Page 37 of Prospect Year
Lola stood behind the bar of the clubhouse serving breakfast. The party the night before had lasted until shortly before midnight when the grounds cleared, and the club brought the festivities inside. Now, the kids were waking up hungry, and it was his job to handle that. Good thing he was efficient with a microwave. Pancakes and eggs, he could handle, and coffee was a necessity that he kept fresh.
He placed another juice box on the bar. “Good morning, pretty girl,” Lola greeted as Sunni and Chasity eased onto a bar stool in the commons.
“That best be meant for Chasity,” Cowboy barked, storming toward the bar behind Sunni.
Ignoring his comment, Lola grinned and leaned onto the bar across from Sunni. “What can I get for you this morning?”
“You can still disappear,” Cowboy snapped as he dropped his hand onto the bar between them with a thud.
Lola barked a laugh and cocked his head. “I’m family. Like it or not, I’m not going anywhere.”
Cowboy’s chest rumbled with what sounded to be a low growl but said nothing as King jumped in. “I believe it’s time you two had a little chat.”
“For what?” Cowboy demanded.
“I hear you’re good with numbers, is that right?” King asked Lola.
“Yeah.”
“There you go. You can bond over math. He could possibly be the next club secretary,” Lola noted the humor filling King’s eyes when he glanced up from cutting up his daughter Kingsley’s pancakes.
“Like how many times I can shove his face through a wall before he passes out?” Cowboy growled.
“That’s alright. Because once I pass out, you don’t know whose face I’m dreaming of,” Lola came back with a smirk.
“You son-of-a—”
“Hold on now,” Rash cut in. “Just because he’ll be thinking of you, Cowboy, it’s no reason to go over the edge.”
“Y’all can kiss my ass,” Cowboy shouted to a laughter-filled room.
Lola leaned onto the bar top with a smirk. “Really?” He wiggled his brows.
“I should have died when I had the chance and not dealt with you.” Cowboy narrowed his eyes toward Lola.
“Don’t say that!” Sunni yelled, punching Cowboy in the stomach.
Lola grinned. “Then I could have been there to pick up the pieces for you,” Lola said to Cowboy.
Lola’s head slammed against the wall with the last word rushing out on a breath. Cowboy’s hand pressed against his throat pinning him in place. Pain radiated down his neck and throughout his body. Lola forced back the natural desire to fight and forced a smile as his breath became shallow.
Sunni, with Chasity in one arm, ran around the bar in a panic. Her fingers twisted in Cowboy’s sleeve, tugging.
“Adrian. Stop it. He can’t breathe.”
“Good,” Cowboy spat out.
Lola’s eyes blurred, but he kept them locked on Cowboy’s. His brothers were rolling with laughter. Uncontrollable laughter. Lola, although he thought he must be turning blue, he never wavered his grin.
Lola noted the instant something clicked in Cowboy. Cowboy eased his hold but didn’t release Lola as his breathing slowed.
Cowboy’s shoulders dropped as did his hand. Lola stood, still against the wall, rubbing his throat. “I was your challenge,” Cowboy guessed.
Sunni’s eyes grew as they darted from Cowboy to Lola and back. “Is everything okay?” she whispered.
Cowboy and Lola both nodded without looking her way.
Cowboy turned again toward the room. “Y’all can all kiss my ass.” He whirled back toward Lola. “Except you. You stay away from me and my ass.” The room erupted once again even louder this time.