The Girl's Got Secrets (Forbidden Men #7)(23)

As Brandt turned an embarrassed bright red, Noel waved his hands. “Thank you? What! Lowe, what the hell did he do?”

Mason needed another second before speaking, then announced, “Some little asswipe was bullying Sarah, messing with her wheelchair and calling her names. I guess she spent her lunch hour crying in the bathroom. When Brandt here heard about it, he taught the idiot some manners.”

We all turned to gaze in amazement at Brandt, who only sank lower and lower onto his stool, looking totally mortified.

Aspen finally covered her face with both hands and groaned. “Oh my God, I am so sorry, Brandt, but...” Lowering her fingers, she scowled. “Why didn’t you just say that from the beginning?”

The fifteen-year-old growled out a mutter. “Because she was embarrassed and didn’t want any more attention brought on her.” He scowled Mason’s way. “I can’t believe she caved and told Reese. I promised her I wouldn’t drag her name into it, and that’s all she wanted.”

Mason only shrugged. “I think the guilt got to her. She didn’t like you getting suspended because of her.”

“Like I give a shit if they suspend me because of that. She didn’t ask me to do anything about it. Hell, she didn’t even know I’d found out about it. He deserved it, and I’ll go after any cocksucker again who messes with one of my friends.”

“You sure the f*ck will,” Noel raged in agreement. “That little shit-stain bully. I’m going in to talk to the principal tomorrow so he gets just as much if not more punishment than Brandt’s getting.”

“And I’m going with you,” Aspen declared.

“Oh, I’ve already called him,” Mason assured them with a tight, angry smile. “He’s well aware that the kid wasn’t innocent in any of this, and he assured me he’d do something about it.”

“Jesus, you guys.” Brandt groaned and clutched his head. “This is exactly what Sarah doesn’t want. If you make a big deal out of it, a million people are suddenly going to take notice of her, feeling bad and pitying her, or worse, maybe even blaming her. She doesn’t want that.”

Having witnessed enough of their family drama, I slid off my stool and patted Colton on the back as he continued to sip on his cherry limeade, watching the show. Then I made a last round through the customer area before letting Harper know we could open.

Quinn had similar thoughts and was picking up a stray straw off the floor. He grinned at me as he nodded his head toward the bar. “It’s never a dull night around here, is it?”

I chuckled. “Not with the drama we manage to stir up.”

Motioning a finger toward Harper, I let him know we were good to let customers in. He nodded, and half a minute later, they started trickling through the entrance.

I took my first table full of orders of the night and brought them to Knox to be filled since Mason and the Gambles were still arguing amongst themselves over how to seek justice for their younger siblings. Ten gave up on trying to put in his two cents’ worth and decided to help Quinn and me wait tables.

I’d just delivered a tray full and was pocketing the payment when my cell phone alerted me to an incoming text. I checked the screen, surprised to find it was from my new drummer.

I just realized I don’t have an exact time or address of where to be tomorrow for the gig. I’ve only been to Forbidden once and I didn’t drive so I’m not sure if I remember how to get there.

I zipped back the time and address and pocketed the phone, only for it to ding seconds later.

Gracias. Me and my two boys will see you then.

After I told him okay, all the while wondering who his two boys were, he spit back another message to me.

And by two boys, I meant my drumsticks, not the pair in my pants.

Before I could even think up a response to that, he messaged me again.

Not that the other two won’t be there too, of course. But technically, you won’t be seeing THOSE boys, so yeah...I’m only talking about the drumsticks.

I grinned, growing more amused by his rambling posts. I could almost picture him groaning to himself as if he knew he kept saying shit he didn’t mean to even as he typed more. And on cue, he wrote.

So, yeah, I’m just going to shut up now before I dig myself any deeper into my humiliation. See you tomorrow.

I laughed outright and typed back that I’d see him then.

“Who’re you flirting with?” Ten asked, making me jump out of my skin because I’d been so preoccupied with pushing Send.

Scowling at him, I shoved him back when he tried to read the screen over my shoulder. “None of your business, nosey ass.” Then I tucked the phone into my pocket out of his sight.

He snickered and wiggled his eyebrows. “Just tell me she’s hot.”

I rolled my eyes. “What makes you think I was even talking to a girl?”

“Because you were grinning and laughing as you read the messages, like a little douche boy with a crush.”

“What the hell ever.” I shoved at his shoulder again, this time to shut him up. “I was not. It was the new drummer in my band. And he said something funny...so I laughed.”

“Yeah...” Ten kept eyeing me as he scratched at the scarred side of his face. “I’m not buying it. You were reading your screen far too long for it to be from another dude.”