Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 90607 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90607 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
However, they had made it a bit of a tradition where Christmas dinner was no longer eaten at the table, but in front of the television watching a festive movie. It was a lot of fun, but they were all avoiding the truth. Their father or husband was no longer with them.
“Do you have any kind of protection?” Hazel asked.
Ava was about to bite into a piece of bacon, and she felt her cheeks go hot. “Mom, seriously? I’m twenty-four years old.”
“It doesn’t matter how old you are. You don’t go around believing a guy who says he can’t fit into one, or he can’t afford one. You always make sure you have protection on you. You have no idea what these men have, or dealing with their babies when they are done with you.”
Violet winced. “You’re getting the serious talk.”
She wanted to slap her sister. Ava was not prone to violence. She didn’t even have violent tendencies, but it would seem right now, they were developing at an alarmingly fast rate. It sucked.
“Did you get the serious talk?” Ava asked.
Violet snorted. “Girlfriend, I had this talk during prom, and trust me, most girls get some money to go to prom. I got a stack of condoms I didn’t even use.”
“Seriously?” Ava asked.
“Seriously. This girl did not become a prom V-card loser. No, this girl discovered her boyfriend was cheating on her with her best friend.” Violet shrugged. “Remember Mandy and Ryan, happily married, three kids?”
Ava’s mouth dropped open, but thankfully, she didn’t have any food inside, so it was all good.
“I had no idea they cheated?”
“Yep, well, I can’t exactly hold it against them. Even after all this time, they’re going strong. They’re happy, and he’s not strayed once. All is good.”
She looked at her sister, and Violet didn’t seem at all concerned. “Wow.”
Violet laughed. “I can be reasonable.”
Ava had no doubt that her sister could be.
Chapter Seven
It had been too long since Pat had been able to get back into the garage and actually work on fixing cars. Club business always came first, along with protecting the town. He pulled out from under the hood of the latest car he was fixing. There was nothing wrong with it, just a tune-up.
Most of the people in Carnage rarely spent money to keep their cars in tip-top shape. Only a couple of people did, and Pat was always happy to work on those vehicles. He was happy to work on any of them. He loved working on cars. Rarely did he like working with people. His time with people was over, apart from the club, but he didn’t have to fake it or deal with assholes while staying silent.
At the sound of a feminine throat-clearing, he turned to find Hazel, Ava’s mother, standing at the edge of the gate.
“Good morning,” he said, checking his watch to see it was a little before twelve and still technically morning.
“Hello,” she said.
At this time, he didn’t feel he should be overly familiar with Hazel, so he glanced over at her and then behind her. “Can I help you with something?”
“My name is Hazel Beckett, my daughter introduced us, and I’d like to talk to you.”
“Beckett? Are you a relation to Ava?” he asked.
“Cut the crap,” Hazel said, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m not a fool and don’t treat me like one.”
Okay, he liked her. She had fire.
“I know who you are,” Pat said.
“Exactly, so you know why I’m here?”
“I’m guessing you’re here to warn me against seeing your daughter,” he said.
Hazel sighed. “No, I don’t want that to happen. If you stopped seeing Ava, she would know. Look, my daughter ... I don’t know what your game is, but I don’t like it.”
“I’m not playing a game.”
She took a step forward. “I know you’re used to women that have slept around and know the score. After Ava’s father died, she never was interested in boys. As far as I know, she is not even interested in men. She works and loves to sew, that’s it. And then you turned up on the scene, and I know Ava likes you. I’m asking you not to break her heart.”
“Do you make it a habit of meeting with all the men who are interested in your daughters?” Pat asked.
“No, this is the first time and I may not know you or the club personally, but I’m not a fool. I’ve heard the rumors, seen the fallout. All I am asking is that you do the decent thing, and don’t toy with my daughter. My husband may be dead, so he can’t give you the warning, but if you hurt Ava, break her heart, I will be your worst nightmare.”
Pat looked at her and he knew she wasn’t kidding. He wasn’t afraid. Hazel was a momma bear protecting her young. He got it. Ava was a young woman.