Page 48 of Animal's Reformation
The biker threw his head back and laughed. “We don’t got any piss beer here, baby.”
“A Coors then.” Olivia had forgotten that light beer was akin to poison to outlaws.
Kennedy was already talking to a couple of good-looking men, who, every once in a while, stared blatantly at Olivia. Shifting her focus, she looked out over the crowd and could easily spot the club girls. With their dyed hair, short skirts, ample cleavage, heavy makeup, and stilettos, they all looked the same. Most of the hangarounds looked like women who came out to party with a bunch of testosterone-driven men who promised them a night they’d never forget.Everything’s the same, except the MC’s name is different.The club parties were played out in thousands of clubhouses across the country, and she’d bet all the men and women looked the same.
“Are you having a good time?” Kennedy asked as she glanced at Olivia over her shoulder.
“Yeah.” She picked up the beer bottle and brought it to her lips.
This was all so familiar. She could almost hear Leo’s rumbling laugh and smell the lingering cigarette smoke on his cut. Amid the cacophony of noise: blaring rock music, women’s laughter, men’s voices, clinking bottles, and the roar of bikes mingling together, Olivia swore she could feel the presence of her brother. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she lowered her head and quickly brushed them away with her hand.
“Hey, baby,” a voice said behind her.
Olivia swiveled around on the stool and met the pale blue eyes of a ruggedly handsome biker. Her fingers curled tighter around the beer bottle.
“I haven’t seen you around here before.” He leaned in closer as she scooted near the edge of the barstool.
“I came with a friend,” she replied. Her gaze landed on his cut; his road name, Hubcap, was displayed right above the diamond-shaped one-percenter patch.
“You’re mighty fine-looking.” Hubcap winked at her and snaked his arm around her waist.
Olivia gently pushed it away. “Thanks, but I’m just here for a drink then I’m heading home.”
The blond-haired biker jerked his head back. “What the fuck? Why the hell did you come here if you’re not gonna have some fun?”
Knowing this situation was a bit sticky, Olivia waved her hand nonchalantly. “I just came by to say hi to my friend, Animal.”
“Animal? You his sweet piece for tonight?”
“Not exactly—we’re friends, like I said.”
Hubcap motioned the prospect to get a drink for him and Olivia, then ran his eyes up and down her body, slowly. Nodding, he handed her another bottle of beer. “Yeah—you’re his neighbor. Fuck, Smokey wasn’t shitting—you’re one helluva sexy woman.”
Smokey’s got a fucking big mouth.“Right. Anyway, since he’s not here, I’m going to probably leave after this drink.” Olivia hoped Hubcap got the hint, and with her naming a club member, she hoped the biker would respect that and back the hell off.
“He’s around. You better sit tight and wait ’til you see him since you’re not wearing his patch. Dudes around here will think you’re fair game.”
“I know the score.” The beer mixed with her nerves turned her stomach.
Hubcap nodded, but his gaze was fixed on a curvy brunette swaying to the music next to the bar. Without saying another word, he walked away. Less than a few seconds later, he had his arm wrapped around the woman and they were kissing up a storm.
Olivia looked away and glanced around the room, feeling self-conscious and desperate. When she didn’t think Animal was there, she felt okay, but now that Hubcap confirmed he was, she felt like a fool. Pushing away the half-empty bottle, Olivia tapped Kennedy on the shoulder.
“I’m going to head out.”
Kennedy’s eyes widened. “Why? We just got here.”
“Not really—we’ve been here for about forty minutes. Anyway, you were right—this isn’t my scene. I shouldn’t have come.”
“If you’re sure. Do you want me to get Smokey to walk you to your car?”
Olivia shook her head. “I’ll be fine. See you at school on Monday.”
Kennedy nodded then turned back to the two men she was talking with, and Olivia wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans and fished for her car keys in her bag.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Teach?” Animal’s voice poured over her like warm melted chocolate.
Hubcap. These guys are like a bunch of cackling hens!Olivia spun around, a snappy retort on the tip of her tongue, but his burning eyes held her still.
