7. Dom

"Hey Raze. You got anything planned tonight? I was thinking of going for a ride, maybe heading to Somerset. They're having that cruise-in thing," I mutter. "You're welcome to join too, Joker," I ask as I plop down in a seat. We're in the clubhouse, which is mostly empty except for the prospects cleaning the joint up from last night. There's a twinkie behind the bar, but I'm not drinking. I grabbed some coffee out of the kitchen. After waking up with Gabby in the fucking motel bed with me a week ago, I may never drink again.

"Sounds fun, but I have plans," he says.

I arch an eyebrow at that, looking over my buddy. "You hooking up with Candy on the regular now?" I ask, mentioning the cute red-headed stripper he has had an on and off thing with over the last year.

"Nah, I haven't seen Candy in a month."

"You were at Pussy's with me last week. You cut out early, so I just assumed you were hooking up," I argue.

"Nope. I only came to try and talk you out of drinking yourself into a coma. You weren't listening, so I left."

I rub the back of my neck. "I didn't need a babysitter," I argue, lying through my damn teeth.

"Regardless, you're on your own now. I've got better things to do."

He's got a grin on his face that I've never seen before. Shit, have I been so drunk that I haven't noticed my brother finding a woman? I never thought I'd see Raze find an old lady. He's some of the twinkies' favorite dick. I take a moment to think back and realize he's been kind of quiet in the club for a while now. Hell, I can't remember him hooking up with anyone for at least a month. I mean, I don't normally watch or keep track of where my brothers stick their dicks. Still, the fact there's been that big of a change in Raze… damn. "She must be a hell of a woman."

That smile he had before stretches wider. "You have no fucking clue."

"Raze is in love," Joker mutters, as stoic as ever. The bastard seems so cold I swear he could freeze water into ice with just one breath.

The man in question smirks at Joker. "Not quite there yet, but Flame is one hell of a lady. I'm taking her out tonight."

"Taking her out? Jesus Christ, are you actually doing the whole dating thing?" I ask, wondering if I drank so much my brain is now fried.

"Yep. Taking her to dinner and a movie. The whole nine yards."

"A movie? You're going to sit in a theater and watch a movie?"

"Yeah, so what?"

I shake my head. "Nothing, I guess. Just didn't see you as that type."

"For the right woman, a man can change."

"Yeah, well," I mutter. "I've sworn off women."

Raze bursts out laughing. Hell, even Joker—who rarely smiles—laughs.

"Man, you can't go a week without sex."

"That's the old me. The one that didn't realize that women are poison," I mutter, draining what's left of my coffee.

"Just the wrong ones," Raze argues. I roll my eyes.

"How long have you known this bitch?"

"Flame's not a bitch. Watch your mouth," Joker growls.

My eyebrows shoot up and I'm sure my shock is etched on my face. This chick has Raze and Joker tied to her? God, this is a recipe for disaster. If anyone should know that, it's me. "You hung up on her too?" I ask.

"No, but if Raze fumbles the ball, I'll be there to take over."

Raze laughs and shoots him a one-finger salute. Joker just takes a swig of his beer and smirks. "Fuck off," he grumbles good naturedly.

"Joker, what are you doing tonight?" I ask, really not wanting to be alone.

"Well, I usually play poker at Breaker's, but Raze fucked that up. We're still heading out on the bikes, though."

"Room for one more?"

"Sure, but aren't you usually knee deep in pussy and drunk off your ass by now?"

"Haven't had a drop all day, and I told you, I've sworn off women."

There's silence at the table and they're all staring at me. I let them. It's time I pull myself up. Fuck, it's past time. Thea said I needed to tackle one small thing and then move to another. Sobering my ass up is step one. I'll try to pull myself together enough to face my old man, eventually. Right now? That seems like too big of a step. I do need to make a lot of changes. My head is a fucking mess. Maybe I can talk to Thea again. She centered me the other night. The voices in my head, the doubts, all of that shit, just disappeared when we had dinner. The two of us were friends once.

Maybe we can be again.