Jade says nothing.
Knowin’ she’ll eat if I force her to, and I will, because she’s lost too much weight, I leave Jade and get us some grub. Iscoop a little bit of this and that, your standard Midwest birthday fare: shredded chicken sandwiches, chips, and a variety of carb-heavy salads.
Blimp slides in behind me to fill another plate. His pot-scented cologne hits me with a dose of nostalgia, calming my nerves a bit. By cologne, I mean actual pot. He’s a walking cloud of smoke.
“How’s it goin’ over there?” He jerks his chin toward Jade.
I shrug, not wanting to talk about it. “Same as it has been.”
“Silent treatment?” he guesses.
“Pretty much.” I pop a chip into my mouth and crunch down.
“Your girl comin’ today?”
“With the club at war, no. Plus, I had to pick up the cake.” I tip my chin at the tiered thing that weighs a lot more than you’d think it should.
“She okay with bein’ left out?” He checks, always lookin’ out for me.
“I didn’t ask.” Why would I? Club business stays club business, and she knows as much as she needs to for her protection. Her come to a family party? No. Not when it could put a target on her back like it did Kit, Jade, Beth, and my mom.
“Brother.”
I know that tone. That’s Blimp’s, don’t make me give you a talkin’ to tone.
“What?”
“You know she’s gonna hold out on you if you keep treatin’ her like this.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve got other shit on my mind these days. If she doesn’t like it, that’s life.” Plus, it’s for her own good. To keep her safe. We text. She drops by Jade’s sometimes, where Imeet her out front to catch up and whatnot. Sure, it’s not ideal that I spend most of my time there these days, but someone has to do it. Hunter needs me, and whether Jade thinks so or not, she needs me too. To clean and grocery shop and all the shit she doesn’t have the energy to do anymore. Hunter needs to eat more than Ramen and eggs.
“Damn.” Blimp whistles in surprise. “It’s like that, huh?” A subtle smirk peeks out of his wild beard.
“Jade’s family. It’ll always be like that. You know it.”
Humming to himself, Blimp strokes his beard and nods. “Yeah. I suppose I do. Just kinda weird hearin’ it come from you.”
It shouldn’t. Club first. Family first. It’s always been that way. I was raised by a hellion of a single mom, who pounded that shit into my skull from the moment I first drew breath.
“Mom would hand me my ass if I didn’t know where my priorities lie.”
“Mom would what?” my mom chimes in, coming to join us. She wraps her arms around Blimp’s neck, kisses his cheek, and focuses back on me.
I brush her off, not in the mood to go there with her. Not now. Not tonight. “It’s nothin’, Mom.”
“It’s about Jade, ain’t it?”
“Please, leave it alone.”
“Listen to him, babe, leave it alone,” Blimp cuts in, saving my ass.
“She’s my?—”
“Best friend,” I interrupt. “Yeah. We know. But she’s also family. So let me handle this my way and you handle your relationship with her however you want.”
Sighing, my mom pats me on the shoulder. “I love you.”
“Love you, too,” I reply when she pecks me on the cheek and leaves to join the rest of the sisters in the middle of the chicken dance.
