By the time we were done with Ana she looked the young vibrant way she had when she helped me after I’d fallen down. Joni had chosen a pair of jeans that had a slight flare at the bottom, black boots, and a form fitting black v-neck shirt. You could tell Ana wasn’t used to showing her curves as she tugged and pulled at the hem of her shirt. She had curves and they were beautiful, she just had to realize that. We left her in her room while we changed, making her promise not to change her clothes.
And when we came back out, we could hear that the lobby of the small hotel had filled with more voices. We made our way down to see the group of guys huddled around the small space. “Christ, bout time you women got finished,” McGee huffed sarcastically. “Will you please get Ana to come out of her room? She’s been shoutin’ through the door since we got here.”
“I’ll be out when I’m ready, asshole!” I heard Ana shout from inside her room and I laughed.
“Ok, how about you guys head on downstairs and I’ll see what I can do.” As the room began to empty, I made my way to Ana’s door, leaving Joni to go get cozy with Butcher. I knocked lightly on the door, “Ana, its Starla. Will you let me in?”
The door creaked as it came open and she peered at me from the other side to make sure I was alone and then let me in. “Starla, I can’t do this. I feel like I’m gonna throw up.”
“Hey, you look hot. Really hot. And I know McGee will think the same thing. Let’s just go out and have a good time.”
“I doubt McGee will think I look hot,” she said, looking down at the clothes we’d picked out for her.
“I guarantee you, he will,” I said, taking her by the shoulders and turning her to face me, “Ana, you are absolutely beautiful. You just feel outta place because you’re wearing clothes that actually fit.” I smiled. “We’re gonna go tonight and have fun, even if I have to tie you up and drag you out against your will.”
“Well I wouldn’t want you to mess up all the work you did on me.” She peered over at me, her face still full of anxiety, but getting more confident by the second. “So I guess I’ll go willingly.”
“Good. Because I didn’t know where to find rope,” I joked, taking her by the hand and leading her out toward the small lobby.
As we made our way out I noticed McGee leaning in the door frame and when he saw Ana he jumped up, his mouth almost dropping open. He stood up a little straighter, adjusted his shirt, and brushed his hands through his non-existent hair. Oh yeah, he was definitely digging Ana. I looked over at her and smiled at the blush spreading across her face.
“Damn, Ana,” McGee said, giving her a once over and deepening the red on her cheeks. “You look… You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, McGee,” Ana said as the three of us made our way downstairs.
Outside the front of the hotel were a group of guys, all in Kings of Karnage cuts, some I’d met and some I didn’t know. I waved to Mulligan and Sag, and then caught sight of a face that wasn’t familiar. His hair was long and wavy, streaked with blonde and red and the most beautiful green eyes I’d ever seen. His face was speckled with freckles, but they were covered by the scruffy beard that covered most of his face. I could tell he was younger than the others, probably around the same age as Butcher, mid to late twenties. He was in the same King’s cut as the other’s and stood next to a beautiful black motorcycle. As I stared over at him, taking in each of his mesmerizing features, he stared back at me.
“Starla, this is Jameson,” McGee came over and introduced the stranger. “Jameson, this is Starla.”
“Aye, nice to meet you, love,” Jameson’s thick Irish accent floated over to me and, as he stuck his hand out to shake mine, I just stood their dumbstruck. “You alright?”
“Huh?” I looked around embarrassed, and then took his hand and shook it. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry. Trying to get rid of a headache,” I lied.
“Shouldn’t have drank so much last night,” McGee teased from where he stood, his arm wrapped comfortably around Ana’s waist, and I smiled at the smirk on her face.
“Yeah, yeah. Last I remember, you weren’t my dad,” I smarted back to him.
“If I was your pops, I’d have taken you over my knee and beaten the hell outta ya,” He said, letting off a laugh that was matched by the guys standing around us.
“Ok, so are we going to a party or what?” Joni asked, saving me from further embarrassment.
“Aye, let’s head out.” McGee grabbed Ana’s hand and pulled her toward his bike.
“You need a ride?” Jameson joked to me, now sitting on his motorcycle.
“Yeah, don’t think I’m gonna walk,” I said, smiling when he handed me a helmet and then climbed on behind him.