by Bella Jewel
Laughter escapes, and I quickly respond.
M – I can deal with that. P.S I’m quite talented, also. One time, I tried to build a fire by rubbing sticks together. It’s my life goal to make that happen.
R – Lol! Well, next time you try that, I’ll do the world a favour and bring you a lighter.
M – Gasp! Already you don’t trust my skills. You’re not doing well as a Bestie.
R – I don’t want you to embarrass yourself in front of your new Bestie.
I snort and giggle.
M – I’m not ashamed of who I am :-P
I put my phone down and unpack my groceries, feeling light. I laugh randomly as I put them away, wondering why this man popped up, today of all days, during a time where I honestly wondered how I could go on. Is the universe trying to tell me something?
“Mol!”
I turn and see Matilda, my gorgeous, rowdy, somewhat frustrating sister bouncing in. She’s younger than me, but not by much. She takes after our mother, Santana, with her dark hair and eyes. I’m all my dad, with lighter eyes and brown hair. Though, recently, I decided to turn it blonde, I’m still not sure if I love it, but everyone says it suits me.
Mostly, it was to be different.
Anything to try and move on.
“Hey, sis,” I say, shutting the fridge door. “How are you?”
She skips in, stopping at my counter. “I’m good. How are you? Are you feeling better?”
I shrug. “I still haven’t heard from him.”
She shakes her head in disgust. “What a dick. He is such a pig.”
My chest clenches, because she’s right and yet, I know, if he popped up tomorrow I’d still probably forgive him. Love is an asshole like that. Sometimes people can do horrible things to you, and you would still be willing to overlook it if you could just have them in your life once more.
Michael and I started out as friends. We had a good friendship, funny, casual, easy going. Then one night, something just shifted between us, and for months we ignored it. One night, we stopped ignoring it and took it that step further. It was wonderful, at least, I thought it was. Until...well, it wasn’t.
I force a shaky laugh. “Yeah. Funniest thing happened today, though. I think I made a new best friend.”
She puts her chin in her hands and leans forward. “Do share.”
Is this going to sound weird? Probably, but it is a cool enough story to share. “It’s a guy I’ve met a couple of times. I ran into him today, and it turns out he doesn’t live that far away from me. We exchanged numbers, and we were chatting away when we decided to become best friends. It was hilarious, if you look at it the right way.”
She giggles. “That’s creepy, but totally funny. Is he good looking?”
I roll my eyes. “My god. Only you.”
“Well, is he?”
I nod. “Yeah, he is actually. Total spunk.”
She grins and wiggles her brows. I shoot her a look.
“Well,” she says, smothering a grin. “I’m glad you made a new friend. You need it. There is only so much of the club members you can handle.”
There are a good deal of kids I grew up with in the club, and we’re all incredibly close now, but sometimes I feel like we’re too close. There is a lot I won’t tell them. Having someone else might be a good thing. It might be exactly what I need. Sometimes having someone who knows nothing about you, starting on a clean slate, is the best way to go.
“Yeah, I agree. What’re you up to anyway?”
“I was just passing by on my way to the club to see Dad. You want to come?”
I shake my head. “I have an entire tub of Ben and Jerry’s to devour. But I’ll come down tomorrow.”
She nods. “Okay. Say hi to your new Bestie from me!”
I laugh, shaking my head. Still shocked.
“Later.”
When she’s gone, I pick up my phone and glance down. Still no messages from Michael, but there is more from Roman. I open them quickly, reading them.
R – What are you up to, Bestie?
M – I’m eating my weight in ice cream. What about you?
R – My neighbour is playing some really cool music, so I’m getting a free show while I drink my beer.
M – Nice! As long as Taylor Swift isn’t playing, we’re good.
R – Nothing wrong with Taylor. I mean, she did write Wildest Dreams after me.
I giggle.
M – Omg. The fact that you know the name of that song makes me question you.
R – Ha ha! Taylor has a song for everyone.
M – You’re right about that. If you’ve had a breakup, Taylor has a song for you. If you’re falling in love, that’s right, Taylor has one. If you have haters, don’t worry, Taylor has you covered.
R – Haha, you crazy woman!
M – I warned you, I’m totally crazy. You should be careful.
R – I like a challenge! Besides, you seem like a nice girl.
M – Believe me, I’m totally not.
R – Hahaha!
I flop down onto my couch and put my leg up on the back, typing out a response.
M – There’s no girlfriend that is going to hunt me down for talking to you, is there?
I hit send and then wonder if that’s too forward. Will he think I’m hitting on him? Because I’m not. I just know how fragile some girls can get about these things. I know myself if I had a boyfriend going around asking random females to be best friends I’d be questioning him. I chew my nails as I wait for his response.
R – Na. We broke up a few months ago.
My heart sinks for him. That would explain the sad look on his face earlier. That would explain why I can see the same pain in his eyes that I see in my own. It makes me wonder even more if we were meant to meet each other, that seems like too big a coincidence that we’re both suffering over the same thing.
M – I’m really sorry. I guess we’re meant to be friends then. Want to know why?
R – Why?
M – I have a broken heart, too.
R – Shit. That sucks.
M – I think the universe just might want us to be friends.
R – Yeah. I think so. Either that or you’re crazy. I haven’t decided yet!
My heart feels lighter already.
I wonder if the universe did indeed hand me him when it knew I couldn’t go on.
The timing is just too perfect.
CHAPTER 2
“Baby girl.”
I look up from the padlock on the Jokers’ Wrath compound and smile to see my dad walking towards me. He’s big, he’s scary, and he’s deadly. But to me, he’s just a giant teddy bear. Though, I’d never tell him that. He’d probably cut me. He’s been President of the club my entire life, and he’s damned good at it. It was always nice, growing up and knowing he had your back.
One thing was for sure, none of us ever got bullied at school.
“Hi, Daddy.” I smile, taking a step forward and falling into his arms.
I turn instinctively and breathe him in, taking in his scent and letting it wash over me. Leather, mostly. And my dad. Always my dad. His smell is my comfort. I hug him tighter before pulling back and looking up at him.
“How are you?” he asks, studying my face.
Can he see the pain in my eyes? He didn’t meet Michael, but he knows about him. They’ve all met him before, when we were friends. We kept it quiet for a while when we first started sleeping together, but after he disappeared on me, it didn’t take long for news to travel that we’d been together for a while.
“I’m okay.”
That’s a lie.
Last night was a horrible night. I sat up with a heavy, sinking feeling in my chest and tried to call Michael over and over. I’m ashamed that I got to that point, but my desperation and heartache is finally blending and getting a little confusing for me. I just want answers. I don’t understand how someone can just switch off like that.
“You know I don’t li
ke it when you lie to me,” Dad says, taking my chin in his hand and tilting my head back. “Need me to go kill that little fuck?”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “Thanks, but no thanks. I can handle this one.”
He grunts.
I hug him again. “Seriously, I’m okay.”
“Don’t like seeing my girl upset over some whiny, pathetic, fuckin’ ...”
“Dad.” I giggle, shaking my head. “Seriously. I’m okay.”
He stares at me, then nods and steps back. “Go inside, your momma has been missin’ you.”
“Okay,” I say softly, disappearing into the shed situated on the compound.
“My baby!” my mom cries the second I step through the door.
My mother is a spitting image of Pocahontas, seriously. The resemblance is uncanny. All that dark hair, those almond shaped brown eyes, that skin that’s so soft and olive. If they ever made the cartoon into a movie, my mom would totally fit the part. She’s gorgeous. Age does nothing but make her even more stunning.
“Mom.” I smile when she hits me and throws her arms around me, causing me to take a step back.
“I haven’t seen you for a week! Where have you been? Matilda told me you were okay, but your sister would tell me you were alive if you were dead. Hell, she’d bury your body and stuff your bed with fake pillows and have me believe you were sleeping.”
I chuckle.
Matilda would. She has my back, always. Plus, she’s slightly crazy, which is why I adore her.
“I’ve just been busy, it’s fine. How are you?”
She steps back and studies me the same way Dad did. I think she learned that from him. Her brown eyes narrow, and she says, “You’ve been upset.”
“How can you possibly tell that?”
“Because I can see it in your eyes, your momma knows. It’s my job.”
“I’m fine, honestly.”
She huffs. “You know I’m here if you need to talk.”
I force a smile, because it’s getting harder and harder to keep a genuine one. “Of course. Is Jack around?”
“He’s in the living room, driving everyone crazy.”
I snort and move into the living room, looking for Jack. He’s the son of another member and his wife, Mack and Jaylah. He’s crazy, funny, and I enjoy hanging out with him. He’s guaranteed to always make me laugh. He has one of those personalities. I notice him as soon as I step into the living room. He’s standing against the bar, elbow on it, laughing hysterically about something with his older brother, Diesel.
“Hey, guys.”
Both of them stop and turn towards me. Diesel, who is Native American in looks, just like their dad Mack, studies me. Then his brown eyes soften. “Hey, Mol,” he says, walking over and jerking me into his arms. “Long time no see. You good?”
My God. These bloody bikers are so intuitive.
“I’m fine, D. How are you? How’s Mercedes?”
Diesel’s girlfriend is the daughter of a club member too, only she’s not in this club. It was a messy situation for a while, but the two clubs sorted it out and are now at peace with their relationship.
“She’s good,” he says, letting me go. “How’re you?”
“I just told you.” I grin and he narrows his eyes at me.
Diesel is like his father. He’s broody, slightly arrogant, but his heart is bigger than any man I’ve met. He loves hard. He gives heaps. He’s an incredible person. He also notices everything.
“And you lied.”
I ignore that and turn to Jack. “Hey, bro.”
He grins at me. “Yo, sista, how’s it going?”
“Good. What’s happening?”
“I’ll check you two later,” Diesel says, leaving the room.
“Later!” we both call.
Jack slides his backside onto the bar, and I leap up, sitting beside him. “Not much. I still haven’t heard from Michael since he broke up with me.”
Jack is the only member of the club who knew Michael better than a few casual interactions. He hated him, of course. Warned me he was sketchy. I should have listened to him. Might have saved myself a world of heartbreak.
“What a prick. Why didn’t you call me?”
I shrug, crossing my legs. “I wasn’t dealing with it that well, to be honest.”
“I’m sorry. That really sucks, Mols.”
I force another smile. “Anyway, enough about me. Entertain me with one of your stories. Make me laugh. I need a distraction.”
He grins. He’s the opposite of his brother, with lighter eyes, lighter hair and a leaner build, more like his mom, Jaylah. He’s incredibly good looking, though, and he has no problems with the ladies. None. At. All.
“I met this girl last night.”
I roll my eyes.
He thumps my arm.
“What?” I laugh, putting my hands up. “You met a girl every night this week.”
He grunts. “This one is different.”
I raise my brows and cross my arms. “Uh huh. You said that about the last one.”
He thumps me again.
I giggle.
He grins.
“Seriously,” he continues. “She didn’t take any of my shit.”
I feign a gasp. “No way. She didn’t take your shit? What’s wrong with her?”
He flips me the bird. “I know. There must be something wrong with her though, right?”
I nod enthusiastically. “Yeah, she probably has balls.”
We both burst out laughing.
“Probably. No other girls would ever give it to me the way she did when I tried to hit on her.”
Good for her. I love girls like that. The ones that take no shit from people. Jack needs that kind of girl, because he never has to work for what he wants. It would do him good to have to put in a little bit of effort. Nothing like a good challenge to get the heart racing.
“And you’re curious now, aren’t you?” I say, raising my brows.
He nods. “Fuckin’ curious. She rejected me. I don’t get rejected.”
“It’s always the ones that play hard to get.” I wink. “You’re in for a win. Keep chasing.”
“I don’t chase,” he mutters.
I slide off the bar and grin up at him. “’Bout time you learned.”
He grins.
God.
What would I do without them?
~*~*~*~
I’m walking back to my car when my phone beeps with a message. I dig it out of my purse and glance down at the screen, wondering if it’s finally Michael messaging me. My heart sinks a little when I see it isn’t, but instantly lightens when I read the message on the screen from Roman.
R – What’s doing, my child?
I laugh at his words and respond.
M – Not much. Just brushing up on all my stalking skills. What about you?
R – Haha! Just gathered all my ex’s stuff and posted it back to her.
My heart breaks for him, and I wonder what happened between the two of them. I wonder if she ended it, or he ended it? By the pained look in his eyes, I’m guessing it was her, because usually the person struggling that much is the one who has been left behind. I should know.
M – Oh I’m sorry. That would have sucked.
R – Yeah. Cost me fifty bucks to send it back, too. I threw a heap of it away, it was therapeutic. I think.
M – Yuck! That’s the worst but I agree, therapeutic for sure!
R – Yep. How are you?
M – I’m okay. Getting there.
R – Tell Bestie all about it.
I giggle and climb into my car. How is is possible that someone can be a stranger one day and your best friend the very next? He could be a serial killer, for all I know. This could be his game. I snort to myself. No. There is something about him, something so incredibly real and true. I trust my gut instincts with everyone I meet, and my gut tells me that Roman is a good person.
M – I’ll give you a call when I get home?
I snort and shake my head, starting my car and heading down the road to my house. Once I’ve gotten inside, I get myself a beer and go and sit on my little patio. I stare down at my phone and my fingers tremble. Can I do this? Can I ring a stranger, someone who I don’t even know, and talk to him about my life?
My phone rings before I can press the call button, and it’s a private number. I instantly reject it and go back to contemplating my phone call to Roman when a message comes through.
R – I just tried to ring you.
Oh! Oh, no. I rejected him.
M – Ha ha. I didn’t know that was you. I figured it could have been a serial killer, didn’t want to take the risk.
R – Ha! Call me.
My fingers shake again as I pick up the phone and dial his number before I can think too much about it. He answers on the second ring.
“Hey, Bestie.”
A smile breaks out, and I can feel my grin, big and wide. I probably look stupid, but I can’t help it. It’s an automatic reaction when I talk to him. He has that kind of personality. It’s addictive.
“Hey yourself,” I say nervously. “How are you?”
“Good. You?”
“Yeah, good. This is weird, right?”
He laughs, and it’s a sexy sound. Smooth. Deep. Masculine. I flop down onto my couch and try to relax. Don’t be a weirdo, Molly. Just chill!
“What? You stalking me until I became your best friend?”
I can just picture him sitting there grinning over that statement.
I laugh. “Oh, my god. I did not stalk you.”
“I saw you outside my window earlier. Let’s not get too excited about this friendship. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s nice but I don’t need a crazy person chasing me down the street when I’m doing my shopping. You feel me?”
My laughter gets louder and I shake my head. “You’re crazy.”
He chuckles, sexy and low. “Yeah. I tried to warn you. It’s too late, you’re stuck with me now.”
“God help me,” I mumble.
He snorts. “So, tell me about this man that broke your heart.”
“Ugh,” I say, huffing. “Total dickface.”
He bursts into deep laughter. “Dickface. That’s fucking hilarious.”