Page 29 of Animal's Reformation
“Even so, you sure were giving her the eye, and it wasn’t like the way you look at Charlotte or even Diamond. You better be careful, bro, or she’ll have you tied and locked down,” Smokey said.
Animal sank back down on the chair, a scowl deepening the fine lines in his forehead. “No chick’s tying me down.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Smokey clinked his glass against Animal’s beer bottle.
“Me too.” Bones held up his empty glass.
“Fuck, yeah,” Rags said picking up his tumbler.
The conversation switched to the latest Harley-Davidson of their vice president, Hawk, and the way he customized the hell out of it.
By the time midnight rolled around, Animal had had it with the loud music and gyrating dancers. He had to interview job applicants the following day for his appliance repair business. He started Mountain Appliance Repair a few years before, and it had really taken off due to the fact that he didn’t gouge customers and knew what the hell he was doing. Since it’d grown so fast, Animal had to hire some employees, and finding people who had strong work ethics and knew what the fuck they were doing was a difficult task. He’d had to let Tyler go because the dude smoked too much weed on the job, and it was screwing up his ability to be reliable.
“I’m outta here. The redheaded chick’s a go, but the blonde with the humungous fake tits and the other one with the two left feet are a no. Do you agree with me?” he asked Bones.
“Yes, for the two, but the big-titted blonde should stay. Let’s see how she does with the guys,” Bones replied.
“Yeah—she’s pretty hot,” Rags said.
“I’m with Animal on this one. The chick didn’t know how to dance or flirt. I dunno, she didn’t have sex appeal, and that’s something a dancer needs, especially for booking private rooms. I don’t see her as a money maker for the club,” Smokey said.
“We should give her a chance. If she doesn’t do well in a month, then we’ll let her go,” Bones replied.
Animal pushed his chair back and rose to his feet. “I told you what I think. Prez will be the one who’ll decide.”
“BangerandHawk,” Rags said.
“Right. Hawk usually has the final say since he’s more involved in running the gentlemen’s club. Either way, I did my part and now I’m outta here.”
The men bumped fists and Animal headed toward the exit. The cold air wisped inside as he opened the front doors and stepped out into the night. The frigid wind iced his cheeks as he made his way across the parking lot. Settled into the SUV, Animal switched on the engine, cranked up the heat, and pulled out of the lot.
When Animal turned into the cul-de-sac, he glanced at Olivia’s house and saw that there was a light on in one of the back rooms he guessed was her bedroom. The bullshit he told his brothers at Dream House about Olivia not being his type was so not true. Olivia was exactly his type: dark long hair, stacked nicely, sweet ass. The truth was, he could find that with Charlotte or some of the other club girls, even the hangarounds, so those physical traits alone weren’t the only things that attracted him to her. It was the blush of high color on her cheeks anytime she was nervous, the way her pert nose crinkled while she laughed, and how those sweet lips made her face light up when she smiled.
“Fuckin’ pussy,” he mumbled, dragging his gaze away from her house. He pulled into the garage, closed the door, and went inside.
“Hey,” he said as he entered the family room.
Jada lay on the couch in front of a crackling fire, watching the television. She pushed up into a sitting position and swung her legs off the sofa.
“Hey. I thought you’d be later.”
“I gotta get to the office early tomorrow morning. You wanna crash here? I don’t like you driving alone this late.”
Jada laughed as she slipped on her shoes. “It’s just a little past midnight. Believe me, I’m out way later than this on weekends. I’m good.” She rose to her feet and scooped up her backpack.
“How was Lucy?”
“Great. After she finished her homework, we played a video game then watched some TV. She had a good time. I made tacos for dinner—she loved them.”
“I’m glad. Was she distant with you?”
“A little, but I’m pretty sure she still misses her mom. Has Emerald called her at all?”
“Nope. She’s such a fuckin’ bitch. I tried calling her but the slut just won’t anwer the damn phone.” Anger bubbled just beneath the surface of his skin.
“I guess you’ll have to reconcile the fact that she’s turned her back on Lucy. I can’t even begin to believe a mother could do that, but she has.”
“I figured that out the day the bitch left Lucy with me. I gotta admit though, I love having Lucy around.”
