“Bristol?” I scrubbed my hand down my face and sat up. My eyes were barely open and I couldn’t tell you what day of the week it was.
I had gotten home from the hospital around noon and had promptly passed out. Things were stable with King, and the doctors were being optimistic that with therapy, he should recover. While they had been repairing the carotid dissection, the doctor said he checked out the rest of his arteries, and they were all in good condition. Now King was going to be on the long road to recovery.
“Yeah, the hot chef brought some bomb-ass food.” Zag lifted a forkful of food to his mouth. “Fucking ravioli in some sauce I would lick off the floor.” He shoved the fork into his mouth and moaned.
I cringed. “I sometimes worry about you, brother.”
Zag laughed. “You and everyone else. Better get your ass up if you want anything to eat,” he warned.
“Is she still here?” I asked.
Zag shrugged. “She was, but I heard Royal saying they were headed to the hospital to drop some meals off to Meg. I don’t know if they left yet.”
I swung my legs onto the floor and stood. I shrugged on my cut
and stepped around Zag.
“Whoa,” Zag chuckled. “You must be starving.”
Starving was right. I wanted to see Bristol.
I stalked down the hallway to the main room and glanced around, hoping to spot Bristol, but she wasn’t anywhere.
Yesterday, half of the club girls had been moved to a few apartments close to Sultry Knights, and things had cleared out a bit. Now there were only about ten girls still at the clubhouse, and they were going to be moved to another house tomorrow.
It was nice to have the clubhouse back to what it used to be, not a hostel for strippers and waitresses.
“Dude,” Hero called. “Make sure you get some food.” He pointed to one of the poker tables that was covered in casserole dishes and a large cake. “Bristol and Royal dropped off some food.”
Some food was an understatement.
“Are they still here?” I asked.
Hero shook his head. “No, you just missed them. They were wanting to get over to the hospital with food for Meg before it got too late.”
I nodded and sighed.
I guess I wasn’t going to see Bristol today. I would have to settle for her delicious cooking and hope I got to see her soon. Things were crazy at the clubhouse, but making time for her had just been moved to the top of my list.
*
Bristol
“Oh, my God,” Meg moaned. “I don’t know how you make this sauce, but you know I’m going to need the recipe.” She scraped the last of the ravioli sauce off her plate and grinned. “You guys are lifesavers. I was afraid to eat breakfast in the morning. Today was not good, and I didn’t think things would get better tomorrow.”
I nodded to the cooler I had set by the window. “Well, as long as you have access to a microwave, you’ll be eating good for the next four days.” Royal and I had cooked the ravioli Meg just ate, and also meatloaf, tator tot casserole, Tuscan chicken pasta, chicken enchiladas, and breakfast burritos with steak and eggs inside them. Meg would be eating good for the next week or so.
Meg had come out of King’s room when we came in, and she had sat with us while she ate a late dinner from the meals Royal and I had made.
I was pleasantly surprised when Royal had started cooking with me that she had skills in the kitchen. She also was a fast learner. I only had to show or tell her things one time, and then she was doing it on her own. I enjoyed cooking by myself, but it was also nice to have someone to share tasks with and talk to.
“You really didn’t have to do this, Bristol. I know you have a lot of cooking to do for everyone at Wyndemere.” Meg tossed her paper plate into the garbage and leaned back in her chair.
“There really isn’t much difference in cooking for six or twenty-six,” I pointed out. “Well, other than you need a lot more butter than you think you will.”
Royal laughed. “Yeah, that’s the truth. Bristol had told me how many pounds of butter we need to buy at the grocery store, and I about passed out.”
Meg grabbed the small container with a slice of cake inside. “I’m only going to have a bite and save the rest for Lo when he wakes up.” She winked at me and sniffed the cake.