Axle winks. “I’m smart. You should listen to me.”
I chuckle. “You do have brains after all.”
“Oh, fuck off,” he says, laughing.
When Axle leaves, I decide I need more chocolate. I pat my stomach. I’m turning into a slob. I put it down to stress.
When I enter the kitchen, Ivy, Ava, and Elena are having coffee. I smile at them.
“Have you spoken to Milly?” Ivy asks me with a raised eyebrow.
I’ve been meaning to, but I’m at a loss for words. Milly doesn’t deserve any of this. “No, have you?”
“She’s been busy at work, taking extra shifts, so I haven’t had much of a chance to really talk to her.”
I don’t miss the small bite in her tone.
“Something’s wrong with her,” Ava says. “She’s real quiet with me, and she’s never been like that. I’m getting worried.”
I stiffen.
Ivy gives me a pointed look, like she knowsexactlywhy and is blaming me.
“Maybe she’s just busy with work. Her job is stressful, and those twelve-hour shifts must be exhausting,” Elena adds.
Ava shakes her head. “No, there’s something else. She’s usually open with me about everything, but whatever it is, she won’t confide in me. I have no idea what it is. I wish she had never left the clubhouse.” Her voice is somber.
“Maybe she thought she wasn’t part of the club family, so she left to give us space to deal with the Mercedez incident,” Ivy suggests.
I press my lips together and narrow my eyes at Ivy. She’s getting a bit too close to the real reason for Milly leaving, and I don’t like it.
“It could be. Maybe I’m reading too much into it,” Ava says with a frown. “I just miss her presence here. Sheispart of the club family. I’ll have to remind her of that.”
“I agree,” Ivy replies. “Perhaps it’s because she doesn’t have an ol’ lady jacket like the rest of us.” She looks directly at me as she says it, her tone pointed.
What the fuck? I shake my head at Ivy, trying to keep my expression neutral.
“Milly doesn’t need one though,” says Elena. “She’s already part of the family.”
“I agree,” Ivy says again, her gaze still locked on me. “She shouldn’t have to avoid spending time with her family and friends because of sweet butt drama.”
“Do you think she’ll come back and stay here again with us?” Ava asks, her voice filled with hope. It makes me feel like an even bigger piece of shit.
“I’m not too sure,” Ivy replies. “Maybe we should have a barbecue soon and organize it for when Milly is free.”
“Great idea. I’ll talk to Reaper,” Ava says cheerfully.
My heart races. How is Mercedez going to react to seeing Milly? Will she lose it again? Will she tell Reaper? I remove myself from the conversation, heading into the pantry. I pull out my chocolate stash from behind the massive bag of rice, unwrap it, and snap off half the block. My mouth waters as I take a massive bite, shoving the rest into my jacket pocket. I make my way out, ignoring Ivy’s stare.
Mercedez rushes toward me from the lounge. “There you are!” she says with a lively smile, slipping her hand into mine.
I pull my hand away lightly, trying not to make a scene. “I’m updating the computer software right now. It’s going to take a while.”
“Aww, when can we spend some time together?” Her face is full of optimism, but it only makes my stomach churn.
“I... umm... I’m not sure,” I stammer, my pulse skyrocketing.
She pouts.
