After our food, he gets up to use the bathroom and is back before I know it.
“Should I get the bill?” I ask.
“What, no dessert?” He sticks out his bottom lip and I laugh as he calls over the waitress and orders us a sharing plate, consisting of a variety of different mini desserts.
I flush a deep shade of red as she brings it out with candles stuck in each mini cake, and everyone in the diner joins in singing ‘happy birthday’ to me. I cover my face from embarrassment and Hunter belly laughs, knowing that I’d hate every second of this.
She places it in front of me. “Make a wish, sweetie.”
I roll my eyes but blow out the candles anyway, and everyone cheers. I consider taking a bow but refrain from doing so.
“I’m gonna get you back for that,” I warn him.
He’s still crying with laughter at my flushed face, so I pick up a scoop of ice cream and toss it at him. It’s my turn to laugh at the shock on his face as it slides down off his chin and lands in his lap.
“You did not just do that,” he says, wiping at his face with a napkin.
I bite into a brownie, the chocolatey goodness invading my tastebuds, and smirk at him. “Nope, you’re right. I didn’t.”
He picks up his spoon and piles it with cheesecake and ice cream and covers it in chocolate sauce. I watch him raise it to his mouth but with quick precision, turns it and flicks his wrist, hitting me bang in the middle of my face with the concoction.
I startle and stare at him, mouth wide open. He actually went there.
I pick up the bottle of syrup and squirt it all over his Guns ‘n’ Roses t-shirt, getting a little on his cut. He pretends to be angry before picking up the chocolate sauce and soon we’re having our own food fight in the booth.
“Hey!” The waitress shouts and runs over. “Stop that! I have to clean that up!”
We both turn looking guilty, fists raised with cake in them. Hunter is the first to speak, turning on the charm. “I’m sorry, I got a little carried away. I’ll be sure to leave your gorgeous self a big tip.”
He finishes with a wink and you can see her melt at his attention. I stifle back a laugh as she flutters her eyelashes at him.
“Well, alright. Just don’t throw anymore.”
“Just don’t throw anymore,” I mimic her in a whiney voice as she walks away.
He licks his fingers and reaches in his pocket, covering a pile of bills with sticky, chocolate sauce before placing them on the table.
“Let’s get out of here.”
He grabs my hand and we laugh while practically running out of the diner.
Hunter was three years older than me, but it never got in the way of our friendship. Whenever I needed him, he was there when he could be, no matter what he was doing. That’s why it killed me inside when he believed the horrible rumor and shoved me to the side as easily as he did. Our friendship was an easy one, and it blossomed into more than that as the years went on.
When I was eighteen, him twenty-one, I broke his heart, but he never once held it against me.
I hate this stuffy clubhouse, I can’t wait to go home. They’ve thrown me a party here to celebrate my eighteenth birthday today, I don’t know why my dad bothered, he never has before. Your eighteenth, in Club terms, is a big deal though.
For boys, they decide whether they want to patch in or not and for the girls, well, we get to choose to live on our own without the club or be a club Broad or an Old Lady.
‘Such an enticing list of options’ I think sarcastically to myself.
Hunter hasn’t stopped eyeing me up all day and it’s giving me butterflies everytime I catch him looking. He hasn’t gave me my present yet, but he said he’s waiting for the right moment. I take a deep breath and look around at everyone enjoying themselves in the common area.
Only on special occasions are kids allowed at the clubhouse, so there’s several running around with the older ones in charge of keeping a handle on them. I’m not even listening as Libby and Daisy chat about nothing I’m interested in, they’re such airheads. I excuse myself and decide to take a walk outside for some fresh air.
The lingering smell of smoke and engine oil permeates the air and I take in a lungful. I may not like the club, but I’ve always loved bikes. They represent freedom to me, something I feel like I’ve never had... until today.
I turn at the sound of the door opening and smile at Hunters chiseled face as he walks toward me.
“What you doin’ out here all alone?” He drawls.
“Just catching my breath, it’s pretty crowded in there.”
He nods his agreement and walks on over to a picnic bench, sitting on the table, feet on the actual seat part.
“Tables are for glasses, not asses,” I state.
He throws his head back and laughs. His beautiful warm brown eyes twinkle with humor and I admire how masculine and rugged he is. His strong nose and jawline, his windswept brown hair and even his slightly longer stubble now he’s decided to grow it out. It all screams familiar to me, safety, freedom, him.
He motions for me to move over to him and when I’m standing between his legs, he rakes his eyes over my body, purposely making sure I see him do it, before looking me dead in the eyes.
“There’s nothing more I’ve wanted to do all day than take you in my arms and kiss the shit out of you.”
I giggle and hit at his chest. “Yeah, okay, caveman.”
I brush it off as a joke, but inside my heart is beating a thousand times a minute.
He pushes my hair behind my ear and his fingers brush over my cheek, the movement slow and tantalizing. “And not just today, everyday that we’ve ever known each other.”
“So why haven’t you?” I ask, realizing he’s being serious.
“You’re a biker princess,” he winks. “Nobody’s allowed to touch you until you’re eighteen. Well, happy birthday, princess.”
He lips crush mine with primal need and it takes my lips a minute to catch up to my brain before I’m kissing him back with the same ferocity. It’s not gentle, it’s full of need, want, and passion.
One hand grips the back of my neck and the other travels down my body, running the length of my curves. His tongue seeks entry and I meet it with a swipe of my own, eliciting a low groan in the back of his throat as it caresses his tongue piercing. He pulls away slightly and we catch our breath.
“You’re mine, Steely. You always have been.” I tense at his words. “My Old Lady. I want everybody to know you’re mine.”
That’s when I notice the black box sitting next to him on the table. He picks it up and opens it, taking out a new leather cut with ‘property of Bear’ on the back.
I take a step back away from him. “Hunter, I…” The words I want to say get caught in my throat.
But I don’t have to say anymore, he can read everything I want to say from the expression on my face. He throws the cut back into the box and jumps off the bench, moving toward me.
“What? I thought you’d be happy, I thought you felt the same way.”
I sigh and look up into his confused eyes. “I was never going to choose the club tonight.”
His eyes widen. “What we have is more than just the club, you know that.”
His hands thread through his hair and I place a hand on his chest. “This is my choice, Hunter. You know how I feel about the club.”
“And I know how you feel about me. Was I stupid to think that’d be enough? You know I have to make you my Old Lady to be with you.” He searches my eyes. “Don’t do this, Steely. I’ve waited years to make you mine.”
I can see his temper starting to flare up. “If you know how I feel about you then you wouldn’t be putting this on me. I made my decision about the club a long time ago.”
He turns and throws his fists down on the bench. “Fuck! I wasn’t expecting you to turn me down.”
I run my hands across his back. “I’m not turning you down, Hunter. I’m turning the club
down. There’s a difference.”
He walks to the clubhouse door and leans his hands against it. “There’s no difference,” he turns and faces me. “The club and me go hand in hand. You ditch the club, you’re saying no to me.”
His face falls, he looks like I’ve just chewed him up and spat him out. Fuck it! I don’t care about the rules tonight. I stomp up to him with confidence and jump into his arms, he catches me under my ass and I wrap my legs around him, planting my lips against his. His hand caresses my back and his stubble rubs against my chin as teeth clash in a forbidden kiss. I feel the rough brick of the building pressing up against my back and move my hips against the bulge in his jeans.
He hisses through his teeth. “Steely, don’t start something you can’t finish.”
I do it again and a long groan leaves his throat before he whispers to himself, “Never gonna forgive myself for this.” He slides me down his body, muscles tensing, and leans his forehead against mine. “Not like this, not when you’re not mine.”
I start to say something but he cuts me off with his lips, only this is a soft kiss and as his lips linger on mine, I realize it’s a goodbye kiss.
Once I tell my dad my decision, we can’t be together. I won’t come around this club or stand by and watch as he chooses the club over me time after time like all the other Old Lady’s.
He pulls away and I keep my eyes closed, savoring our last kiss.
“I don’t like it and I think you’re going to regret your decision, but I’ll respect it. I care about you too much to let you go completely though, so get used to keeping me around as a friend.” His jaw twitches after he says friend and I know he’s upset and just trying to hold his anger back.
He places a lingering kiss on my temple and walks back inside without another word. Somehow I know things will never the same again.
My lips tingle as I remember the way he kissed me, it’s almost like I can still feel his rough lips pressed against mine. I need to get it together!
“Kee? Can I come in?” Sam asks.
I inwardly sigh but nod at her. “Sure.”
She sits next to me and looks in my eyes. “Are you okay?”
I roll my eyes. “That’s a pretty fucking loaded question right now, Sam. I mean, I’m not cowering in a corner, so that’s a win, right? I killed him, I have no guilt on my conscience for doing it either, I’d do it over and over again if I had to. I’m hurting, I’ve been pretty traumatized and my hair probably looks like tumbleweed.” Sam laughs and nods. “But I’m alive.” Tears spring to my eyes.
“I hope they’re happy tears.”
I guess they are. Partly. I hide my face away from her to have a private mourn for Hunter.
“I know you’re not big on feeling sharing, but you know I’m here if you need to talk to someone who isn’t questioning you.”
I try to fake a smile but I can’t, my heart is breaking. Sam lies on the bed next to me and pulls me into her arms, stroking my damaged hair. “Everything’s going to be okay, I’m going to help you heal.”
I shake my head. “He’s gone and it’s all because of me. It fucking hurts. It hurts more than anything that has ever happened to me.”
I fist her t-shirt and her hand stills. “I wish I knew who you were talking about because you sure as hell can’t be talking about the guy who took you and tortured you.” I flinch. “Oh god! I’m sorry, Kee. I didn’t mean to sound so callous. I’m just so angry!”
I decide to tell her about Hunter coming to find me and about him trying to get me help.
“So the two guys that were there, they were helping you?”
I nod and look at her. “How do you know there were another two guys there?”
Her eyes widen then she sighs. “I heard the cops overtalking. At the time I hoped the both of them rotted in jail, but if they were there to help you, you need to give your statement to the cops if you can. You can’t leave them locked up like that.”
I shake my head, tears flying. “There is no them, just Jacques.”
She stands and brushes her hair back with her fingers to tie it into a messy bun. “Well yeah, but the other will be taken there as soon as he’s healthy enough, so if-”
“Healthy enough?” What the hell is she talking about? “Sam you need to start talking real fast.”
My heart flutters in my chest. She looks really confused but holds up a finger. “Give me ten minutes, I’ll be back.”
She just leaves me hanging!
I sit here, picking at my broken finger nails. They’re the only thing I can concentrate on right now, it takes my mind off the pain radiating through my body. My neck and my knee are the worst.
The door opens and a doctor walks in before Sam. “Finally caught you awake, mind if I check you over?”
I watch him move closer to me and a constricting feeling wraps its way around my chest, but I try to control my breathing. Calm down, Kee, he’s a doctor. “Sure.”
He shines a little torch in each eye and looks over the few of the worser gash’s. “Healing up perfectly fine. How are you feeling though?”
I shrug. “Head hurts like hell and I’d kill for some food.” Both his and Sam’s eyes widen and I roll mine at them. “Too soon? If I don’t be myself then I’ll lose myself.”
He looks at Sam and nods at her. “Just make sure none of those tubes fall out or get tangled when you take the drips with you.”
Take the drips? “Where are we going?”
“I want to show you something,” she says, wheeling a chair in for me and Connor follows after her.
He chuckles. “Don’t worry, I’m not tagging along. Apparently I’m just the ‘muscles’.”
She slaps him on his tattooed forearm and he pulls her closer to plant a kiss on her forehead before walking toward me. Seeing them together being normal makes my icy heart happy.
“So how d’ya wanna do this?” He asks, rubbing his hands together, seeming a little anxious.
“Well these little hospital gowns don’t leave so much to the imagination so I’d like to try get down myself.” He nods his head and waits. “Well turn around then.”
Both me and Sam laugh as he startles and faces the back wall. I blow out a breath and shuffle down the bed, gritting my teeth against the pain the whole way so much that my jaw starts to ache.
I sigh and concede. “A little help?”
I’ve already lost my dignity, so why the hell not? Connor turns around but keeps his eyes trained on my face as he walks toward me, making me feel a little uncomfortable but I know he’s just trying to be a gentleman.
He lifts me under my knees and tells me to hold onto his neck, I do but the movement pulls at my ribs. I let go of his neck and I nearly fall but he catches me in time, jolting my aching body. “Ouch!”
“Shit, are you okay?”
I take deep breaths. “Yeah, just get me in the chair so I can rest.”
He places me in the wheelchair and Sam wheels the drips on their metal poles to the side of me and slots them into the side.
“You want this blanket?” She asks, holding up a gray, itchy number.
I flinch. “No, please get rid of it.”
Her mouth moves up and down before throwing it in the little locker in the corner of the room, but she doesn’t question me. I’m not ready to go into details, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to talk about it all with her but I can tell she understands.
Connor opens the door for us and Sam pushes me into the hallway and down another into an elevator. “Where are we going?”
I’m really not in the mood for a tour of the hospital right now, I want to be left alone in my misery and turmoil. “I told you I’d help you heal, but you’re beating yourself up and not processing this all properly, I can tell.”
I worry my lip. “No. I’m just a hard ass, remember?”
She raises a brow and walks back behind me as the elevator pings open and we walk down another hallway. “Don’t even, it’s me you’re talking to
.”
We round a corner and come face to face with four cops.
My heart starts to try and fight its way out of my chest as they all turn my way. “Stop.” She keeps on walking toward them. “Stop. I need to catch my breath.”
She does this time but lets me deal with this on my own, it’s like she’s in tune with me. I nod that I’m okay and she wheels me to them, Hernandez and Daniels being two of the four standing outside a room as if guarding it. They eye each other and I stare at Sam.
“Why am I here?”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “I told you I was going to help you heal, the first step would be to get rid of your demons.” She kneels down to face me. “You don’t have to do this, Kee. I know how scary it must be to put yourself back there with him, but I’ll be right there with you if you need me to be.”
Her eyes flit between mine, assessing me. I shut my eyes so she can’t read me, take in a deep breath, and open my eyes nodding at Hernandez and Daniels who gesture to a room on their left. Sam pushes me into the plain room holding only a few chairs in it.
She pulls up a chair next to my wheelchair and the two cops sit opposite us.
I find my battered hands much more interesting, just like earlier. “I really need a manicure,” I say out loud, breaking the ice.
And then I start from the beginning. Reliving every humiliating, gruesome thing that happened from start to finish. I don’t leave anything out. It takes me a while to recount everything, having to stop in between remembering it all to remind myself that I’m not there anymore.
The whole time I’m talking, Sam never takes her eyes off me, tears pouring down her face, but I keep mine impassive. This will not break me.
“And you don’t know how they found you?” Sergeant Daniels asks when I finish. I shake my head, no. “Okay, you’ve cleared a lot of things up, Miss Michaels.” He looks at Sam. “May I have a word outside?”
When I'm With You (Little Hollow #2) Page 19