Chapter Four
C.C.
“Cosette Celine DuBois!” my mother shouted from downstairs. “Don’t make me come up there. I don’t care if you’re some fancy-smanchy racecar driver. I will still take a switch to your hide, little girl. Now, you get your butt down here and help me make these Christmas cookies!”
“She means it too,” I heard my brother Jasper say.
Looking out from under my pillow, I grinned, then squealed loudly, jumping from my bed and into his arms. Hugging him tightly, everything just felt right once again. It was almost as if the chaos of my life had centered, even if it was just for a moment.
It had been years since my brother Jasper left home and joined the Silver Shadows Motorcycle Club in Arkansas. Oh, we talked all the time on the phone, texted, even FaceTimed at least once a month, but there was just something about seeing him in person.
Stepping back, I slapped him on the chest. “When did you get in? Mom didn’t tell me you were gonna be here for Christmas.”
“Well, after she walloped me with her purse before Uncle Jack’s wedding, I figured if I didn’t show my face, she’d make good on her threat to visit me in Nebraska if I didn’t come home soon. I’m here in the hope she forgets.”
“Not likely.” I smirked, then asked, “Speaking of Nebraska, how is the handsome loveable Tank doing these days?”
My brother growled. “No, and for the last time, he ain’t for you.”
“Oh, really?” I challenged, then asked, “And how is my good friend Amber these days?”
Yeah, I knew my brother hooked up with Amber occasionally. It wasn’t anything serious. At least that’s what she said, and considering the club called him Romeo, she was probably right. It didn’t take a genius to know why either. My brother was damn fine to look at and if the rumors running around our former high school were true, then my brother had broken a lot of hearts.
Jasper narrowed his eyes and quickly changed the subject. “I looked for you after the wedding,” he stated, leaning against the doorjamb. “Where did you run off to? Thought we’d at least get a chance to have a drink and catch up.”
“Yeah, about that.” I grinned, turning away. “I kind of ducked out after the ceremony.”
Groaning, my brother rubbed his forehead. “I swear to God, C.C., if you tell me you hooked up with one of the Sons of Hell, I will lose my fucking mind.”
“Not a biker,” I blurted, then grinned, wiggling my eyebrows. “At least I don’t think he was. There really wasn’t a lot of talking involved.”
“No. No. NO!” Jasper moaned, shaking his head. “And on that note, I’m outta here.”
As Jasper stormed out, I couldn’t help but let a mischievous giggle slip as I headed into my bathroom for my morning business, taking a moment to savor his exasperation—it was one of the small joys of having a big brother who cared far more than he’d ever admit. But my amusement was short-lived when my phone buzzed on the counter, the screen lighting up with a text from none other than Amber.
Amber:You guys talking about me yet???
Rolling my eyes, I quickly typed back.
Me:You wish. But thanks for making yourself the topic of every awkward sibling conversation ever.
Amber:You’re welcome! Anyway, you owe me details about YOUR mystery man.
I bit my lip to keep from smiling too wide. Amber and I had become fast friends shortly after my brother and his club moved to Nebraska, when she inadvertently answered his phone one night.
And as they say, that was all she wrote. Amber and I hit it off and my brother hated it, which only made our friendship even better. Amber was relentless in prying into whatever scrap of gossip she thought I had, but the truth was, I wasn’t quite ready to spill.
Not yet.
Whoever the guy was—or wasn’t—hearing Jasper lose his mind about it was enough entertainment for the day
Me:How R things in Nebraska?
Amber:King is losing his shit, but what else is new?
Me:U still locked down?
Amber:Yep, but it’s not so bad. The girls here are gearing up 4 Xmas. There is a bet going 2 see how long it will take 4 King to lose his shit and call it all off.
