Harlow dabs at her cheeks. “Is he going to retire then? Did you two decide?”
“I’m not going to let him walk away from doing what he loves because of me. Not until he’s ready. Besides, I like being a player’s wife. It might be even more fun now that I’m not worried that he’s going to pick up a cleat chaser at every game if I’m not there.”
“Good, and I’m not saying that just because Jimmy would be devastated because Nate’s arm has plenty of good years left,” Harlow says.
Monroe smooches the air at our friend. “Har-har, I love you. We’d better all be co-godmothers to that little rug rat you’re going to have.”
Kelsey returns to her seat with a laugh. “No offense, but I wouldn’t even know what to do with a godchild until she’s old enough to play with makeup. So you don’t need to worry about me.”
Harlow’s gaze cuts to me. “Don’t think we missed the part about Gabriel Legend moving in with you, Scarlett. Is that for real? Is that why you’ve got a beefy new security guy instead of just your normal car service?”
I glance out the front plate-glass windows to where Pat sits in the parked SUV. “Uh, well . . . that’s complicated.”
All four women stare me down. Apparently, Monroe’s out of the hot seat and it’s my turn.
“You didn’t tell me Legend moved in,” Flynn says with an accusing undertone. “And I was just at Curated. Are you keeping it a secret or something?”
“No, it’s just . . . well, with this fight coming up, we had to shore up security.”
Kelsey narrows her eyes on me. “I feel like there’s something big you’re not telling us.”
I think about the scene from last week in Gabriel’s office when Moses had a gun to Bump’s head. Do I tell them? Don’t I?
I make the decision on the fly. “Someone from Gabriel’s past came back and threatened him. We’re not taking chances right now. That’s all.”
“Shit,” Harlow whispers. “The fight has been getting a ton of publicity now that the deal has been inked. That makes perfect sense.”
I’m not going to correct her or elaborate on her assumption.
“Are you safe? Like really safe? Or do we need to be worried about you?” Monroe’s acrylic nails tap nervously on the Formica table, and the waitress appears with our refills.
We’re all quiet as she replaces our empties, and we thank her when she’s finished. As soon as the waitress is gone, all eyes are on me again.
“I’m fine. I’m not worried.”
Harlow still looks skeptical, but they don’t push me any further on that subject.
“We’re here for you, babe. Whatever you need. And just so you know, Jimmy is getting us two tickets to the fight, so I’ll be there if you need me.”
I could hug her for her solidarity. “Thank you.”
“Wait, I want to come too,” Monroe says.
“And me.” Kelsey raises her hand. “Actually, I need two. My brother will be all over this shit.”
“This is bullshit that you have to be twenty-one to get in,” Flynn grumbles. “I have a fake ID. Just tell that tall, dark, and asshole sidekick of Legend’s to let me into the club. I shouldn’t have to miss it just because an accident of birth makes me a few months too young.”
I bump her in the shoulder. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Do we have a look planned for fight night?” Kelsey asks. “Because you’re going to need to be straight-up fire for him.”
“Gunter is making me a dress. He called yesterday and insisted. I was kind of shocked, to be honest.”
Kelsey claps her hands together. “Hell yes. Gunter won’t steer you wrong. This is going to be fabulous.”
“If you get me a ticket and promise me I won’t get kicked out, I’ll give you the number of the hacker I got last night,” Flynn blurts out.
My chin jerks in her direction. “You found someone?”
“Wait, why do we need a hacker?” Monroe whispers to Harlow.
Flynn crosses her arms over her chest. “Because Scarlett’s troll came at me this week, and it’s time to bring that asshole down. No more screwing around. If the cops can’t find him, we will.”
“Thank God,” Kelsey says as she forks up a bite of pancake. “I’m so damn tired of that piece of crap ruining Scarlett’s day.”
Flynn smiles at her, and it’s all teeth. “Not for much longer.”
After we finish breakfast, we all spill out of the restaurant onto the sidewalk with lots of hugs and promises to do it again next week at the same time and same place. I’m totally free for that, considering Gabriel is training like crazy.
Flynn hugs me good-bye and heads off down the sidewalk, and then Harlow and Monroe hop into Harlow’s town car, leaving Kelsey and me alone near the entrance. Pat is already out of the SUV, waiting by the door, and I hold up a finger to let him know I’ll be a moment.
“Are you sure you’re okay? Because I don’t like the idea of you needing security and not telling us how serious these threats are.”
I meet Kelsey’s deep brown, almost black, gaze. “The guy that came back from Gabriel’s past is pretty scary, Kels. I don’t know what he’s capable of, but we know that he’s probably not going to do anything before the fight.”
“How could you know that?”
“Because he’s betting on Gabriel to lose.”
Kelsey’s eyebrows shoot to her hairline. “Legend’s going to throw the fight?”
I shake my head. “No. He’s not. Which is why we have to be prepared for whatever happens next.”
“Shit, girl. This is heavy stuff. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? You know I’m always here for you.”
“Because it’s not really my stuff to tell. And I didn’t want Monroe or Harlow to spread it around. They wouldn’t on purpose, but . . .”
“I remember what happened last time. I get it. I do. But, still, that shit is scary. You have to be careful. If there’s anything I can do to help, all you have to do is ask.”
“I know, and I love you even more for that. Come on, let me and Pat give you a ride home. Gabe’s training all day, so I’ve got time.”
“Oh . . . training. That sounds sweaty and deliciously hot.”
The memory of what happened in the gym after I put Lucy in her place blasts into my brain. “Oh, girl, you have no idea.”
Twenty-Five
Legend
Bump is practically vibrating with excitement in the back of the SUV as we head to a carnival at the center for kids that Meryl Fosse runs.
I was on the fence about Bump coming along, but Scarlett made a good case for bringing him with us.
“What if he can have a positive impact on the lives of some of those kids? Meryl wouldn’t keep inviting him if she didn’t see potential in him. He loves working for you, but it would be cool for him to have something of his own too.”
Give Bump an even more well-rounded life than he currently has? Yeah, it wasn’t hard to get me to agree to that.