CHAPTER 24
Kaya
“Will Ty be coming?” I ask Maverick.
“Should be. Ace told him he wanted him here.” Good. I can’t wait to see him again. I really want to see where his head is at with this whole thing.”
Sophia is sitting next to me at a round table along with Grayson and Leo.
The setup almost reminds me of a comedy club but with slightly larger tables.
The stage is in front of us with a beautiful sleek hardwood floor and a pole dead center climbing from floor to ceiling.
There are silky black curtains behind the stage and various lighting setups hanging from above.
The walls are a dark wood with black and red inlays of roses.
The carpet is red with black and grey thick wavy lines that start from the center and make their way to the outside of the room.
All of the furniture is black from the stools to the tables and chairs. It’s elegant and sexy at the same time.
The bar runs the back of the room with a huge mirror hanging above it so no matter where you are sitting you have an excellent view of the dancers.
A cute brunette with medium length hair, black pants and a black polo shirt with the Iron Petal logo on her breast hops over to our table. “Hi! I’m Mikayla, and I’ll be your server. What can I get you all to drink?”
“I’ll have a club soda and lime with a splash of cranberry.” I say quickly, already having my non-alcoholic beverage planned before she got here.
Sophia gives me a look before saying, “same.”
The guys all order a beer and Mikayla hurries off to the bar.
I can feel Sophia’s eyes boring into me, but I’m choosing not to engage.
I know what she’s thinking. She’s wondering if I told Maverick yet, which of course I haven’t, but in my defense, I wasn’t sure when to slip it in between taking care of Gretchen and having amazing oral in the shower this morning.
Tank comes over and grabs a chair from the table behind us and drags it next to Leo before falling down into it. “Figured I’d join you so you’re not alone sitting with the happy couples.”
Leo laughs while rubbing his hands together “Thanks. Probably only about ten more minutes.”
“I saw two of the girls being let in the back door by Lex, and they were smoking hot.” Tank says with a sparkle in his eyes.
“Well, where the hell are your ones?” I ask. “Just because they’re auditioning doesn’t mean they shouldn’t earn some tips.”
Tank and Leo exchange worried glances. “Are you serious?” Leo asks.
Sophia and I both nod. “I know Dom and Flip stopped at the bank on their way. I overheard them talking about it in the parking lot,” I say.
The guys exchange another glance before jumping up and running out the door. I crack up. Maverick gives me a grin. “Why you always starting trouble?”
I lean over and give him a kiss. “You like it.”
“Damn right, I do,” his voice rumbles.
“Mav, Gray! Give me a hand.” Ace commands.
I turn to see Ace standing on a ladder trying to adjust one of the lights with Rebel standing next to him holding a box. The two get up and head over to assist. They only manage to take a few steps when Sophia grabs my arm.
“You still didn’t tell him?” she hisses.
I pull away. “No! I will, ok? But you don’t know what I dealt with last night.
Gretchen was up until after two o’clock in the morning crying her eyes out.
I stayed with her until she finally fell asleep, so I barely got any sleep myself.
It was so damn sad. This morning… Well, this morning Maverick helped me feel better about it and then I had to be at the clubhouse early. There hasn’t been time.”
“You need to make time. This isn’t something you can hide.”
“I’m not hiding it! I mean shit, I haven’t even had a doctor’s appointment yet. All I did was take a test. I’m going to tell him.”
She studies me for a second. “You’re scared he’s going to leave.” It wasn’t a question. She knows me and knows it’s true.
“We just started, Soph. Things are going so good and I’m terrified he’s going to hop on his bike and head back to Tennessee.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“I don’t know. On one hand, yes, I absolutely do, but on the other hand, the soft side he’s been showing me lately, makes me think there’s no way that guy would leave his pregnant girlfriend.” I shrug.
“Hey.” A soft male voice interrupts.
We look up to see Ty standing in front of us.
I jump up and rush in to hug him. He wraps his arms around me and squeezes tight.
As soon as he lets me go, Sophia does the same.
He slowly sits down with us. He’s visibly upset with shoulders slumped, dark bags under his eyes and his mouth set in a frown. He reminds me of a sad puppy.
“How is she?” He asks, his eyes bouncing back and forth between us.
“She’s a mess, Ty. But she’s been a mess ever since you left.” Sophia clips.
“How could you not call her?” I ask. “How could you not have sent her a letter or a message? Something.”
“I wasn’t given a choice. When everything first happened, it was like a whirlwind.
I was whisked away within a few hours of landing at the clubhouse.
First Pennsylvania, then Tennessee, then Texas, all within a few days.
Once I got to Texas, I told Buck over and over that I had to let my fiancé know I was safe or she was going to lose her shit.
” He sighs. “With Ace and the guys up here trying to keep an eye on Bishop and find out what he knew, they decided it wasn’t safe.
Bishop knew who I was. He figured out my name, who my parents are, and I’m sure, who Gretchen is to me.
He was likely watching her, waiting for any sign that she knew where I was or had talked to me.
Going black was decided to be the best option to keep her safe. ”
I shake my head. “Why didn’t they take her too? Or even come get her after you were settled?”
“And then what? They follow her to Texas?” Ty argues.
Sophia huffs. “I don’t know what the right thing to do was, but her being a mess for months on end doesn’t seem like the right thing. She was absolutely devastated, Ty.”
“Do you think I wasn’t? You both know how much I love her!
How much I’ve always loved her. Do you think I was ok with it?
How do you think I felt when I found out she was moving on?
That she was sleeping with other men to get over me.
Do you have any fucking idea what that did to me, knowing it was all my fault? ”
“And you didn’t?” Sophia asks, without actually saying the words.
“No! Jesus Christ. All I’ve wanted is to get home to her. I have so much to make up for, but I don’t know if she’s even going to let me try.”
Just then the music starts and the lights dim.
Maverick and Grayson make their way back over to us and take their seats.
We all scream and clap getting ready for the first dancer to make her appearance on stage.
I eye Maverick and he sits back in his chair with his arms crossed in front of his chest, his scowl set.
I’m not sure if he’s doing it on purpose to feign interest or if he really just doesn’t care.
Either way, his lack of excitement at seeing other women dancing on a pole works for me.
The first girl seems inexperienced. She’s probably about 22 with a gorgeous body, and long wavy dark brown hair. Her moves are amazing, but she doesn’t seem to connect with the crowd. We still clap and tip her, but I hope for the club’s sake that the other dancers are better.
I lean over to Sophia. “Have you heard from Gretchen?”
She picks up her phone and taps it. “No. I texted her twenty minutes ago. It doesn’t look like she’s even read it yet. You?”
“Nope. I texted her when we were leaving the apartment and twice since. Nothing.”
Sophia frowns but it turns into a small smile. “Let’s give her some time before we freak out.”
I agree and turn to the stage as the next girl comes out.
The voice that comes through the speaker introduces her as, Cherry Steel.
Her hair is red with chunky streaks of silver throughout.
She has an elfin nose that’s upturned just slightly, pale skin, and a beautiful smile that spreads across her face as she approaches the pole.
She is full of confidence and absolutely gorgeous.
Her outfit is all black lace with red glitter, a bra with multiple straps, and black shorts that have a lacy skirt attached that hangs to her knees, but open in the front.
The ensemble is completed with black lacy boots that go above her knees.
She is gorgeous. She has my vote before she even starts moving.
When she does move? Holy shit. Every single step seems choreographed. Her eyes connect with every person. She winks, grins, and honestly makes you believe that she’s dancing just for you. That is talent.
I watch as Leo, Tank, Riker, and Dom practically climb on the stage as they toss their cash at her while hooting and hollering their approval. Ace bobs his head while Deuce is practically drooling with Simone sitting right next to him, also cheering.
When she finishes, she gathers the cash and bows before walking backstage.
Once she’s gone and the music stops, I shoot Gretchen another text, asking her to check in.
I note the time on my phone and realize she should actually be on her lunch break now so I get up and walk toward the bar where it’s quieter.
Maverick follows but stands back while I bring the phone to my ear.
It doesn’t even ring, just goes straight to voicemail. Weird. I try again. Same result.
Sophia makes her way to me and asks without words what’s going on. “Something’s wrong.” I blurt out.
Sophia’s eyes narrow in concern. “Why, what happened?”
I shake my head. “Her phone is off. I called and it’s going straight to voice mail.”
“What do you want to do, baby?” Mav asks.
“I want to go. I’m sorry. I just really feel like something’s off.”
Maverick gives my arm a reassuring rub and heads to the table. I watch as he says something to Ty and Grayson. They both get up and join us.
“I’m coming. Whatever is going on with her is because of me.” Ty says.
Grayson rests his hand on Sophia’s back. “How about we swing by the post office and you guys head to the apartment.”
“Yeah, that works. Text me if her car is there.”
Sophia frowns. “Oh, I will. If it is, I’ll go in to check on her.”
After letting Ace know what’s going on, the five of us make our way out of the building, just as Jessica is walking out on stage. What a pity.