by Erin Osborne
“Of course. How much longer do you want to stay here?”
“It doesn’t matter to me. This is your night.”
Sami nods her head and I know that she’s getting ready to let Becky know that she won’t be here much longer. We’ve almost made it to the end of the dance and I can see that she’s getting tired. When we were talking earlier, she told me she didn’t sleep much last night because she was excited about the dance tonight.
We’re not back over with Becky and her date ten minutes and I hear my girl telling her that we’re going to head out. She wants to get home so she can talk to her mom before she goes to bed for work in the morning. And we’re both pretty sure that Bailey, Pops, Irish, and Joker are going to be waiting around to make sure that I get her back home in one piece and that nothing happened that shouldn’t have. Everyone keeps drilling it in my head when I know already. This is what’s making my decision even harder.
“Sami, tonight was the best night I’ve ever had,” I tell her honestly.
“Me too. There’s only one thing that would make it even better.”
“What’s that?”
“I know we both keep getting told that nothing can happen. But, the only thing that would make tonight even better would be a kiss,” Sami says as we get near the driveway to her house. “Pull over Goose, please?”
I pull over and know that I’m about to make the biggest mistake of my life. I’m going to give Sami what she wants and keep that with me for the next two years. It’s the only thing that I’m going to be able to keep with me.
Sami leans over to me as soon as I have the truck pulled over on the side of the road. Love You Like That by Canaan Smith is playing on the radio. I put my hand on the back of her neck and pull her in faster than what she’s moving. I want to make this kiss count and something that she remembers. Pressing my lips to her soft ones, I taste the sweetness that is all Sami with a hint of the lip gloss she put on at the dance. She opens her mouth slightly and I use that to my advantage. Sweeping my tongue in her mouth, our tongues duel in the sweetest duel. I let Sami control the kiss as I fight to keep my hands to myself.
Before too much longer, Sami breaks the kiss and tries to catch her breath. She leans her head on me as she finishes sliding over to the middle seat. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and just sit for a minute. I don’t want this moment to end but I know that everyone’s waiting for us. So, I put the truck back in drive and make the rest of the short drive to her house. I hope when tomorrow morning gets here, Sami doesn’t hate me too much. And there’s no way I’m tarnishing tonight with what I have to tell her.
Chapter Eleven
Whitney
IT’S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH since the homecoming dance. Sami was so happy that day and I know that going with Goose made all the difference in the world to her. Too bad that he broke my baby girl’s heart. The day after the dance he told her that he wanted her to experience everything that she possibly could. That included dating and getting to know other boys. Yes, he did call them boys. My daughter is falling so hard for Goose and him saying that he wanted her to date other people devastated her. But, I’ve been trying to explain where he’s coming from.
Right after he talked to my daughter, Goose came and talked to me. I could see the heartbreak and pain etched all over his features. The way he explained it to me was that he didn’t want her to ever feel like she didn’t get to experience being with anyone other than him. He didn’t want her to feel that she was settling with him, or that she never got to experience being with anyone but him. The way that it happened with the man I’m supposed to call my husband. I can’t blame him for feeling the way that he does, and I applaud his ability to recognize what he has to do in order to make sure she’s truly happy with him later on.
On top of everything with Sami and Goose, I’ve got my own things going on. Work is still amazing, and Alice has been letting me do more and more at the diner. She’s enjoying the ability to come and go as she pleases when I’m working. Hell, she’s even talked to me about taking on a manager role so that I can help with paperwork, ordering, hiring and firing, and a few other things within the diner. I’m excited that Alice trusts me enough to do these things for her.
I’ve been saving money for Sami and I to get our own house. I plan on buying one and staying in Clifton Falls. We have too much here now to move on to any other location. Especially our family. Pops, Joker, and Bailey have become a part of our daily lives. If they’re not over here visiting, then they’re calling to check on us. Plus, Pops and Joker have been put in the normal rotation of guard duty. Joker is here whenever Cage isn’t. They don’t want Skylar and the kids left alone, so they take opposite shifts.
Irish has been here, but things have drastically changed since our one and only time together. He’s still the guy in my thoughts and dreams. I’d do anything to get us back to talking, laughing, and spending time together. But, I don’t know how to talk to him about things that happened and the way I reacted. Or what he said as he walked out of the door. Sami still watches Cassidy on the weekends and he has been inside for dinner once or twice, but nothing like before. Hell, Sami had to practically twist his arm to get him to come inside and eat with us. However, we do need to talk and soon.
“Mom, I’m home!” Sami calls out as I sit on my bed and cry.
I’m trying to wipe my tears away as Sami appears in my doorway. It doesn’t work and she’s immediately at my side. There’s no way that I can now stop the overflow of tears and she wants to know what’s making me cry the way I am.
“Mom, please tell me what’s wrong?” Sami pleads with me.
“I just found out I’m pregnant!” I cry out.
“What?” Sami exclaims.
“I spent one night with Irish and we didn’t use anything. Now I’m pregnant and we’re not even talking.”
“What are you going to do now? What are we going to do? I’m in this with you mom.”
“Honestly, the only thing I want to do right now is disappear for a few days and get my head straight.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. Get some stuff packed up and I’ll get some stuff packed up. We’ll say that we’re going to the store or something and then just take off. When we get there, you can let Pops and Bailey know where we are and what’s going on. You have to at least tell someone.”
“I know. I’m just not wanting it to get back to Irish before I get the chance to tell him.”
Sami leaves my room and I can hear her rummaging through her things so that she can pack a bag to leave. So, I get up and start gathering things to throw in a bag. I’m not sure how long we’re going to be gone, but I know it can’t be that long. As I’m packing a bag I quickly call Alice and explain the situation to her. She tells me to take the time that I need since I’ve been busting my ass to help her out. More tears come at the thought that Alice is so willing to help me out. Yes, she knows the whole story. I don’t keep anything from her.
Sami is back in my room in a flash and I know that she needs this little trip as much as I do. She wants to get away from Goose for a little bit and I need to figure out what to do about Irish. These two men have become an important part in our lives and now they are causing us both so much turmoil thinking they’re doing the right thing for us.
“I’m ready to go when you are mom,” Sami tells me.
“Almost done. I had to call Alice. We’re only going to be gone a few days Sami. I can’t keep you out of school and I need to get back to work. Now we really need to find a house when we get back here. We can’t stay in this house forever.”
“I know mom. We just need a little break in order to get our heads back in order.”
I pull Sami in for a hug and we figure out how we’re going to get our bags out to the car without raising any suspicion. I guess we can pass them off for really big purses if we have to. I’m not sure what else to say. Hopefully we can get away from whoever is outside. I know that Irish isn’t here, but I don’t know w
ho’s in his spot.
Walking outside I see that it’s Tank. Shit! He’s going to be a hard one to get by. Tank knows when things aren’t right, and he has a way of making you talk when you don’t want to. Today, I hope he realizes that I don’t want to talk, I just want to get in my car and hit the road. I don’t care if he starts to follow us or not. As long as we can get away from him and disappear, then I’m good to go.
“What’s goin’ on Whitney?” he asks, standing up as we leave the door.
“Nothing. We just want to go for a drive. It’s stifling in the house and we need to get out for a bit.”
“Okay. Well, I need to let someone know.”
“Can you meet us at the diner then? We just need to leave. Please Tank?” I plead with him, hoping he does this for me.
“I don’t know Whitney. I’m not supposed to let you leave unattended.”
“Look, it’s been a little bit of time and we haven’t heard anything from Carl. We’re just going to drive ten minutes to the diner and we’ll wait there for you. I need to talk to Alice about something real quick before we take off for the day.”
“I guess so. But, you better meet me there,” Tank tells me, looking at me with his stern look.
Sami and I head to the car, throwing our bags in the backseat. As soon as I back up, I almost peel out of the driveway before I realize that I need to act normal. We can’t seem like anything is wrong and that we’re truly just going for a drive. I mean, in all reality we are going for a drive. We just don’t know where we’re going to end up.
“So, where do you want to go?” Sami asks me.
“I don’t know. We could always go see Darcy,” I answer.
“You think she would care?”
“No. Call her and find out. That way I can let Bailey know. At any rate we can have some guys from there keep an eye on us while we’re gone. And we won’t be that far away.”
“Makes sense I guess.”
Sami calls Darcy and I can hear the excitement in her voice about us visiting. She promises that she’ll keep it quiet and not tell anyone that we’re going to be there in a few hours. Hell, Sami said she’s even going to close her salon early to visit with us.
Taking my phone back, I call Bailey. I better get this call over with now. At least that way someone knows about where we are and where our final destination is. I can at least give them this. So, dialing her number, I make sure the phone is on speaker so Sami and I can both hear her.
“Hello?” Bailey asks, answering her phone.
“Hey hun,” I respond.
“Where are you? Tank said you left and were supposed to be at the diner. He’s there flipping the fuck out because you’re not there and Alice said she talked to you on the phone but hasn’t seen you.”
“We’re on our way to see Darcy for a few days. Sami and I just need to get away. Please understand?”
“I get it, but the guys are flipping the fuck out. Tank sent out a mass text and all the guys are getting ready to head out and look for you. The only one that doesn’t know is Irish.”
“Bailey, you have to stop them. Tell Pops and Grim what’s going on but no one else. Please, I’m begging you,” I plead with her.
“You need to tell me what’s going on then.”
“Sami is hurt over the fact that Goose wants her to get to know guys from school. She understands where he’s coming from, but she’s truly hurt right now. She’s taking it as he’s decided that he doesn’t want to be with her when it’s allowed.”
“Oh Sami, you know that’s not the case sweetheart! He’s so crazy for you, he just wants to make sure that you don’t regret being with him.”
“I know Bailey,” Sami responds. “I just don’t want to be with anyone else. How is anyone supposed to measure up to him?”
“They won’t. So, you find someone that you at least get along with and go on a few dates. See what happens. Now, Whitney, what’s going on with you?”
“Well, I got some news today and I need to get away until I can figure out what to do about it.”
“What news?”
“Bailey, I found out I’m pregnant. Irish and I aren’t even on speaking terms right now. I’m not keeping this from him, I just need to wrap my head around it. Please, make sure you, Grim, and Pops are the only ones that know. I want to make sure that I’m the one that tells Irish.”
“Oh my! You mean that night that Sami stayed at my brother’s house?”
“The one and only time.”
“Okay. I’ll give you this, but you’re both going to owe me. Big.”
“Fine. Now, we’re going to get there, and I’ll text you to let you know we’re fine. I know to keep an eye on my surroundings and not let anyone get too close to me.”
We hang up and I hope that the guys don’t try to chase us down. I mean, it’s not like we’re that far out of town yet. They could easily catch up to us if they wanted to, but I hope Grim and Pops can talk them into staying back and giving my daughter and I this space.
After stopping a few times, we’re finally pulling up to Darcy’s house. The closer we got to Dander Falls, we ended up having a few guys from that chapter follow us. I’m going to guess that it’s Crash and Trojan since we’re going to Darcy’s house, but I can’t be sure right now.
Darcy meets us in the driveway and directs me to park the car in the garage. She knows what’s going on and wants to make sure that no one can tell that we’re here. I’m grateful for the help that she’s giving us right now. Especially with getting us out of Clifton Falls.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” she exclaims.
“Me too! I can’t thank you enough for letting us crash with you.”
“Anytime girls. You know I’m gonna ask what the rush was though.”
“It’s a long story on both our parts. Goose just told Sami a few weeks ago that he thought she should see guys from school. He doesn’t want her to regret being with him and only him. For my part, I just found out today that I’m pregnant with Irish’s baby.”
Darcy stands there with her mouth hanging open for a few minutes until Crash and Trojan make an appearance in the garage doorway. They look at me and I can see how unhappy they are with the fact I took off. Then they look at Darcy and I can see not so pure thoughts running through their heads. We’re in for a treat over the next few days.
“Firecracker, how about you shut the mouth?” Crash asks, finally finding his voice again.
“Why don’t you kiss my ass caveman?”
“Bare it and I’ll kiss it, and any other part of your body you want me to.”
“Same goes for me,” Trojan voices his opinion on the topic.
“Not a chance for either one of you. Get over it and move on already.”
The men look at one another before stepping closer to Darcy. From what the girls say back home, they’ve been getting more hands on with her. She truly wants to be with them, I can tell just from looking at the three of them, but something is holding her back. Maybe I can get her to open up about that too. At least while we’re here. I’m fully expecting Irish to ride in at any moment and find out what the hell is going on.
Irish
Things have been so strained between Whitney and I that I don’t know how to get back to where we were. Especially seeing that she’s not been feeling very good the last week or so. She may not think that I’ve noticed, but I have. These days, as soon as she gets home from work, she takes a short nap. In the morning, she looks like hell and I know that she doesn’t feel good. It’s just not my place right now to ask her about it.
Goose and I haven’t been spending as much time with them as we were, but it’s on us and not them. Sami is trying to keep things like they were, but when we do go inside, it’s so awkward that the two of us don’t hang around like we used to. And I’ve had my own things going on. Vicky has decided to make an appearance and we’ve been dealing with her. In fact, I have to go meet her in a few minutes to find out what she wants. Too bad I
didn’t know what Whitney had planned or I’d be there stopping her.
“Irish, you goin’ to meet that bitch?” Cage asks me.
“Yep. She’s not gettin’ my daughter. I can guarantee that,” I rage out.
“Need you to come back here when you’re done. Got somethin’ to talk to you about.”
“Okay. What’s up?”
“Not now. You need to be here when you find out. Do your thing and get back here. Bailey’s got Cassidy and we’ll all be waitin’ on you.”
Cage turns and walks away from me. He’s not going to give me anything to go on so I’m going to have this worry in the back of my mind until I can get back to the clubhouse. Not a good way to go meet this bitch and find out what her game is. When she gave Cassidy to us, she was told to never show her nasty ass face here again. Now she’s decided that she can show back up and try to make demands on me. That’s not going to happen.
Climbing on my bike, I know that I have to try to calm the thoughts swirling through my mind. There’s only one person that would be able to calm those thoughts just from one look at her, Whitney. I just don’t have enough time to get to her house and then make the meet with Vicky on time. So, maybe I’ll swing by there after I’m done at the clubhouse. It’s time to put this shit between us to an end and get back to where we were.
After about fifteen minutes, I pull up to this house that looks like it should be condemned. Looks about the kind of place Vicky belongs in. I never trusted her when she was parading around the clubhouse like she owned the place. And I really don’t trust her now that she’s trying to come back and take my daughter from me. Even without knowing what she wants, I know this is about Cassidy.
Storming up to the front door, I don’t even bother knocking. I push it open and see Vicky standing in the middle of what’s supposed to be a hallway. Shock is written all over her face as I burst through the door and stand tall before her. Yeah, I’m not making this easy on her by any means.
“You have five minutes to tell me what the fuck you want,” I tell her. “And if this has anythin’ to do with my daughter, you better pack up and leave right now!”