Page 53 of Meant for You

Someone hooted in the distance, and we turned to see who it was. Another group of people appeared at the top of the lake track. Lila was one of them, and she broke away as soon as she saw me and ran over.

“You’re here,” I said, crazy happy to see her. Lila wasn’t sure she could make it. They’d had a family thing at her sister’s place in Rocktown and she hadn’t been sure how long she’d be stuck there.

She grinned back. “Tanner offered to give me a ride. He and a few other guys were coming out already.”

Lila knew Tanner from school since she’d lived in Rocktown for a while before her parents moved to Springhaven and bought their ranch. Her older sister had stayed behind, though, with her boyfriend, now husband.

“I stopped in to see if Trix could come, but she had to work.”

That sucked, but I was so happy Lila had made it.

“Let’s get you a drink,” I said, about to lead her toward one of the coolers full of beer.

Dane was talking to some guy, one of the Ramblers, and he stopped me. “Hey, Lila,” he said before his eyes slid back to me. “You need something?”

“I’m just getting Lila a drink.”

“I’ll get it,” he said. “You stay here.”

I watched him walk away, and I knew I looked like a dreamy, loved-up idiot but I didn’t even care.

“So you two, you’re really together?” Lila said in a low tone, eyes bright, excited for me.

“Yes.” I squeezed her hand. “It’s crazy, but yeah, it feels right.” Lila and I were equally inexperienced, but she was also kind of shy. She’d been self-conscious about her weight for a lot of years and, thanks to an asshole ex, had taken a major confidence knock. But Cassy, Quinn, Trix, and I had been helping her with that. She also never judged and was one of the most supportive people I’d ever met, which was why I loved her so much.

Then Dane was back handing her a beer and sliding his arm around my shoulders. Lila grinned at me and I grinned back.

“Bambi,” Grifter said, appearing out of nowhere. “You came to celebrate my birthday. I didn’t know you cared.”

Lila flushed. It was something she hated about herself, but not something she could control. “Happy birthday,” she said in her soft and right then shaky voice.

“Thanks, baby,” Riff said, his unusual green eyes moving over her hungrily.

I had to bite back a smile at the way Lila’s eyes widened. She was also crap at having a poker face. My girl showed every emotion, it was all there, and I got the feeling she liked Grifter a lot.

He took her hand. “Why don’t you come sit over here with me and tell me all about your day?” he said, eyes wicked, a smile curving his lips.

Dane shook his head. “Stop harassing the girl. Lila, you don’t need to go anywhere.”

Grifter shot Dane a look that told him to shut it.

Lila, still furiously blushing, looked up at Grifter. “Um…maybe a little later?”

Grifter swallowed, his Adam’s apple working. “I’d like that, sweetheart.”

Dane leaned down, his mouth going to my ear, and chuckled low. “The boy has it bad.”

I laughed softly, because it was plain to see. It was also pretty entertaining to see this big bad biker look kind of thrown by my shy, sweet friend.

The music was turned up and people started to dance. Lila and I loved to dance. I glanced at her and she nodded. “Back soon. Must dance,” I told Dane, and Lila and I ran off to join the others gathered by the speakers.

We ended up with another couple of girls. They were nice and we stayed all dancing together for a long time. Sometimes it was just us but no one seemed to care.

Finally, thirst drove us back to the cooler and another beer.

That’s when Grifter took my friend’s hand and again invited her to go sit with him. This time Lila went willingly, giving me a wide-eyed oh my God expression as she went. The people on the couch jumped off as they walked over.

I was grinning to myself when someone grabbed my arm hard. I spun around and came face-to-face with Tanner.