I’ve never cared how she felt after it came out that Harper was Cas’s daughter. It’s not like he cheated on her with me.
“I just stopped by to see how you were getting on with Jay out of town?”
“I’m good. It’s nearly bath time and then Holly and the kids are coming for a sleepover.”
It’s my smile that falters now. I didn’t know she had plans after I leave. She’s probably waiting on me to go so she can get on with her life.
The feeling of being pitied grows stronger as they talk about things I have no idea about and I clear my throat.
“I should get going. Kristen’s early mornings are a killer.”
“The shop doesn’t open until 10a.m. How early does she make you go in?” Alannah asks amused.
“It’s still early for me.”
“Yes, I suppose it is.”
I kiss Gunner goodbye and tell Harper not to see me out. I escape as quickly as I can and a commotion catches my attention on my way to the car. When I hear, “Lily McCarthy. I know she’s here.” I hide behind the clubhouse. I inch closer to the corner and listen in.
“Look, I don’t know what to tell ya that I haven’t already. She ain’t here.”
“Get me Leo Jackson.”
“Again, he’s out on business.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. What the hell am I going to do? No matter how the club feels about me, they won’t give me up, especially to another club.
The gates rattle as Hopper shoves them and then backs up to his bike.
“I know she’s here somewhere. You tell her to reach out to me, she knows what will happen if she doesn’t.”
I wait to hear him ride away before I step out and head for my car. Then I stop. He and the club know what car I drive. They’ll spot me from a mile away. I backtrack to Harper’s.
“Hey, sorry, but can I borrow your car for the night? Mine’s fucked again…”
“Sure. Let me get the keys.”
I wait on the porch and figure out a different route into town so I don’t run into them.
Once they’re in my hand, I smile and thank her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Oh, before you go, you need to turn your phone on or get a new one. Every time I’ve called you, I’ve gotten your voicemail.”
“Oh, right, yeah. I’ll sort something out.”
I drive toward the gate, but the prospect doesn’t move to open it, he walks in my direction.
“You had some visitors.”
Playing dumb, I lie, “Did I?”
“Yeah, and Leo’s not happy at the company you keep. He said he’ll be talking to you when he gets back.”
I bet he will. And if Leo knows, Slade will now know. And they’re all going to have questions.
Every instinct to run, to skip town, is screaming at me. But this time it’s Harper and Gunner that shuts them down.
I warned the club what I had supposedly heard. Where I’ve been shouldn’t matter. Fuck, even I know that is ridiculous to think that way. Of course it’s going to matter and no one is going to be interested in listening to my reasons.
