Enough(98)

He nodded. “Be careful. Jericho makes these schemes, and he does anything to see them through.”

I frowned but nodded at him. “I’ll be careful, but you know I’m a big girl? And know I stay out of your business?”

He flushed and nodded, leaving me as fast as he could.

* * *

At six o’clock my nerves unraveled while I waited for my first-ever party guests to arrive. Everyone would stay away because of Dare or the rumors with Jericho or because the town people didn’t like bikers. I worried over every possibility until Avery and Glory showed up, saving me from visions of disasters untold.

The girls trailed after me through my apartment and down to Marked Man. “Wow, you did a lot. It’s great!”

“Thanks. I might’ve gone overboard.” I bit my lip, worried about the party again.

“Nope.” Avery put her arm on my shoulder. “Everyone’s coming. Lila, those bikers worship you, well except the one you want.” She gasped. “Dammit, didn’t help.”

“Come upstairs and get your presents.” I urged them back up the steps.

I’d never bought presents at Christmas, just something for the guy I was seeing, but most years it was simply another day.

Avery squealed when she opened the vintage mirror set I’d found at a thrift shop. For a girl who dressed like a Goth, she loved old, girly things.

Glory hugged me and put the hand-painted combs in her hair.

Bear walked in first with a guy. I smiled wide and left the girls to greet them.

“Hey. Thanks for coming.” I flicked my gaze between him and the guy beside him.

“Easy, Mama.” He winked at me. “This is Ollie...my lover.”

Ollie hugged me. “Kyle talks all about you. Thanks for inviting us.”

Bear stared at me. “I’m trying to convince her to work with us, behind the camera.”

“You’d be great on either side, but yeah, we could share stories.” Ollie laughed.

People kept arriving. The stream was steady, and I barely had time to greet someone before others showed up. Finally when I had a moment, I grabbed the present for Bear.

“Hey.” I pulled him away from a conversation with several of the people he worked with. “I wanted to give you this. Merry Christmas. And thanks.”

Bear looked from the gift to me before stuffing it inside his jacket. “Thanks, Mama.” He kissed my cheek.

I stood back and watched with satisfaction as people who I’d come to know laughed together, drinking and telling stories. Warmth filled me and I felt happy for the first time in months.

Rachel walked up beside me. “You throw a good party.”

“Thanks.” I winked at her. “Girl toy?”

“Gone.” She shrugged. “Hey, I have a present for you.”

She handed me a small bag. Inside was a panty and bra set from Avery’s place.

“Wow, thanks, but you know I have no one to wear them for.”

She grinned. “That’s the point. Remember my philosophy—hot sex then say adios—and to do it right you need sexy panties.”

I hugged her and dragged her to my bedroom. I handed her my present—two tight-fitting scooped T-shirts I knew she loved to wear. One said Eyes Here. And the words were right on her chest. The other was a skull shirt that was deep purple, a perfect color for her.

“I love these. And I’m wearing this New Year’s Eve at Blue’s.” She held up the Eyes Here shirt.

We laughed, and I promised, with no intention of doing it, to get back on the program. We both needed to find new hot sex, but for me, I didn’t have an itch for anyone. However, I bet Dare found several girls to scratch his itch.

Not going to think about that.

By ten, the bikers were set to stay, having claimed spaces in both the upstairs and downstairs.

I hadn’t realized how much I loved entertaining until now. The details, the happiness and most of all seeing everyone happy—this was my thing.

I made my hundredth trip down the stairs to where most of the guys from the shop hung out. I’d stashed presents for them under the counter.

It had been so fun shopping for them, and I’d spent so little, but for the first time since I was a kid, it felt like Christmas. I walked into the workroom with my bag of gifts, a little like Santa.

“Hey, I got you all something to celebrate with.” I handed out my gifts.

Dare frowned at me when he took his, but I pretended not to notice. Zayn opened his box first and revealed the naked lady with liquor in it. He laughed as the others opened theirs. I handed Jericho his gift. I didn’t see him as one of the shop guys, and probably I never would, but I got him a gift too—besides, otherwise the rumor mill might have started buzzing.