“It’s really nice,” says the voice that drifts through my dreams every night. “But are you sure, Ripper? I’d be more than okay sharing a room with one of the other girls.”
She’s moving in. But why?
“Wynter is the only one with a single,” Shay says. “And no offense, but that girl hates everyone. She’s not exactly roommate material.”
I roll my chair forward in need of answers. Madison is standing in the room, holding the big bear I won her at the fair. When her eyes see me, they instantly grow nervous. I hate that I cause that reaction.
“You mind explaining why she’s moving into Rubble’s room?” I direct my question at Ripper. He never mentioned that Madison would be moving in during church this morning. That seems like the kind of news you’d share. At least, with me. But I’m just now learning that I’m gaining a neighbor.
“Maddy needs a place to stay, and since she’s taken Rubble’s old job, I figured she should have this room.”
“And you didn’t think of consulting with anyone first?” I point him with a glare.
“I spoke to King on the phone. He agreed with the plan.”
He shrugs as if it’s no fucking big deal. But to me it is. I’d like to be informed that my ex-girlfriend who I can’t fucking stop thinking about is going to be living next door. Right on the other side of that paper-thin wall. So close I can hear her footsteps trod across the floor. I’ll hear when she rises in the morning and when she climbs into bed at night.
“Just feel like this is a matter you should’ve spoken to the rest of us about.”
“If it’s a problem for me to be here,” Maddy interrupts, “I can leave.”
“No.” Ripper shakes his head. “The room is yours for as long as you want it.”
He gives me another hard glare. I’m being an ass. A fact I know.
Dagger and a few of the other guys come walking into the room, carrying boxes and suitcases. They’re the ones she turned to for help. They’re the ones she calls on now. Not me. I’m just a weak man in a chair.
I roll my chair right out of the room and back to mine, slamming my door shut. I need a fucking drink, but I refuse to go out and get one. The knock on my door comes not a minute later. Ripper’s come to chew my ass out. But fuck him. All that talk last night was bullshit.
“Skully, it’s Maddy. Can I come in?”
It’s not Ripper. It’s that soft, sweet girl who looked so good in her leggings and tank top.
“What do you want?”
The door opens and in she walks, that fear darkening her eyes.
“I just wanted to ask if you’re okay with this? If you’re not, I’ll leave and get a hotel. Like I said before, I never want to do anything to upset you.”
God, why does she have to be so goddamn sweet? This would be so much easier if she was a bitch. But she’s an angel.
“Why do you need a hotel when you got that mansion you can live in?”
“Because my parents are assholes. My father kicked me out because I refused to quit my job. Then he called me a club whore.”
I swear I would punch his lights out if I could. That man is an arrogant SOB. But if I showed up on his doorstep, defending her honor, he’d laugh his ass off. Tell me to roll myself off his property and take my pathetic ass back to the criminal hole I crawled out from. I can’t even stand up for her.
“Your dad’s an ass, but he’s right about the fact that you should quit this job. You’re better than this place, Maddy. You should be off doing big things, not slumming it in some biker club. It’s beneath you.”
“I’m not slumming it. This biker club has been better to me than my family. I thought you knew me. I thought you knew I didn’t care about any of that stuff. Not the fancy cars or the expensive homes, none of it matters. What matters to me is being around people who care about me. And once upon a time, you used to care about me. I’ll start looking for a place tomorrow. It’s obvious you don’t want me here.”
She turns and storms right out the door, and that slam of it shutting hits me dead in the chest. I never stopped caring about her. Not for one fucking second.
14
Madison
Itoss and turn, everything replaying in my sleep. Jeff trying to corner me at the club, my mom harassing me, my dad calling me a whore… Skully. He was so angry when he rolled into the room and saw the guys carrying in my boxes. I toss again, kicking off my sheets, feeling like I’m overheating. Feeling like my need for him is chasing me down. I want him so much. I want his touch and his kisses. I want his hungry eyes raking over me. His rough fingers rubbing between my legs.
