2. Meredith

2

MEREDITH

I spot a familiar red car and walk over to it, beaming. Almost all my stress from this morning is immediately forgotten as I open the door to Addy's car.

"Girl, why does it feel like I haven't seen you in forever?" she says between pops of the bubblegum in her mouth.

I climb into the car and shut the door, reaching over to turn the music down some. Addy has a habit of leaving it way too loud and just trying to talk over it.

"That's because I've been completely slammed. College is such a bitch these days."

"Well, watch out. Sweet little Meredith is using naughty words."

I roll my eyes. "As if you've never heard me curse." I know she's just teasing, and I hide a smile as she takes off down the road. We're on our way to pick up Harley for our girls' day. Exactly what I need right now.

"So true. But I have no idea what you're talking about as far as college." She turns just long enough to wink at me.

"Don't brag like a bitch," I tell her. She only laughs. Addy is an art major. While she does take her classes seriously, she doesn't have anywhere near the workload I do. And her entire department is pretty much one big party.

Not only can I not afford the time to join said party, but honestly, growing up with my father has left me a little bit cautious of such environments. Not that I don't drink or have a good time, but I try my best not to ever take it too far.

"Have you seriously not been doing anything other than school?"

I shake my head, not wanting to get into the details about my father. "Pretty much. There's a lot of coursework right now. I think it's just the fact that I'm trying to do so much at once to get ahead. I'm not getting any younger, you know."

Addy scoffs. "Please. You act like we're dinosaurs. We're still very much young and free. Well, except for Harlow. Sometimes being around her makes me feel old. But don't tell her I told you that."

I stifle a laugh. "I know what you mean. She's got everything all together. Kids. The home. Three serious relationships."

Addy stops at a red light and eyeballs me. "I don't believe that one has anything to do with age," she teases. I can see the longing behind her eyes. She thinks the most amazing thing Harlow pulls off is having three guys who all want her, and not a single one getting jealous. Though my theory is that at least at some point they get jealous behind closed doors. I can't imagine that not happening. But it all works for her, so why not?

"Yeah, I don't think any of us saw that one coming. But she's happy—that's what matters. And I really miss her. I think it's also what's making all this so hard. I don't have either of you right by my side for it."

It's a vulnerable moment, and we fall into silence until we pull up at the Venom Vultures' clubhouse. It's been even longer since I've been here, though I love visiting. There's one particular reason too, but I'll never admit it out loud, even though I'm sure Harlow suspects I've had my eyes on one of the men.

Though, I never expect anything will come from it.

Addy parks, and we get out. "I thought we were just picking her up?" I ask Addy as she walks up the steps.

She turns to me. "Don't you wanna see the twins?"

I smile and nod. "Of course I do." Harlow has managed to have two of the cutest babies I've ever seen in my life. And that's something, because most babies are pretty darn cute.

We get inside and are greeted by tatted men all around the room. Some are day drinking, some playing pool, some just talking and shooting the shit. The energy, though, is that of a family. It's not really like walking into a bar, or being inside the clubhouse of some gang, like most people expect. It feels more like home. And for Harlow, it is home.

We're directed upstairs where a couple of rooms have been renovated to make a big playroom for the twins. Not that Harlow was the first by far to have babies, but being the president's daughter gets you some privileges apparently. Grizzly wants only the best for his grandbabies, I suppose.

We make our way up there and find that Bane and Grizzly are both in the playroom, watching the babies as they have tummy time.

Addy and I both go straight over to sit with them. Grizzly seems preoccupied with something, but Bane is watching the babies with the same awe that we are. It's so sweet to see him like that—this big, hardened man reduced to mush by his two babies.

I watch as Declan actually rolls over and tries to sit up. I don't know the typical timeline for such a thing, but it seems so unreal since this little boy practically just came out of Harlow, along with his sister. It's amazing how we all just learn to do that instinctively, and it comes into perspective as I watch these two grow.

The clunk of heels against the tile can be heard out in the hall, turning into muffled thumps on the carpet as my friend enters the room.

I stand up, greeting Harlow. Even Grizzly looks up, smiling at his daughter. In fact, the only time I've ever seen the man smile is when she's around. He calls her his sugarplum.

I know he's been like this since the death of Harlow's mother, that he never really got over it. Hopefully, it's been a little bit better having these grandchildren around. I've seen him smile at them too when nobody else is looking. Of course, being nearly invisible—the sweet girl, the quiet girl—I can observe things like that because no one ever looks my way either.

"Oh my goodness, Declan just rolled over and tried to sit up," I tell Harlow, pointing to where Declan and Daisy are playing on the floor. Addy is still down there, counting their toes and singing some song to them.

Harlow smiles as she watches. "Yeah, it's about time they would be doing that. That's what the pediatrician said. Aren't they amazing?"

Despite being so young, Harlow glows at the sight of her children. Maybe she was always meant to be a mother. It's so nice to see that she's kind of fallen into place in life, especially after everything she's been through.

Only a few months ago, she was in hell. We all were. But now that everyone is safe, she's settled into this new routine of being a mommy. I'd expected her to come back to school with me, but she never did. I'm sure one day she'll get her degree online, but right now she's focused on the twins.

I hope to find this level of purpose one day myself.

Addy gets up and walks over to us. "Sorry, they're just so darn cute!" she says, apologizing for holding us up.

"Trust me, that's because they've been fed and changed. You should be here at three a.m. Then, they might not seem as cute."

Bane walks over to us and winks. "I can confirm this. Though, it hasn't been my turn for a night shift for a few days. I think I'm due for one tonight. Now, you girls go have fun."

He slides his hand around Harlow's waist and pulls her in for a big kiss on the cheek.

"You got this?" she asks, looking back and forth between her father and Bane.

"You know damn well that none of us will let anything happen to these babies. I'll bet there aren't any other children in the whole damn world so well taken care of," Grizzly grumbles, looking down at his phone again. "Go, have fun."

My eyes linger on Grizzly as I begin to walk out. His hair is starting to get that salt-and-pepper look, but he's definitely kept his good looks. I catch myself and blush, forcing my eyes ahead as I walk and chat with the girls on the way out to the car.

"So, where are we headed?" Harlow asks as I climb into the back seat.

I lean forward. "I don't know, and I don't really care—I figure we just play it by ear and have a nice day. We have a while, right?"

"Yep. No classes for me today," Addy says, turning to me. "And you only have the one later this evening, right? When do you need to be back?"

"I have at least three or four hours before I need to cram and then kind of decompress before class. We should be good."

"Okay then. What say we hit the mall, get some food, and then maybe go to an arcade or something?" Harlow suggests.

"Sounds like a plan," Addy says, pulling the car out of the clubhouse lot.

For hours, we focus on each other and enjoy the rarity of a girls' day. It almost feels like we're young again, completely unburdened. Or at least we can pretend to be. Like old times.

I'm almost disappointed when we part ways a little earlier than we planned. Harlow had started missing the twins, and Addy got a call from some guy about wanting to go to a party with her. Once I'm left alone, I decide to take the time for a run. It's a good way for me to burn off energy, especially when I'm feeling stressed.

I breeze by my dorm room, getting dressed in some leggings and a tank top and strapping on my Adidas. As I pull my hair up, I lean over to look at my phone on the nightstand, wondering what's going on with my father and if I should call him. He really did seem paranoid, and I don't know where the hell he went.

No , I tell myself. You have college to focus on. A life. Time to live it.

I can't always be worried about my father. He's not my child. He's not my responsibility.

I head out onto the campus grounds. There's a slight chill to the air, but it's not bad. Not that desert cold yet.

It's pretty quiet on campus right now. Most people are either in class or eating dinner, or getting ready for some party. I have just enough time to get in a thirty-minute run and then shower before I have to get to class. And I'll have a few minutes before class to go over my study booklet one more time.

I look at the pavement and all the different paths that cross around campus. It's a perfect setup for running. And despite the fact that we're in the middle of the city, I can hardly hear the traffic and everything else going on in downtown Vegas.

I finally decide to head toward the research building, near the edge of the campus on the north side. It should be about ten to fifteen minutes each way, which will put me right on time.

I clear my mind and start jogging, eventually turning it into a run. I barely notice anything around me until I hear a honk. There's a large maroon vehicle coming up close to me. It's not a car I recognize, but it's not like I know everyone on campus.

I stop as the driver rolls the window down and looks around. There are two people in the car, both male. Both of them probably juniors or seniors. "Sorry, but we're looking for the research center," one says. They must be new or visiting.

I start giving them the simple directions, but that's when I feel it—a sting in my neck. All I know after that is that I'm starting to fall.