Chantal Fernando by Last Ride Page A

your mouth.”
    He throws a grape, just as Dex moves aside, so it hits me right in the face. I narrow my eyes at him. “I was just kidnapped, and this is how you treat me?”
    â€œHow long are you gonna play the kidnapping card?” he asks, chuckling and popping another grape in his mouth.
    â€œProbably forever.”
    â€œNoted.”
    Dex kisses me again, then exits the kitchen, mock-punching Rake on the way out. Rake comes up to me and rests his head on my shoulder. “You know if they killed you, I don’t know what would’ve happened to Dex. You make him so fuckin’ happy, Faye. It’s so amazing to see, even after all of these years.”
    â€œI’m not going anywhere.”
    â€œExcept to make us food? Because I’m hungry and you’re just sitting here.”
    I purse my lips and gently push him off me, then loudly say, “I was just kidnapped, and this is how you treat me?”

    â€œDoes anyone else feel like a skank when we play Never Have I Ever?” Tia asks, drinking from her cup. In celebration of me being alive, we’re having a gathering at the clubhouse, and we’re playing a version of the game we call Circle of Death. It’s probably our favorite drinking game, and we’ll find any excuse to play.
    â€œNever have I ever had a threesome,” I say, then glance around the table. Whoever drinks has had a threesome before, and I’m curious to see who. Yes, this game is personal and invasive, and you learn things about one another that you probably never wanted to know. When Tia and Lana drink, I stand up with my mouth wide open. “Lana! Oh my god!”
    She covers her face with her hands and tells us to shut up.
    â€œTracker is such a lucky man,” I say, laughing. I look at Bailey. “Not going to lie, kind of expected you to have had one with Rake. Thought he might have corrupted you by now.”
    â€œRake’s had enough of that to last him a lifetime, I think,” Bailey says in a dry tone, but I don’t miss the amusement dancing in her eyes. I raise my hand and give Tia a high five. “You’ll have to tell me the details later,” I tell her, then lower my voice. “I’m assuming it wasn’t with Talon?”
    She shakes her head, cringing a little. “Another story for another day.”
    I love Tia. I’m so glad Bailey brought her into our lives.
    It’s Anna’s turn next, and when she picks up a card and mutters, “Fuck,” I grin.
    â€œWhat is it?”
    She puts the card down, and it’s a king.
    Everyone starts laughing and cheering. All night we’ve been pouring from our drinks into one cup in the center of the table, and whoever pulled the last king would have to drink it. Anna eyes the cup filled with a mix of vodka, beer, and wine with distaste, but like a true champion, she picks it up and brings it to her nose. “It smells so bad,” she says, before starting to pound it. We all cheer until she’s done, putting the now-empty cup back on the table. She quickly chases it down with her own drink, making a face of disgust. “I’m going to throw up tonight, I just know it.”
    â€œMeh, we’ve all been there,” I say, grinning. I lift my glass in the air. “To not being kidnapped anymore!”
    We clink our glasses.
    Dex walks into the room with Asher in his arms, eyeing all of us and the mess of cans, bottles, and snacks on the table. He sighs and walks back out of the room. I don’t know why, but that just makes us laugh harder.

    After having our ladies’ night last night, we encourage the men to have a little fun while we have a movie night with the kids. Unlike us, who wasted our night on alcohol and food, the men all decide to go on a ride together, which I think sounds really nice. I’m making Asher a bottle in the kitchen when Ranger walks in.
    â€œHey,” I say to him, as he opens the