of those people, men, were.
She found it both suspicious and concerning that Ranger wasn’t mentioned.
Was that because he wasn’t single? But, if Ranger wasn’t available, why would he bring her to the club property where it would easily be discovered or proven that he was being unfaithful?
Unless he thought he could keep her back here like a little fuck secret?
Or maybe he was still in mourning, if Susie’s theory was accurate about the waitress who had died in the bar explosion?
Fuck, there was so much going on in her life right now that she didn’t need to add boy drama to it.
Part of the reason Toni’s past relationships all failed was due to a lack of communication.
Not that she and Ranger were in a relationship, but they were something.
More specifically, she wanted them to be something.
She liked how she felt in his arms, liked how he looked at her and made her feel like she was the only woman in his world.
But he still was a stranger to her. A—cringe—fuck buddy.
And here were two people who could tell her about Ranger.
Lifting her chin, she did not blink as she looked across the dinette table at Sophia and Jasmine. “Ooo,” she fake winced. “Oh-for-three, Sophia. It was Ranger.”
Toni said it that way for a few reasons, but the biggest was to judge their immediate reaction. Not their words, not their masked expressions, but those few precious seconds following her reveal that would truly tell her their unguarded responses.
Except, it lasted longer than a few seconds. Both women sat frozen with their jaws hanging open for several minutes, not even trying to hide their reactions.
“Ranger?” Jasmine repeated. “Tall, muscular, looks like he could be Albino except he’s got blue eyes?” She even held her hand up in the air to emphasize the word “tall”.
Toni nodded.
“His cut said ‘Ranger’?” Sophia questioned. “R-A-N?—”
“I know how to spell ‘Ranger’,” Toni cut her off, both annoyed and defensive at their reactions. “Why? What’s wrong that I was on Ranger’s bike? He’s not married, right?”
Both shook their heads.
“No,” Jasmine clarified. “Not married. It’s just… Surprising. After his last girlfriend… Well, let’s just say we wouldn’t have been surprised if he remained single for the rest of his life.”
“Not that we want him to remain single,” Sophia added hastily. “He’s truly a good guy.”
“A great guy,” Jasmine emphasized.
Sophia nodded, “And loyal. All these men are. It’s like there was something in the water when their moms were pregnant. Once you have their loyalty, they’ll die for you.”
“But if you break it…” Jasmine’s eyes widened and she looked away.
“We’re just surprised Ranger would allow you on his bike,” Sophia continued, like Jasmine hadn’t just let her ominous, unfinished statement hang. “Unless…” Sophia’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Unless you know him?”
Toni’s cheeks heated. “We’ve…met before. He, uh, helped me when my car broke down on the side of the road.” She did not mention that it had happened only the night before.
“Really?” Why did Sophia look so cheery at this news?
Toni nodded slowly, her eyes bouncing back and forth between the two of them.
“Honestly, I don’t know him very well. But I’d like to,” she confessed honestly.
“I just… There’s something about him, and it’s like I want to hug him and heal him of all his sorrows while also being completely dominated and overwhelmed by him at the same time. ”
To her surprise, both Jasmine and Sophia laughed at this confession.
“Welcome to loving a Via Daemonia man,” Jasmine said, smiling. “And honestly, Ranger is a great choice. One of the best.”
“But,” Sophia added, exchanging a look with Jasmine, “his story is his own. He’ll tell it to you when he’s ready.
Just…” The two looked at each other again, and it was like Jasmine gave her best friend a nod of approval, or maybe encouragement, to continue.
“Just hold onto that feeling you have, and remember that these men are not good at leaning on others. They would rather face a horde of fire-breathing dragons on their own with only one bullet than admit that they need help.”
Toni opened her mouth to respond that dragons weren’t so bad as she was a self-proclaimed book dragon, but they were interrupted by the loud roar of a motorcycle, heavy footfalls on the ground, and then a fist being pounded against the door.
“Sophia! I know you’re in there, you crazy woman! Where the fuck are my keys!”