Chapter 45
Chapter forty-five
Hold My Halo
Cheyenne
The bathroom of Cowboy’s was dim, the music slightly muffled and drowned out by the near constant chatter of women talking and laughing and gossiping as they came and went.
Charlie fussed over her outfit in the wall of mirrors, every inch of her exuding worry and self-consciousness as she kept her gaze down anytime someone looked her way.
“I can’t believe Cash convinced everyone to come out to a bar,” she huffed, tucking her bangs behind her ear. “They have a jackpot roping tomorrow. They should be home getting rest.”
A part of me agreed, but everyone could use a little fun to let loose. Things had been so tense with mine and Charlie’s looming due dates. I think this was Cash’s odd way of showing us a fun time before the babies came and we couldn’t just go out any Friday night and dance the night away.
I chuckled as I came to stand beside her. “It’s a dance hall,” I clarified, nudging her hip with mine. “There just happens to be like four bars in it.”
She rolled her eyes even as a smile graced her lips.
“Semantics.” Her gaze flicked to a random girl who glanced at both of us, her curious stare going to our stomachs.
There wasn’t any possible way to hide it now.
The moment the girl disappeared into a stall, Charlie turned to me, shame lingering in the furrow of her brow, the downward pull of her lips.
“This is so awkward. Literally everyone is staring at us.”
I turned to her, forcing her to meet my gaze. “First off, fuck everyone who’s starin’ at you. They’re all just jealous they don’t look as drop-dead gorgeous as you, even being eight months pregnant.”
I wasn’t lying. Charlie looked stunning in the black long-sleeved dress that hugged her curves. I was more of a color girl, myself, but Charlie wore the hell out of black, looking all sleek and edgy and sexy. Her copper hair always stood out so well against it.
Charlie’s mouth tugged upwards slightly, but she pegged me with a pointed glance.
I went on before she could protest. “And secondly, who cares? We have just as much right to be here as them. It’s a dance hall, we came here to dance. It ain’t like you or I are drinkin’.”
The smile she fought so hard to suppress finally broke through, like the sun peeking through a sky of clouds. “We do look pretty good, don’t we?” she said with a smirk.
I grinned, turning back to look at our reflections once more. “We look fuckin’ fantastic.”
Charlie laughed. “How are you always so confident?”
I shrugged. “I just know my worth, girl. Time you learn yours as well.”
“Have you met my mom?” Charlie asked, her stormy eyes meeting mine in the mirror.
“Ah, to hell with whatever bullshit she says. Don’t give her the satisfaction of tearin’ you down.” I grabbed one of her hands and squeezed.
With a smile, she squeezed it back before sighing. “Alright, let’s go back out there.”
We walked out together, the loud music replacing the chatter in the bathroom.
People moved and mingled all around us, the neon signs and blue lights of the dancehall casting everything in a cool tinted glow.
I spied our table across the way. Ryder and Maverick stood there talking to a couple of their friends.
Bad and Violet surprisingly enough had joined us, and hadn’t come off the dancefloor since we’d gotten here an hour ago.
Cash hung out at the other side of the table, closest to the dance floor, charming the pants off an entire group of girls, while keeping his arms wrapped around the waists of two more.
God, he was such a man-whore, but at least he was upfront and honest about it.
There were no games with him. You knew exactly what you were getting.
A wild night, a great story. A one-night stand.
Maybe that’s why I didn’t hate him for what he did.
The women who gravitated toward him knew exactly what he was all about, and they wanted him anyway.
My gaze went back to Maverick, who watched me now, a hungry, possessive look in his eyes. I shivered at that look. At what it meant.
A wide grin blossomed on my lips as I tossed my hair over my shoulder and made my way towards him—
Before my right arm was wrenched backwards, my entire world spinning as I was whipped around, coming face to face with none other than…
“Nate?” Disbelief coated my words, unease thrumming to life in my chest.
He towered over me, anger brewing in his eyes like a summer storm. “I thought I made it fuckin’ clear you weren’t keepin’ it.” His tone was sharp, deep, his grasp on my arm biting as he squeezed tighter.
This man had burned down my trailer for making a fool of him.
Fear gripped me, squeezing the air from my lungs.
Fuck. This was exactly what I had been afraid of in the beginning.
I thought of the fire. Of the threat he’d made over the phone when I’d told him about the baby.
His fingers dug into my arm, tighter, tighter, tighter.
No, I wasn’t going to let some piece of shit playboy scare me. Anger sparked to life in my chest, chasing away the fear. How dare he touch me. Threaten me. Threaten my child.
Glaring up at him, I managed to say with a calm I didn’t feel, “Get your fuckin’ hand off me.”
I felt the weight of Charlie’s gaze. Of Ryder’s. Of Cash’s, even. But I felt none other more than, Maverick’s.
Nate’s grip only tightened, pain blooming under his touch. “What’re you gonna do about it?”
“I think she just told you to get your hands off her.” Maverick’s deep, stern voice boomed like thundering, soothing the knot in my chest. His familiar scent filled my nose as I felt him come to a stop at my side. I glanced up at him, and my breath hitched in my throat.
I’d seen Maverick calm. I’d seen him in pain. I’d seen him protective and upset. But I’d never seen him like this. Those usually light jade depths had darkened, hardened. Pure, unapologetic rage danced in his eyes and etched along the severe lines of his brutal, handsome face.
He towered over me, over Nate even, looking like some angel of death come to my aid.
Nate, to his credit, didn’t back down, but some of his confidence faltered, his words nowhere near as sure as they’d been with me a moment before. “This doesn’t concern you, friend. I suggest you stay out of it.”
His grip on me had loosened, and I wrenched my arm back toward me, but he readjusted and gripped tighter, a flash of pain shooting through the limb as he pulled me closer to him.
“You and I need to settle some shit,” Nate growled, pegging me in place with his heated glare. His hot breath fanned my cheeks, reeking of beer. I cringed, repulsion rippling through me. What had I ever seen in him?
I met his glare, my anger burning brighter, hotter. “Fuck you, Nate,” I snarled, before spitting in his face.
It was enough for him to let me go as he swiped at his cheek before pulling his hand back, a look of dark intent in his eyes.
That was all it took…The final chord of Maverick’s self-control shredding apart entirely.
He moved then—quicker than a cottonmouth. Faster than a flash of lightning. As swift and sure as a fierce flowing river.