Alessia bats us away, too involved in her conversation to care about another kiss from me. I see it for the first time. Her passion is to connect with other people and to welcome everyone around her. For years, I thought it was because she wanted the attention for herself, but she just loves people. Nothing has prepared me for this. My own selfishness has caught me red-handed. I’m not sure if there is anything I can do to stop this.
* * *
Alessia
My eyes had bulged out of my head at the sight of Ashley. When I said she grew up, I wasn’t ready to see for myself this sexy young woman that came back after college. Over the afternoon, we had time to catch up on what we missed. To say I am proud of her is an understatement. Finishing school all on her own is amazing.
After lunch, I called the girls in to meet us at the clubhouse for a man mission. She needs a little fun. And what would be better than to help Jenn and her sister start to repair their strained relationship?
At the clubhouse, the common area is barren while the members are inside church. There is no one behind the bar, and I decide this is the perfect time to try out what I was hoping to start.
Waltzing behind the bar, I grab a few glasses and a towel, “What can I make for you, ladies?” I fog up the outside of the glass with a puff of air and then began to shine it while we wait.
“A glass that has not been breathed on by you,” Jenn deadpans. “There is nothing back there besides beer, whiskey, and tequila.”
“Hmm, I’ll be right back.” I dart out from behind the bar, running into the kitchen to find fruit and any ingredients available to make mixed drinks. By the time I am back, a prospect is behind the bar flirting with my friends.
“Shoo, boy,” I tease him. “You’re in my space.” With the pan of ingredients from the kitchen and the bottle of vodka from the freezer, I’m ready to experiment. I hope they are ready. I smile because they will go along with it anyway. They rattle off a few ideas and I begin to look up what I need to make their requests.
The first two are horrible, and Jazzy laughs. “These are disgusting. Please tell me you’re keeping your day job?”
“Psh, you never know. Besides, bitch, it’s not like you’re back here trying. Shut up and enjoy your free drinks.” I pass out the third batch and cross my fingers.
“Touché.” Jazzy holds up her drink. “To the future, whatever that may hold.”
“To new adventures,” Jenn adds.
“And new beginnings,” I toast. We all hold up the first lemon drop martini I have ever made, and I pray this drink is better than the last. We clink glasses and take a tentative sip.
“She did it!” Dana squeals. “This one is pretty good.”
“That’s because it has sugar water and lemon.” I laugh at her.
She scrunches up her shoulders. “Keep these coming.”
“So, new beginnings,” Ashley hesitantly comments. “Did you and Hawk just get back together?”
My back straightens, and my head swims a bit at her question. She couldn’t have heard anything about our problems. Jenn pulls me out of the fog. “No, they have been married for forever. You were at their wedding, Ash, why would you ask that?”
“Oh,” she giggles. “I must have misunderstood your toast.” Ashley plasters on a friendly grin.
The church doors open, and the guys start to file out. Ashley pops up from her seat. My hands are at my sides, and my feet are frozen to the floor. Doubt floods me like a wave in the ocean, drowning me in the deep end. The problem is, there are too many details from the past for me to be able to make sense of it in a split second. The nagging voice at the back of my mind tells me to chase it, but if I do, will it be devastating to see what is at the end?
Hawk steps out, spotting me easily behind the bar. He sees it, the worry laced in my features. Ashley walks right beside him and slows long enough to say something. Jenn distracts me, grabbing my hand, “Don’t, Alex. It’s what she does. There isn’t anything wrong. She’s a bitch. There is a reason I only look after her.”
“Alessia,” Hawk calls from my side now and wraps his arm around my waist. “What are you doing back here?”
“Waiting for you . . .”
Chapter 9
Hawk
I haven’t been able to find Ashley in over a week. Every phone call has been ignored. If she is home, she’s been ignoring my calls. It would only be my good luck to have the bitch die in a car accident, but somehow I don’t think that’s happened. An idea pops into my head. If she thinks she is in control, I can get her to meet me.
This will be tricky, but I can do it. I send her a text saying I am sorry and I need to explain over dinner, to please meet me. Within an hour, the little cunt texted me back that she will be there. I send her the address of a restaurant I am sure no one will see us at.
The day crawls by painfully slow. The club is weary about the problem in shipments the Nevada Chapters are reporting. Stryker, the Las Vegas Prez, has been meeting with Fuego more than usual. Everyone is on edge, especially me.
After my last local run of the day, I head home before Alessia to shower and dress. Stepping
