“Karma, I changed your sheets in your room when I was in earlier. Made sure it's the soft ones that you like.”
I fight hard not to snort or laugh, hoping for her that she didn’t announce this at my expense. I stay silent and take the bottled beer that was handed to me. I can feel Colt’s gaze hot on my face while I keep pretending not to care that this girl is insinuating she knows how his bed feels or what sheets he likes.
“Thanks, Ari.” He tips his head at her before sliding over to me. “Here’s the key. My room is number fourteen.”
I glance at him, finally giving him my whole attention. For some reason his words bother me as if he just assumed I’d take his room. “I’m fine just taking a couch or something.”
Zane grunts. “Pretty sure you’d catch something if you slept on those, Taylor. Might as well take a decent bed.”
My mouth opens to argue, but Colt jumps in. “Just sleep there tonight, Lyric. You need some space and a bed. Prez wants to talk with you right away in the morning and you can go from there.”
His words make sense, and as much as I don’t want to sleep in Colt’s bed, my body does not want to fight it right now. I do need sleep. Everything in my body aches, and my head is throbbing. Even though I won’t admit it, sleeping in Colt’s room will make me feel safe for the night in order to get the rest that's needed. My hand creeps out and takes the set of keys from him.
“Thanks,” I mutter and take a gulp of my beer.
His lips turn up in a half smile. “No problem, Ly. There's a shower too. Make yourself comfortable.”
His words shouldn’t mean anything, but I feel like there's an underlying current under them that sends heat across my chest and into my stomach, making it swoop. No. Just no. I don’t know Colt anymore. I will not be swayed by anything nice he says to me. I’ve grown since then.
“I still feel bad. If I’m taking your room, where are you staying?”
His brow lifts, as if he can’t believe I’d be concerned about him.You and me both, I think sarcastically.
“Don’t worry about it, Doc,” Ari jumps in. “He’ll probably just stay at my place like always.”
Her words feel like a small jab to the heart and I get mad at myself for even caring. It's been years. He broke up with me. It's not like he’s been pining and waiting for another chance. As far as I know, Colt has never tried to track me down or reach out. He could have handled our break up better, but we were eighteen. We were kids.
My eyes meet Colt’s and I watch his face harden. I laugh lightly, hoping to ease the tension that is starting to build among the four of us while we stand here. “Okay, well then I don’t feel too bad.” I drain the rest of my beer, deciding that there’s really no other reason to stand here any longer. “Thanks for the clean sheets, Ari.”
I keep my eyes on anyone and everyone else around me while I step away from the bar and head toward the back of the clubhouse with my bag, where I know the rooms are. I’m able to avoid Zane’s sad, puppy dog eyes, and the attention of any of the other brothers. Colt’s room is easy enough to find and I slide the key in the door before twisting the handle.
I’m immediately hit with the familiar scent of the man who used to be my everything as the door opens. His space smells exactly like his room at his parents’ house. The bed is still made up of the blue and gray tones that he likes, and nostalgia hits mefull force and tears instantly burn my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I shut the door behind me and lock it before immersing myself in the space even though it hurts. My lungs ache and my chest squeezes, trying to keep in the emotions assaulting me. I run to the open door of the bathroom and shut it quickly. It's easier to pretend the slab of wood will keep out the reminders of how well I used to know the owner of the room.
Shedding my clothes, I quickly jump under the spray of hot water and let it take all my stress from the day down the drain. This is exactly what I needed. I wash my hair quickly and take more time scrubbing my skin until it's pink, hoping that I can erase the fear that clung to my sweaty skin. I know tomorrow is going to be hell having to relive the event with the club’s prez. I’ll have to tell him everything about the man that's making my life miserable. I just wish there was a way to make it stop.
The water starts to turn cold before I’m willing to admit defeat and get out. My hand grabs for the towel on the rack, but then I pause, remembering Ari’s words. She only changed the sheets. I let my fingers run over the towel lightly, contemplating if I want it touching my naked body. It's just Colt. I can always wash it before he uses it again. My teeth worry my bottom lip, but before I can think on it anymore, my hand is grabbing it from the rack. Quickly, I dry off and put my pajamas on, leaving the towel on the floor. I’ll get it washed before he sees it and it won’t be weird is what I tell myself.
Taking my bag with me to the room, I take out the extra phone charger and plug my phone in. I’m not sure when it died, all I know is it was soon after I had called Austin for help. The phone lights up, showing that it's charging, and a few calls and messages come in. I recognize Austin’s name. It's the numerous calls from UNKNOWN CALLER that make me shiver.
“He can’t get you here, Lyric,” I say to myself over and over while I slide under the covers of Colt’s bed. I’ll never admit this,but having his scent around me helps me relax. I swallow back the emotion and the memories, like I’ve perfected over the years, but I still feel comforted. It's enough, just enough to allow me to fall into a deep sleep, where my monster won’t find me tonight.
Chapter 13
Lyric
“Don’t be dense, L. You’ve changed in all the best ways and he’d be an idiot to still not want you. You didn’t get closure like you wanted.”
“I shouldn't need closure. It was pretty obvious. I’m past it now.” I turn to him and take in the way he looks at me. The way he always looked at me. I try to call his name…
My phone’s alarm blares through my dream and I fight to stay in that dream with Jordan, where I’m safe and things aren’t confusing and fucked up. Too bad reality is setting in. I can feel the sun on my cheek as it peeks through the curtain. My leg is twisted around soft, worn sheets, but it's the scent of fresh rain, citrus, and spice that pulls me out of sleep. My eyes open, half-expecting Colt to be right next to me, and I swallow down the tightness in my throat while time adjusts and I remember why I’m here. My hand slides to my phone and I pick it up, making sure to turn the alarm off. Two texts sit in front of me.
Austin: I’ll be in my office when you wake up. Feel free to grab some breakfast then find me.
UNKNOWN: Feel free to use anything in my room that you need.
UNKNOWN: This is Colt by the way.
Part of me wants to laugh at his second message. I quickly change the contact to his name. It's been years since I’ve seen a message from Colt. And just like that, it feels too personal. We have history, yes, but we haven’t talked since the day he broke up with me. My fingers fly over the keyboard again. Colt Street. No. Karma. I let his road name sit as his contact name. It's one I won’t forget; plus, it's a good reminder on why I don’t need to make answering his messages or calls a priority. I cancel out of my messages and my eyes fall to my background, roam over the tall man with darker skin, black hair and startling amber eyes standing with his arm draped over my shoulders. “This is all your doing, isn’t it, J?” I mutter under my breath, feeling tears sting behind my eyes.
