“Why thehellare you teaching, then? You could be sitting on a beach with a butler and like seven cabana boys feeding you grapes and massaging your feet. All while living on an island you freaking own.”
Guess the idea that someone wouldn’t want to sit on their ass all day doing nothing is flabbergasting to Ruby.
“Private islands aren’t all that expensive. They can be, but depending on the size and location, some go for about the price of a two-story five-bedroom house nowadays,” Cheyanne supplies for the group before she sips on her Kool-Aid drink.
“I like teaching. I also get bored if I’m not doing something. That’s why I always volunteer to teach the summer school classes. Sitting around drives me crazy.”
“Damn, now I know why you went after her, Gator,” Flint says.
“Wasn’t the money. Didn’t know about that till you all did.” I don’t really feel the need to defend myself. My girl knows why I wanted her. Never hid it from her. “I was a goner the second she yelled at me.” I shrug. “What can I say? I’ve got a thing for a woman of authority.”
She laughs as she turns to face me. “Good thing I’m into younger guys.”
“Better not be,” I growl playfully.
She kisses my nose. “Just one.” She winks and turns back to the group.
“Eww, you’re as bad as the rest of them. Really need to make sure Abigail and Natalie come next time. All this coupling fucking sucks to watch,” Ruby complains as she pulls the computer back to her.
“Or you could just bring a date,” Izzy says with a one-shoulder shrug.
“Hmmmm” is all the response she gets from Ruby. “This computer is superfast. I need one like this.” She looks over the screen at me. “Mind if I play around on it? I need a new one for school.”
“Sure. Like I said, nothing on there that’s private yet.”
Setting my phone on the table, I wrap both arms around my girl and just enjoy the night. Best feeling in the world. Girl in my lap and my brothers around. And not just any girl, my old lady. Still can’t believe I got lucky enough to have all this.
Her fingers settle on my arms and rub against them. Her fingertips trace the tattoo on my finger, the one I got for Rick, and it makes me smile for the first time since I got it. Before, when I saw it or touched it, it only made me sad, remembering all that I lost. But now, I can look down at it and smile at what I’ve gained, because he was a part of making this all happen. Without him, I’d never be here, never be a Hound, and never have my woman wrapped in my arms.
“Damn, Gator, you sure you didn’t know about the money?” Ruby asks.
I just shake my head. “Already said I didn’t.”
“But you sure as hell did enough research on her to know about everything else,” Fairy says with an eyebrow raise as she looks over Ruby’s shoulder.
I tense at her words, already knowing what she’s looking at, as a few brothers and old ladies glance at the computer screen with Ruby.
“What do you mean?” Bailey asks as she leans forward, and I release my hands from around her waist.
“She means he has a freaking list of all your likes and dislikes. Your daily schedule, even how often you go out and what you eat at each place. This is intense,” Ruby says as she keeps scrolling.
Bailey stiffens, and I watch in horror as Jules looks it over, pulling the computer to her. Bailey leans forward, following along with her eyes as Jules scrolls down. And down and down. I was thorough, but I still missed the money trail.
“You weremarried? And toTroy, of all people?” Jules yells it, shock clear in her voice.
The entire clubhouse goes dead silent, and I watch Bailey’s face drain of color.
“Um, you knew that.” She mumbles it, and I watch as my vibrant girl shuts down. I lean up to squeeze her for comfort, but she just stands and takes a step away.
“Not since my fall, I didn’t. Damn, girl, it’s like I don’t even know you. Didn’t he treat us all like dirt when we were kids? Why would you marry him?” Jules isn’t even watching as Bailey gathers her arms around herself and huddles in. She just keeps messing with the computer. “At least you came to your senses. Looks like it was annulled—thank God for that. You would have ended up with a creep.”
“He was the one who ended it, actually.” Bailey’s soft tone is like the chime that was needed to get Jules to look up and realize what her words had done. WhatIhad done.
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” She’s quick on her feet to comfort my girl. Something I should do, but I know I’m the last one she wants touching her right now.
Bailey accepts the hug and sinks into it as I watch Flint close the computer and move it to me with a pointed look.
Yeah, I get it. I fucked up. Majorly. Just glad the club has my back and isn’t ragging on me right now or shoving it in my face. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who looked up their girl before hooking up with her. But I doubt anyone went to the level of obsession I did. Or kept all the notes and made a freaking Excel spreadsheet out of it.
