Page 56 of Bones

I go into the bathroom and try to pull myself together, but it doesn’t take long for all the women to follow me in there.

“Are you okay?” Atiana asks, looking like she’s about to cry. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think when I said that. I’m such an idiot.”

“It’s not your fault. I’m glad someone told me.”

“Please don’t be angry with me,” Isla says as she wrings her hands together. “He hadn’t met you then, and he was confused. I’m so sorry, Meredith. I didn’t know how you would feel about it, so everyone was kind of skirting around it.”

“I’m not upset at you,” I say, forcing a smile. “I just want to go home. You all continue to enjoy the night.”

I’m drunk, I’m hurt, and I just want my bed.

“I’ll talk to you all later,” I say, pushing the door open and heading toward the exit.

Ghost stops me before I can make it to the stairs. “Where are you going?” he asks in a deep rumble. I’ve never really spoken to him before this, and he’s a little scary. But Xanthe loves him, and he’s good to her, so he must have a heart in there somewhere.

I try to appeal to that part of him. “Can you please take me home? I don’t want to see anyone,” I plead, the first tear dripping down my cheek.

He watches it fall, then dips his head. “Bones is going to kill me.”

“Are you scared?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

“No,” he replies, lip twitching. “Let’s get out of here. He’s already on his way.”

He doesn’t speak on the drive home, and I, for one, am grateful. He gets out of the car and walks me to my door. For some reason, he stares upward, as if scoping out the building. I unlock my door and turn to face him. “Thanks, Ghost.”

“I was a different man before I met Xanthe,” he rasps, and I freeze, listening to his words. There’s a lesson in there somewhere, but right now I don’t want to fucking hear it. “Lock the door behind you, Doc.”

I nod and head inside, locking the door behind me.

Then I curl up in bed and cry.

BONES

When I get a text message from Lu, I look over at Haze, frowning.

“What?” he asks, putting his cue down and coming over to me. We’ve been playing pool and looking after the kids while the women are out drinking and partying.

What the fuck has happened to us?

We have almost shown up at the club multiple times now, but the old ladies deserve a night to enjoy themselves, and we know Ghost is there along with the prospects. They are safe. Nothing will happen to them.

“Lu sent me a message,” I say as I open it. He leans over my shoulder as we both read it.

Lu

Bones, get here now. Meredith knows you slept with Isla, and she’s upset.

“Fuck,” I grit out, standing up.

My twin quickly comes over to me. “What’s wrong?”

“Stay with Natalia, I have to go to Meredith,” I say, moving past him, but he grabs my arm.

“Tell me what happened.”

“She knows,” is all I say, and he mutters a curse.

“I told you to tell her.”