When I finish the story, the whole car is quiet.
“Never really wanted to hit a bitch as bad as I do her. Makes me glad I’m out of the dating scene. No telling the shit I said to get laid, I’m lucky no one took an interest in me like they did you.” Gabe says.
“Yeah, I’ve paid the price. I almost paid the ultimate price.” I mumble again.
“Declan stop it! We agreed, no more.
” Raven yells.
When I got home Tuesday night, Raven was a wreck. She saw the marks on my face and small tear on my lip and went ballistic. I finally had to hold her down to calm her and then let her baby me like a child. We agreed that night no more regrets when it came to ‘psycho Christie.’ She missed half of her class on Wednesday so she could sit with me on the conference call and tell the family lawyer all that happened. He basically took my statement and was going to relay it to the District Attorney. The new plan was to move forward with the charges and get her behind bars. She would be given access to a prison psychiatrist. It was clear she wasn’t right in the head, but she also knew what she was doing.
“Turn it up!!” Nate calls from the back and I hear a familiar riff coming through the speakers.
Raven squeals and jumps around in her seat. We’re in Chattanooga and a local station is playing “Surviving.”
None of us talks but everyone has a wide smile on their faces. I pull over at a convenience store so everyone can use the bathroom and grab a drink. Cooper offers to drive and I get in the back with Raven.
When we get back on the road, Raven tells us she’s ready to quiz and Blake groans.
“I still have that shit in my head from last year. Isn’t there another way for Raven to learn this without me having to hear it?” he jokes.
Halfway through, my head is spinning. This Organizational Development shit is hard. By the time we hit Marietta, Raven has nailed every single concept. She puts her stuff away and slides over to me as we ride into Atlanta.
We follow the directions to Harper’s restaurant and all get out. When we walk in, the hostess looks at us and her mouth hangs open. Raven sidles up to me and wraps her arms around my waist. I smile at her possessiveness.
Without warning, there’s a streak of black and I hear a grunt beside us. Harper is in Gabe’s arms hugging him tight.
“I can’t believe y’all are here!”
“Surprise!” Raven says softly.
“Surprise is right! Nadia, these are my friends from Nashville. We’ll need a big table set up in the back.”
Gabe clears his throat and glares at her. “Friends, Harper?”
Her face turns a slight shade of pink and she raises her eyebrows in question.
“Don’t you think you should introduce me properly?” he questions her.
“And that would be?”
He shakes his head and walks to the hostess stand. “Hi, Nadia. I’m Gabe, Harper’s boyfriend.”
I watch this drama unfold in front of me and thank God I’m beyond this. Nadia shakes his hand and grabs our menus. Gabe has Harper’s hand in his and makes sure to kiss her before she goes back to check on her tables.
We each get a beer and order before Harper gets back to talk to us. Gabe tells her he got a room for the weekend and she runs off to call Kendall to pack her a bag and bring it here. We haven’t told Kendall yet, but Brian is driving down with Charlie tomorrow to surprise her. I swear when it comes to these women, there are always plans in the works.
After dinner, we leave Gabe at the bar to wait on Harper, and we go to the hotel. Once we’re unloaded, we meet back up at the hotel bar.
“Sparkle, I really want a low-key night. Can we go up early?”
“Yes, I need a little bit of time with Harper when she gets here. I need details.”
“Raven, please don’t tell me you girls talk about everything. I would like to think that when I lick your pussy you don’t tell them about it.”
“Declan!!!” She hits me on the arm, and I smile down at her. Her face is red, and her mouth’s parted. Yep! I got to her.
I don’t get to tease her anymore because I’m pushed away when Harper arrives. They immediately go to the bar stools, and Gabe comes up next to me.