by Wood, Lauren
He was still standing by the car. I looked back and asked if he was coming.
“Not yet, but soon.”
I turned back around. “You got me, for a minute, okay? Shit with you is familiar, but that’s it. I’m with Justin. He would never leave me and hurt me like you did. I don’t want that again. You’re a one-night stand, nothing more. Justin is the one that I’m going to be with for life. That’s the difference.”
Chapter 7
Frank
I was seriously regretting messing with Gemma at the moment. Yeah, I’d gotten her to moan a little and proved a little point to her, but I was paying for it by her sharp tongue. How had I forgotten about that? I should have known better and now I regretted it big time. Her words cut deeper than any knife and my momentary win was painful. It wasn’t worth it.
“You coming? You’re just standing there.”
“Yeah, I’m coming. I appreciate the couch to sleep in.”
“No problem Frank. Nothing less for such an old friend.”
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes and I knew that I had really pissed her off. I should have done it, but damn it had felt good for a moment. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I would have been able to shut my mouth, but that wasn’t something that I was really good at just yet. There was a part of me that was hoping that I could somehow apologize enough for her to understand I didn’t mean for it to be this way, but she turned and went in.
Gemma didn’t say another word. She went and got a couple of pillows and a blanket. She set the folded stack down and then looked at me for just a moment before she went upstairs. I wanted to go to her, to apologize, I don’t know, something, but I knew it was better to just let it ride and to see what happens. I shouldn’t have been so damn cocky. It didn’t work on girls like Gemma. Most girls, but not girls like her.
The couch wasn’t as comfortable when I wasn’t drunk. Justin wouldn’t have to know about this, but the very idea of it all made it hard to sleep. I was in his house. With his girlfriend that he was going to be with. It was hard to wrap my head around it and not want to sever the ties. Now I wasn’t even sure if I had enough over Gemma to succeed. I didn’t like where this was going.
Sun came up before sleep did and I took off, locking the door behind me and folded the blanket back up like it was when it was given to me. I’d fucked up, I knew that, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it right. Being here this morning when she woke up didn’t seem like the best idea and instead I went to get my bike. I needed to get her out of my mind. I had work to do that had nothing to do with Gemma and Justin. I needed to distance myself from all of that, so I could focus on getting the club up and running for the first shipment. It wouldn’t be long before Hartford was on the map for other reasons besides the local seafood.
***
“What’s up Frank? Where have you been?”
“I had to take care of some shit last night and then I ended up in a cell for a few hours. Had to get some sleep. Here I am.”
It was as simple as I could make it and Flynn grinned. “Yeah, I’ve had a few of those days. Who picked you up?”
“Matt., I knew him back in the day through school and we don’t get along.”
“He isn’t really that bad to work with. He won’t take money, but he looks the other way from time to time when it’s for the best.”
“Well I guess me messing up his cousin’s jaw isn’t forgiven. That’s twice in two days since I’ve been back. It’s not a good way to start things here. I didn’t want to be hush-hush with this, the club coming back, but I was thinking of a different homecoming that didn’t involve so much time behind bars.”
“I hear that. Are you ready to go check out the cabin and the other building?”
I agreed that I was and even though I had a lot of shit on my mind and no sleep in me to speak of, I knew that I had to take care of business no matter what. I was tired and the sooner I got this done, the sooner I would be able to get it all ready. Then I wouldn’t have to sleep on an ex’s couch when I got home late. That was already wearing thin on me considering who she belonged to.
We got on our bikes and headed out into the country a little. It was closer to water than people and it was the perfect place to hold stock that I didn’t want anyone to be able to get to. It was perfect and soon I wouldn’t have to worry about anything at all. Once this stop was picked up, the club’s revenue would double plus and that was good for everybody.
The ride was only about fifteen minutes or so. It gave me time to think and figure out what it was I was going to do. I wasn’t worried about the present situation. I’d ran guns longer than anything else. It’s what I did. I was thinking about a damn woman and how she could tie me up in knots after such a long time.
We stopped at the building first and met with the owner. I’d done business with him in the past before I left and after ten years, he was even more crooked than before. For a premium, he would look the other way and let us conduct the business that we needed. It was all set-in motion, lease signed so that everything was above board and then me and Flynn made our way to the cabin. Another set-up of Morgan and it was back far enough from the road that the neighbors wouldn’t hear all the bikes coming and going.
“Looks like we found The Reaper’s new home.”
Flynn agreed, and we got out of there after running through the place. I was less worried about rooms and decoration, then I was the location. It would work and that was one less thing I had to do before I could get back to the real project at hand. I wanted Gemma back and I knew that I was going to have to work for it this time around.
***
Justin gave me a call when he got back in town and I went to pick him up. I wanted him to meet the rest of the guys and I wanted to see his old lady. It was the real reason I was there, and I told him that we needed to grab a beer and talk. There was a lot going on in the next couple of weeks and he was to be in on it since he was going to be my second. There was going to be a vote to bring everyone together. Paperwork, that sort of thing. He had a big enough house to supply that and then we wouldn’t have to worry about fitting everyone in the cabin. For the time being, it was the best bet and I would get another crack at Gemma. I wasn’t going to mess it up this time. I was going to make sure that I didn’t let my pride get in the way of things.
When I got to his place, he was still getting dressed. Gemma answered the door and she let me in, walking away without saying much of anything. I wanted to work out what had happened between us the other night, but she wasn’t in the mood and I wasn’t going to push it, not now.
“He’ll be out in a minute. Do you want some coffee?”
I told her that it would be great and watched her pour me a cup. She was pissed off at me, that much was clear, but she was still going to be a good host. It was just in her and I was thankful for that. The brew was strong and just the way I liked it. She’d remembered.
“Are you working tonight?”
“No, me and some of the girls are going to go out to the lake. Last hoorah before it gets cold again. Summers never last long up here.”
“I remember.”
I started to move towards her, but she backed away and then I heard Justin’s voice behind me.
“Good, you’re here. I thought I heard the door. I was hoping that it wasn’t Gemma’s friends whisking her off before I got a kiss goodbye.”
“I would never do that.”
I just looked from one to the other and tried not to gag in my throat. It was something else to see the two of them together, but the way they were acting was more than I ever wanted to see. It was just another plan that had backfired horribly in my face. I wanted to see Gemma. I didn’t want to see this.
I made my way out the door before they could go any further. The last thing that I wanted to see was another man with Gemma. It didn’t matter that it was Justin. It didn’t make it better. It may even make it worse in a way. Now I had to s
ee this shit. Could I really just go on with my second getting the girl?
Justin came out after a few minutes with a love-drunk look on his face. I revisited words that I’d said before. I wouldn’t mind punching him in the face until it broke. Coming back home was nothing like I’d thought it was going to be. I’d never imagined that there would be so many damn distractions coming my way. It was ridiculous.
“You ready bro?”
“Yeah, I want to show you the new spot. The cabin is getting fixed up, so you have to look beyond what’s there right now, but the location is perfect.”
“And the warehouse?”
“Got that going too. It’s all going to work out brother.”
“I told Gemma that she won’t have to work too much longer. I hate her there pushing drinks to the drunks.”
“Life should go on as usual, as much as possible. Maybe she should keep her job a while.”
“No, I think it’s time I make an honest woman out of her. Time to start a family and all of that shit. Now I won’t have to worry about money. The job is a good one, but it doesn’t really pay shit. Freezes on the wages. I’ve been putting off asking her for a while.”
I just nodded my head and tried not to lose my cool. I didn’t want to hear about his thoughts on Gemma. I was having a hard time even imagining that the two of them were even together. I just had to see them suck face. The last thing that I wanted was a wedding to have to go to.
“We will have plenty of money rolling in soon enough my friend. We need to make it official, have a party tonight. I was thinking that we could have it at your place. I’d take care of all of the arrangements, but I need a big enough space for everyone and their families. It’s going to be the first day of a whole new life for all of us.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll talk to Gemma and she’ll get with you.”
“Sandra is taken care of it.”
“Good enough. It will be good to see your sister. I didn’t know she was still in town.”
“She’s not. Just here for my homecoming and to help me out. You know how she is.”
“Yeah. I do. I always had a thing for her when we were younger.”
I smiled at him and it gave me an idea. “Yeah, I remember. She’s still single you know.”
“Huh, I didn’t know that.”
Maybe this would all work out after all.
Chapter 8
Gemma
The party was bigger than I’d expected, but that seemed to be a theme when it came to Frank. Everything was bigger and more unexpected than one could imagine. I wanted to chill out and enjoy the party, biggest one in a while in Hartford, but I was on edge. After his little episode the other night, I was still a little miffed, at myself, more than him.
I’d seen Frank a couple of times since the party kicked off and he had nothing but nice things to say and a smile. He played it all very well, but I knew there was more to it than that. He was the one that had messed with my head. Was he doing that now?
He brought his sister with him as his plus one. I knew Sandra well from back in the day. She was into the criminal side of the family more than most. She wasn’t the typical female and I didn’t like her being here. We got along, but that was just because I was dating her brother and I wanted to keep the peace. That didn’t mean that the peace was going to last very long.
I avoided her and her brother as I made my way through the house. I didn’t see either one of them, so I walked a little slower, hoping that I wouldn’t bump into them. I just wanted the night to be over and for my slow life to keep on ticking. It was better this way, with Justin. I didn’t have to worry about what was going on with who. I knew I was safe with him and that even if I wasn’t head over heels fin love with him like I had been with Frank, a different love sounded better. The love I had with Frank, if it was even real, was volatile at best. I liked to think that everything was going to work out the way it was supposed to, but I really wasn’t sure.
Finding no relief downstairs from all the familiar faces that brought back a lot of memories, I went upstairs to the sanctuary that was my room. At least up there I wouldn’t have to worry about running into someone that I wanted to see. I hadn’t seen Justin in a while and I was hoping that maybe I would catch up to him.
I made it to the bedroom and saw that it was already opened a crack. I pushed the door open and it took a minute for my mind to really process what it was that I was seeing. Justin and Sandra were on my bed, kissing. Their clothes were still on, but I didn’t know how long that was going to stay fact. They were so into each other that they didn’t even know that I was right there watching it all happen.
I was in shock. There were many scenarios running through my head, but none of them ended well at all. I wanted to shout at him, both of them really, but I knew they had a past. Just like me and Frank did. It appeared that we were claiming old flames and I went back downstairs with revenge in mind. Or, I finally had an excuse to do what I wanted to do the whole time, without all of the guilt and repercussions that came with it.
There was only one man that I was looking for and it didn’t take long to find Frank. He was chatting up one of the club girls and I pulled him away from her. She made a sound of indignation and I didn’t want to hear it. I was ready to hit her for touching him and I was in the mood to hit someone because I didn’t get all of the energy from finding out, out.
“What’s up Gemma?”
“Come on Frank. We have a lot to talk about.”
He looked at me as if I had lost my mind and maybe I had. There was a part of me that was telling me to stop. This wasn’t healthy. I’d just found out some bad news and the last thing that I wanted to do was make it worse by sleeping with an ex. He’d hurt me in the past, may in the future and I had to deal with Justin with a clear head. Talking to Frank was the very last thing that I should be doing. I knew that.
“What are we talking about? A couple of days ago you didn’t want to be around me.”
“Circumstances change, and I need that one nightstand after all. You want to help me, or do I need to find someone else?”
“Ouch, I didn’t think I was that replaceable.”
“Everyone is. I learned that a long time ago. So, should you. You in or not?”
“Is that really a question?”
“Not really, come on.”
I started to pull him out of the house and he asked me where we were going.”
“To that shitty motel to see if we get bed bugs I guess. I can’t do it here. This place is ruined.”
I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I needed distance from me and what was going on in my bedroom. Sandra had come at a convenient time.
“Why did you bring your sister?”
He looked at me and then asked what that had to do with anything.
“Nothing. Never mind. Let’s just get out of here.”
I got on the back of his bike and waited for him to get in front of me. There was something in the way that his body felt against me. It was so damn familiar. Maybe too familiar because it pulled at my heart strings and had me feeling some kind of way. I didn’t want to feel any way. I just wanted to feel nothing, and I got that soon enough when we were going faster enough that the loud engine just drowned out everything. I missed this, and I pulled myself up a little tighter on Frank and laid my head on his back-shoulder blade. I missed this far more than I should have.
We got close to the motel, but he just kept on going. I wasn’t sure where he was going, and I didn’t even ask. I didn’t really care.
Riding for another thirty minutes, I knew the spot and I smiled to myself. Frank was supposed to be this bad ass and he was in his own right, but there was also this other side to him that I got to see, and I can’t say that I didn’t like it. I really did. He was sweet and thoughtful. He was taking me to the first place that we made out. It was the old drive-in that looked like it wasn’t up and running anymore. I didn’t
know how this was going to work, just that it was because I was with Frank. All of the old feelings were rushing back.
“Here huh?”
“Yeah, don’t you remember this place?”
“Yeah, the first time was with your truck, before you bought the bike.”
He agreed with a smile. “Yeah, I kind of miss that truck. I miss the truck bed anyway.”
I giggled a little and recalled very well his truck and bed. We’d had some good times in it and I was a little surprised that he didn’t still have it. He liked to keep things like that because he was sentimental as hell, proof since we were standing in the midst of memory lane. I wanted to ask him why he brought me here, but I didn’t have to. The man was romantic to a fault. He hadn’t even asked why I’d changed my mind, though I doubted that he cared all that much.
“Second thoughts?”
“No, nothing like that. It’s just been a while since I’ve been here and being here with you…brings back a lot of memories.”
“It’s about time we make some more here, huh?”
I had to agree that it sounded like a good idea. I don’t know what was wrong with me at the moment, but every time I turned around, I was thinking of him. If I went through with this, everything was going to change and that feeling I had would be back and bold. It had dimmed some as of late. But then I remembered why this was all happening, and I knew that I was going to go through with it. I wanted to and all excuses aside, that was just the end of it.
“Yeah. So, where?”
He chuckled like it was a silly question. We’d once had sex on his bike, so the where didn’t really matter. It never had. Years can pass, but some things just stayed the same.
“Anywhere you want baby. I have a bedroll on the bike. I was thinking down by the old screen. I don’t know why, but it just sounds really damn hot.”