I shrugged, uncomfortable with her bubbling emotions. “My idea but Teddy executed it all.” And she’d done a damn good job. Better than I imagined in all the times we’d gone over the details. “She did a good job.”
“A damn good one. Thank you,” Jana wept and wrapped her little arms around me, squeezing tight. “Thank you, Tate.”
“No problem.” A quick look at Max told me he was just as grateful though not quite as gushy about it.
“Where is she?” Her blonde curls bounced around her shoulders as she scanned the room in search of her best friend, so excited she forgot to be self-conscious about the scar on her face.
Savior and Cross walked over to where we stood, smiling.
“Congratulations, you two.” Cross hugged Jana and then Max. “Your friend is a bit of a whirlwind,” he told Jana with an amused laugh.
Savior barked out a laugh. “That’s an understatement. More like a drill sergeant! We could use her to train the prospects, though. She had them in top shape putting all this shit up.” He shook his head and laughed. “Pissed off a few of the Bitches, too.”
“That’s my girl! So, where is she??” Jana was eager to thank her friend but I knew that some of her unease had to do with Teddy’s recent troubles.
Cross shrugged and scratched his beard. “She left to go pick up the ice, even though I told her one of the prospects could do it. Now, drinks?”
Jana rubbed her belly and he snapped his fingers. “Teddy left some cider for you, plus I’m supposed to show you something if she’s not here, and …” he looked around the room, seeing everything easily with the way he towered over everyone. “She’s not, so follow me.”
We all followed our club prez who ushered Jana to a big ass table filled with food. The centerpiece was a cake, four tiers with little sugary versions of Max and Jana. Her long blonde hair falling down the first two layers as Max tilted her over moments before their lips touched.
“Oh my God! This is so amazing! Babe, look at this, have I ever looked this hot?”
She was so excited she squealed, blowing out both of my eardrums.
“And look at your muscles, I don’t know which of you is hotter.”
She gave Max a heated look that left me a little uncomfortable to witness.
“I have to call her!” Jana walked away with her phone in her hand and a big smile on her face.
“You guys didn’t have to do all this,” Max said calmly as he stood beside me.
“I know, but I wanted to. Jana brought you back to life, gave you a reason to get right. I’ll always love her for that. You deserve it, falling for a great woman doesn’t happen every day.”
He smiled, looking over at his bride to be with more love than I’d ever seen. “I’ve never met anyone like her. I just wish you could see that you deserve it too, no matter what stupid shit you’re trying to convince yourself is true.”
I shrugged, doing my best to look innocent as he slugged my arm. “I have exactly what I deserve.” And I deserve exactly what I don’t have too.
“Teddy, what’s going on?” Jana’s voice rose and the tension in her tone was palpable. “Just pump them. Harder.” She screamed as panic took over her voice. “Teddy, answer me! Teddy!” Jana turned to Max, sucking in shallow breaths as she began to hyperventilate.
“Look at me, Jana!” Hands on her shoulders, I stared into her eyes until she focused on mine. “Do what I do,” I ordered and began breathing in and out slowly. She followed my instructions until she was calm, then I said, “Now tell us what happened.”
“She was in the car and couldn’t stop. It happened while we were talking. Something was wrong with her brakes. She hit them but the car didn’t even slow down! I heard her crash. We have to find her!”
“Do you know where she is?” Max asked, worry and patience warring for priority on his face.
Jana shook her head. “No, she’s hurt. We can’t just leave her bleeding in a ditch somewhere! Come on, that fancy car has to have GPS!” She hung onto Max, her voice and eyes pleading with him to help her find her friend.
But she was right about one thing, we couldn’t just leave Teddy to circumstance. “I’ll go out and look for her along the routes to all the places that sell ice. You call 911, Jana and stay here with Max until we find her, okay? I’ll check in with you guys.”
She nodded absently, already dialing emergency services as tears streamed down her eyes. “Thank you, Tate. Find her, please.”
“I will. I promise.” I just hoped Teddy was in one piece when I found her. And I’d really like to know who in the fuck would have tampered with her brakes. I called Max as soon as I was on the move asking him about it.
“Cutting brakes isn’t what you do to someone you want to be with, that’s for someone you hate, right?”
Max grunted but I could hear the background sounds getting quieter as he moved away from the group. “Yeah. I thought for sure it was a former fan, but now I’m not sure.”