Forty minutes later, we’re sitting in matching pedicure chairs, my feet already feeling softer as they soak in eucalyptus-scented water. “Mmm . . . nice.”
“So, what color do you think?” Allie says, flipping through the color guide. “I’m thinking dark navy blue, something that’ll stand out.”
“Yeah . . . I don’t think so,” I reply, flipping through my own copy. “Hey, what do you think?”
I hold up my card, a pinkish light lavender that just caught my attention. Allie grins, giving me a thumbs-up. “Totally you. It’s so sweet I need to check myself for diabetes.”
I stick out my tongue, and Allie laughs. A few minutes later, our technicians take our choices and get to work, buffing and smoothing our feet until they tingle.
As the ladies really get into their work, Allie looks over at me, leaning back in her chair. “Okay, now spill it.”
“Well, I was working the floor,” I begin before giving her an edited play-by-play of last night’s events. Of course, I have to leave out names. We’re in public, and I know that name dropping could bring unwanted attention. “So, anyway, I socked him in the nose.”
“You caught that motherfucker in the nose?” Allie asks, barely containing a fist pump. “How’d the boys react?”
I think back to the shocked looks on Dominick and Shane’s faces, and I grin. “I surprised them pretty good, I think. I’m sure they thought I didn’t have it in me. Honestly, I didn’t think I had it in me either, but watching the way he was trying to weasel, I just knew I had to fight back. Or else.”
“Or else what?”
“Or else I was going to be afraid of jerks like that my whole life,” I reply. “And you know what? It felt really good to stand up to him that way. I think the guys probably scared the bejesus out of him more though. Hopefully, he won’t try coming around again.”
Allie gives me an odd look, like I must be having the sillies or something. “Uhm, he definitely won’t come around again if he knows what’s good for him. I’m sure they beat the shit out of him. Did you see the guys again last night?”
I think back, then shake my head. “No, Bossman came in and told me I could take off early, considering everything. He even comped me the missed tips—reached into his pocket and slipped two Bennies in my hand like it was nothing. I was so surprised, I went straight home and slept like the dead till late this morning. Why?”
Allie seems uncertain if she should say more but finally hums to herself and makes a decision. “Well, I saw the boss’s hands later. He had a few scrapes, and his right shoe was scuffed. And I’m thinking your knight had more of an axe to grind.”
“How so?”
Allie bites her lip before replying. “Later, when he was walking us out, I noticed that one of his hands was bandaged. I asked, and he said he was fine, but . . . if I could give you a guess, I’d say your knight laid a major asswhipping on your motherfucker.”
I let that sink in.
Dom and Shane beat Miles up . . . for me. I should be horrified at the caveman-like behavior, disgusted that they sank that low instead of . . . what? Using their words? Not saying pretty please and calling the cops?
I scoff at my own line of thinking. It’s not like this is kindergarten, and I know Dominick protects the club and his girls fiercely. They used brute force because they’re able to and that’s what the situation called for, especially after Shane gave Miles a threatening talk the first time around.
I mean, even I got a shot in, so their beating him up isn’t all that different from what I did, right? Maybe more aggressive, taken further, but I know that deep inside, I’m not upset at what they did.
I’m thankful they defended me that way, made me and all the other women Miles has likely tried to intimidate safer with their actions.
“Well, I’m glad then. If I never see that poohead again, it’ll be too soon.”
Allie chuckles, shaking her head. “Poohead. I swear the universe missed out on one of the greatest jokes in history when you weren’t named Pollyanna. Then again, you don’t seem upset by the news.”
“I’m not, honestly. It was . . . I guess you could say it was noble. From a certain point of view.”
Story complete, our conversation turns to other matters. Allie chats about what she’s been up to, mostly sticking to some new clothes she picked up online the other day before grinning. “And guess what?” she says, not even giving me a chance to guess before she rattles on excitedly, “I got another job!”