Hellion, a New Adult Romance Novel(73)

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

 

 

 

 

 

REBEL, COLIN, AND MICK ARE all standing outside waiting for Teagan’s arrival. As soon as she sees that wall of gorgeously muscled badassery, she starts crying all over again.

 

I can’t help but be a little stunned by the picture they make myself. Get in my panties, boys. Holy, holy.

 

As soon as Rebel opens the door and scoops his girlfriend up into his arms, my brain goes back to normal function. Mick is here. There will be no sexy talk, so sexy thoughts, and no sexy sex. We are just friends because our favorite people are in love. That’s it and that’s all. Ten-four, over and out.

 

“What in the hell are you doing out of the hospital?” I ask, slamming the door shut. I sound mad, but I’m not. I’m worried. What if his stitches rip and his guts fall out? How will I save him then?

 

“They let me out. Colin gave me a lift.”

 

I raise an eyebrow at the mess of Trouble standing next to Mick. I suppose I should be happy Colin didn’t manage to murder his brother on the way home. “That was nice.”

 

Colin gives me a half-grin that has zero happiness to it. “I’m a nice guy. What can I say?”

 

I feel a tiny bit bad that I pulled my power card out on him the other day and made him go apologize to his brother, but I refuse to regret it. They’re standing here side-by-side and that’s a lot more than they were doing a few days ago. Who cares if Colin holds it against me? He’s a butthead anyway.

 

“How do you feel?” I ask, stopping a couple feet away from Mick. Totally awkward moment. My armpits immediately start pumping out the sweat stink.

 

“Pretty good. Better than I expected.” He gestures at the front door with a flick of his head. “What’s going on with her? Bad meeting?”

 

I shake my head. “The worst. You guys wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

 

“Want to get a beer and talk about it?” Colin asks.

 

Mick frowns at him. “Running away again?”

 

“Shut up, dick,” Colin says, his mouth twisting into a scowl.

 

“What’s that all about?” I ask, confused.

 

“Pregnant girls make him nervous,” Mick says, obviously happy to be teasing his brother. “He’s worried he might be the father.”

 

For a second I believe him, but then when Colin’s jaw twitches and he stands up straighter I recognize this for the harassment it is.

 

Colin growls. “Better shut your fucking mouth unless you want to lose a kidney along with that spleen.”

 

Mick laughs. “Touch me one time and see what happens.” He turns to me, completely unconcerned for his welfare. I’m guessing he’s on some pretty powerful drugs right now. Either that, or he’s secure in the idea that Rebel will personally pound Colin into the dirt if he so much as lays a finger on Mick. “He’s right, though,” Mick continues. “Let’s go get a beer and you can tell us all about it.”

 

“It’s not even lunch time,” I say, following Mick over to the red mustang parked on the back side of the lot.

 

“It’s five o’clock somewhere,” he says, looking at me over his shoulder. He gets into the car gingerly, his arm muscles bulging as he lowers himself carefully into the driver’s seat.

 

I wait for Colin to climb into the back seat before joining Mick in the front. “Are you sure you should be driving?” I buckle my seatbelt, trying to block out the memories of being with him in this car and me driving like a lunatic. I never ever want to do that again.

 

“Nope.” He grins and guns the motor.

 

We roll out of the parking lot with Mick smiling like a loon. “Freedom!” he yells, pounding the steering wheel a few times before turning on the radio. A heavy dance beat starts pumping out of the speakers. My butt can’t help but twitch a little on the seat. Man, I could totally work off some steam twerking in the comfort of my bedroom right now. Too much stress is making me crazy. I’m only partially satisfied with my dancing situation and then the song is over and we’re pulling a parallel space outside a nondescript black and brown building.

 

We’re at a dive bar that I normally wouldn’t be caught dead inside. Only a few cars are parked in the lot next door, so I’m more than a little surprised to find the place half full of people when we walk through the door.

 

“What are all these people doing here at this time of day?” I ask as we make our way to the bar.

 

Colin motions at the bartender, twirling his finger over all our heads. Less than a minute later, we all have cold mugs of beer in front of us. Nobody answers my question. I suppose it doesn’t matter. I’m just here for the man candy I came with and maybe some ideas. I need to help Teagan out of this mess. I cannot stand seeing her so helpless.