Rough Love

by Laura Morgan

  “Yep, that’ll be it,” Jemma answered, still grinning. I nudged her with my shoulder as we walked off campus and crossed the road, both of us laughing and joking like old friends.

  As we reached the Prince of Wales pub, I grabbed us a couple of drinks and thought nothing of ordering us a bottle of wine to share. I realised how times had changed, but it was just nice to sit with a new friend and have a laugh. Even Jemma seemed pleasantly surprised by our sudden friendship and I hoped it could continue.

  Two huge plates of sausage, egg, bacon, beans, toast and tomatoes later, we finished our wine and I checked my phone. It was getting late, so I figured I’d best not push my luck.

  “I’ll just text my boyfriend and let him know where I am in case he starts to worry. I hadn’t told him a time to come and collect me but he’s working anyway so there’s no rush,” I explained, typing a quick message to Tobin. Jemma nodded, watching my hands as I hit send and then stashed my phone back in my pocket.

  “What’s he like?” she asked, her eyes turning wistful. I wanted to play it cool and act like it was no big deal, but I couldn’t. I went all gooey inside and felt my cheeks burn just thinking about him.

  “He’s so amazing it hurts,” I replied with a smile and a dreamy sigh. It was nice being able to talk boys with someone. Especially someone who wasn’t my big brother or one of their girlfriends. “He’s eight years older than me, but it doesn’t seem like it when we’re together. We started seeing each other a few months ago but I’ve known him for years because he works for my dad,” I explained, adding a little detail to my story.

  “I’ve never had a boyfriend,” Jemma said, blushing.

  “How old are you?”

  “Eighteen.”

  “Well then, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Tobin’s my first boyfriend and I’m twenty,” I replied, making her smile again. “Books before boys, that was my motto!” Jemma nodded in agreement and then climbed up out of her seat, heading to the bar to grab us one last drink before we called it a night.

  When she came back, she stopped in her tracks, staring at the doorway. I swear if her chin could’ve dropped any more it would have, and I turned to follow her gaze. I had to see what had her gawping like she’d just spotted her favourite celebrity, and laughed when I saw Tobin standing in the doorway of the pub, shaking the rain out of his dirty blond hair. He looked like a god with that skin somehow still dark regardless of the cooler weather and his detailed ink peeking up over the collar of his cut. How I hadn’t noticed it all those years baffled me, but he was seriously hot. “Shit, Jemma. Don’t make me fall out with you for staring at my man,” I told her, watching as she flushed bright red and took her seat.

  I was only half kidding, but had to admit, Tobin sure was a sight to behold. Every woman in the place had noticed him, not just my new friend, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread over my face as I watched him scan the crowd. Tobin wasn’t looking at any of the men or women openly staring at him, he was looking for someone in particular. Me. God, it felt amazing to know he was mine and I was his. I knew I was about to become the envy of every woman in the place, but at the same time, I no longer cared about them. My Tobin-tunnel-vision had kicked in and I raised my hand to signal where I was.

  “Hey, babe,” he said as he reached me, delivering a kiss to my still smiling lips. “Who’s your friend?”

  “This is Jemma,” I answered, indicating to my suddenly mute companion with my hand. Tobin seemed to decide on a half wave rather than try to get her to say something or shake his hand. He clearly knew the affect he was having on her and I was pleased he’d decided against embarrassing her because of it.

  “I’m gonna grab a beer, you two want another?” I shook my head, thinking we’d had a few glasses of wine already and I didn’t much fancy going home swaying. I watched him leave and turned to Jemma with a grin.

  “Is that really your boyfriend?” she hissed, reaching her hand across the table to high-five me. “Where can I get one of those?” she added, giggling and fanning herself with her hand.

  I watched Tobin as he chatted to the barman, using his natural charm to ensure we didn’t have any trouble, just like he had in the town around Dahlia’s. I’d noticed his methods for some time now, and not only since I’d started seeing Tobin. My brothers and father always played nice too and it occurred to me how even in our home town, there was still a bad reputation with bikers. I’d seen the news reports about shootings and rival gangs laying waste to one another’s family and friends, not just the club members themselves. My dad didn’t seem to want the Black Knights to be like those clubs, so it appeared he demanded a certain amount of etiquette as well as their loyalty from a prospect and adherence to the rules and regulations of the club itself.

  As VP, Tobin was the epitome of that persona. The young face of the brand my father had created. He had the barman laughing and joking with him in an instant, and for the first time, I could imagine him as a soldier. He had a way about him that told you he was strong and you could bet your life on him. That he had your back in a fight, but also that he would keep you laughing through the bad times. He was a quick wit and had super-sharp bantering skills, even with relative strangers like the man serving him a beer as I watched.

  “He’s one of a kind, Jemma,” I eventually answered, snapping out of my reverie. “So, now you know a little more about me, I’ve something to ask you. Do you recognise his jacket?” I had to ask, having wondered when might be a good time to bring up my place within the club. Jemma nodded.

  “I’ve seen guys on bikes wearing them and also around town. Is he in some kind of motorbike club?”

  “Yes, and he’s the second in command of it,” I told her, watching as Jemma’s eyes widened a little. I figured, in for a penny, in for a pound, so told her the rest. “And my dad is the leader. The club President. You remember when I said I’d been kept away from outsiders my entire life? Wrapped in cotton wool?” Jemma nodded, and I figured she was thinking back to our earlier chat about why I’d done so many online courses and yet still hadn’t had a job.

  “They protect you don’t they, the club members that is?” she asked incredulously, and sighed when I nodded. “I wish someone protected me the way they do you. That someone cared as much about my wellbeing…”

  I saw red. It didn’t matter I’d only just met her, Jemma was the closest thing I had to a friend and the thought of her not being taken proper care of made my blood boil.

  “You’re welcome at my place any time, Jemma. You can come and work from there and kick my arse when I need it,” I told her in all seriousness, but decided to lighten the tone a little as well. “Where are your family?”

  “My parents each work forty hours a week and haven’t cared what I do with my days for years. Not since they didn’t have to worry about getting me a childminder. It’s like I’m their afterthought, not the centre of their world. I envy you,” Jemma replied, looking down at her hands.

  “My life is far from perfect, trust me,” I said, bringing her gaze back up. Jemma smiled across at me and shrugged.

  “Wow, we get deep and meaningful after a few drinks, don’t we?” she said, lightening the mood in an instant.

  “Yeah, you can tell we’re both recluses who have finally found a friend. We don’t quite know what to do with ourselves!” I was glad we were back to joking around, and by the time Tobin came back over, we’d finished our drinks and were ready to go.

  Jemma barely said a word to him, her lack of experience with the opposite sex showing, but she managed the odd word before saying goodbye.

  We’d agreed to meet back at the same pub a few days later for a study session and another couple of drinks, and I was looking forward to seeing her again. It was nice to finally have a friend.

  “Now then, if you’d have told me you’d made a new geek friend, I would’ve flipped my shit imagining some nerdy guy with glasses and a bow-tie. It’s a good thing I met her for myself, hey?” Tobin joked wit
h me as we headed out into the cool evening air and he directed me towards where he’d parked the car.

  “Careful, or I might think you’re jealous,” I teased, settling into the passenger seat with my laptop and bag on my lap.

  “Always, babe. I told you, when it comes to you I’m downright crazy. A man fucking obsessed and only falling deeper and deeper down that rabbit hole.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Over the next couple of weeks, Jemma swiftly became my best friend. We just clicked and things felt natural between us, so much so that we regularly met up at the college for study sessions, which invariably ended up with a trip to our new favourite pub afterwards. The time flew by and we kept each other dedicated to our work, inspiring one another and being that go-to we each needed. She and I talked every day via text or online, and thankfully Tobin seemed to understand my need for a true friend outside the club so encouraged me to keep it up. I actually think he liked me being suitably distracted as it meant he could go about his club business guilt-free, but he hadn’t said so, and I chose to simply leave things that way. We were solid, that much I did know, so didn’t feel the need to sit him down and go over the deep and meaningful.

  My work was getting better and better. My inspiration and passion for it increasing with each day. There were even times when I let myself forget about Dita and L. I was too busy to fret over a past I couldn’t change, so I didn’t. I simply focussed on my family and friends, letting only the good vibes in.

  Jemma was talented, but lonely, I could tell. I think she would’ve spent every day with me if I let her, but she settled for what I could give her and seemed to understand how it would have to be enough, at least for now. In spite of my initial promise that she was welcome at Dad’s house any time, I actually held off with inviting her over. I wanted to keep her separate from the club. Someone of my own.

  I was actually impressed Dad hadn’t asked me to bring her round so he could question and vet her, him having done so in the past so I wouldn’t have put it past him. I figured Tobin had already vouched for my new friend and as my new protector, maybe his word was enough to appease my father’s need to control every aspect of my life.

  One Friday afternoon a couple of weeks later, we headed straight for the Prince of Wales and ordered a bottle of wine. Jemma was stressing over something so we decided to forgo the pretence of an extra study session and go straight to the drinking.

  “My dad says he wants us to move to London!” she exclaimed as we took our seats and waited for John, the barman, to bring us over some food we’d ordered. We were fast becoming regulars there and I loved how they knew us by name and treated us like old friends whenever Jemma and I came in. Even the not so regular members of staff were getting to know us, which I decided to take as a compliment rather than a testament to whatever drinking problem I feared I might be developing.

  “Calm down,” I replied, putting my hands on hers across the table. “Why does he want to move? What does your mum say? And surely you don’t have to go with them if you don’t want to?” I began firing questions at her, needing the rest of the information before I could offer any advice.

  “He’s got a new job and she said she can put in for a transfer. I don’t want to go, though. But you’re right. I’m an adult now and could stay here if I wanted to. Maybe rent a flat or something?”

  “See, there’s the logic.” I knew Jemma had her own income from a part time job she did in IT, plus there was the potential for her design work to take off and then she’d be set. “Do what you feel is right, honey. The possibilities are endless,” I added brightly, but then told myself to calm the hell down. Who was I to talk? I was still coddled and hadn’t worked a day in my life, much less fully considered branching out on my own and taking responsibility for myself. I didn’t know how to pay bills or budget a monthly wage. I still used the same bank account I’d had since I was twelve years old and didn’t ever need to wonder how much I had in there. Dad or Nico had always kept it topped up for me, having called the fund my pocket money even though we all knew I did no chores or work to warrant it.

  The food arrived and we then chatted some more, and Jemma thankfully calmed down a little, opting for the good old ‘wait and see what happens’ approach. I considered offering her a place to stay, but didn’t want to make another empty promise so decided against it. She didn’t need to get her hopes up and I certainly didn’t want to have to follow through on something I hadn’t been authorised to offer, or worse, have to tell her no and undoubtedly ruin our friendship because of it.

  “Hey ladies,” John said, coming over with two glasses of wine for us. We hadn’t ordered them, so I was immediately on alert. I wasn’t about to accept a drink from a stranger because I knew if I did, I was expected to tell them thank you or worse, have to fend off their advances. John spotted my puzzled frown and grinned. “Relax, it’s just a freebie for my favourite customers.” Feeling assured, I accepted the drink and thanked him, and was surprised when he then took a seat at our table. “I’m taking five minutes to have a fag and then we’re setting up for a gig in here tonight. You’re more than welcome to stay, but ought to be warned, they’re a heavy rock tribute band.”

  “I grew up listening to rock music, Johnny Boy. Don’t worry about hurting my delicate ears,” I teased in reply, but was still glad he’d given us a heads up.

  After polishing off our burgers and chips, Jemma and I decided to go and sit outside while the bar staff and the band did their thing, settling in under one of the patio heaters they’d thankfully turned on for those wanting to sit in the beer garden. Despite spring having sprung, there was still a chill in the air so I had my thick wool jumper on and my leather jacket, and beneath the heater I was perfectly toasty. Jemma on the other hand hadn’t come prepared for the cooler weather. She was still shivering in her thin jacket and I was about to suggest we head home when John came over and offered her his coat.

  She thanked him profusely and I caught the glint in her eye that told me Jemma enjoyed our regular trips to the pub for more than just my company and the cheap booze. “Do you like him?” I asked when he’d gone, watching as she flushed red and shrugged.

  “Yeah I guess,” was her answer, so I shot her a stern look, one eyebrow raised. I figured it was the infamous Proctor stare, because she immediately caved. “We always chat when I’m at the bar but I always thought he’s just being friendly. Not flirting.”

  “He’s not like that with the other girls who come in here, nor have I ever seen him buy anyone a drink before,” I replied, leaving that point hanging. “And then there’s the jacket…”

  Jemma giggled and pulled his large padded coat around her tighter, enveloping herself in it.

  “We’ll see,” was all she said, and I dropped the subject. If she didn’t know what to say or do next, I wasn’t about to push her. I was no matchmaker and knew I lacked any knowledge in the romance department. Tobin had done all the chasing, my dad’s help notwithstanding, so I had no clue how to flirt or to make a move on a guy.

  With him on my mind, I pinged him a quick text to say we were staying to watch a band play and that he should join us if he could make it. I hoped he could. It’d be nice to have somewhat of a date after us having only spent time with my family the past few weeks. He and Dad had been so busy I doubted either of them minded me having been distracted by my new friend’s company, but I missed them—both of them. But Tobin more so.

  By the time the band started playing, the pub was packed. They evidently had a following and I couldn’t deny they were good. Only young, the four guys were playing all sorts, from the classic rock to modern hits, and I enjoyed singing along to the tracks I knew while me and Jemma danced on the outskirts of the crowded dance floor. She seemed to know a few of them too, despite her being more into pop music, and it was fun letting loose. A few guys tried dancing with us but soon got the hint when we moved away from them and remained focussed on just one another.

  When the set
was over, I followed Jemma to one side, where she gave John a wide smile and accepted a bottle of water from him. I took one too, and downed it as we propped ourselves against the wooden bar. Jemma was up close and personal with our barman, and I couldn’t hear them over the din, but saw them talking quietly, leaning closer to each other, and hoped he was making his move.

  The bar was rammed and it had grown stuffy, so I decided to get some air. I also figured I should check in with Tobin, so headed out the back door to where Jemma and I had been sat together earlier, catching the strong smell of cigarette smoke as I ducked out into the dark garden.

  A group of men were sat in a circle there, each of them chatting loudly and laughing with one another, but they weren’t sat under the security light so it was hard to make out how many were there. I paid them no attention and took a seat on the bench right beneath the security light, focussing on the phone in my hands, but soon noticed when everything suddenly went quiet.

  “Look at this bit of skirt, sitting there all alone. I think someone should keep her company…” one of the men barked, clearly directing his voice towards me, and I cringed. I should’ve realised not to go out there alone, but I guess I’d gotten complacent and had taken my regularity at the pub for granted. There was no one inside who would hear me shout for help and certainly no one out in the garden who would step in if the guys got rough with me, and so I hit the call button, ringing Tobin. There was no answer and I inwardly cursed him.

  “She thinks we don’t know who she is,” another added, which got my attention. I turned and looked at them, spying just another group of guys like any other. That was when one of them stood up and walked towards me, his leather cut coming into view. I spotted the patch with a red ghoul emblazoned on it first and didn’t need to read what was written above to know which club the man, and undoubtedly his friends, belonged to. “Did Daddy let you out for once, sweetheart? Let you be a big girl and finally come out into the wide world to play with the rest of us?”