“Have you got pepper spray just in case?” Reaper asks.
I groan at Reaper. “You taught me self-defense. I can handle myself.”
Reaper’s brows curve in. “That wasn’t an answer to my question.”
“Yes,” I reply, feeling like a scolded child. “I have it.”
Reaper nods his head sharply in approval. “Good to hear.”
It’s sweet that he’s still overprotective, but I’m an adult, and it seems he forgets that sometimes.
I sit back and listen to the conversations around me. I sigh, hating that I’ll miss this from now on. I miss the jokes from Axle and Viper, the banter between them and the rest of the club. I’ve missed seeing Hope and spending time with Ava and Ivy. This whole situation sucks. I decide to have only one glass of wine so I can leave early. I’m sure dating the doctor has pleased Mercedez, but she’s so unpredictable.
I tell the club I’m tired, and I leave. The frowns on Ava’s and Ivy’s faces were hard to ignore. When I open my car door, I hear, “Hold on.”
I turn to see Twitch jogging toward me. “You’re leaving early.”
Even though it’s dark outside, I can see the dark circles under his eyes. I frown. He looks exhausted—a far cry from the happy man I’m used to seeing. I check to make sure no one followed him. “I am. I don’t want to risk it with you-know-who.”
He runs a hand through his wavy hair. “I’ve missed you,” he breathes.
A thrill shoots through me at his words, but I give him a sad smile. “I’ve missed you too.” Because I have—somuch. Especially after that night we spent together. It was bliss.
“What have you been up to?” he asks shyly, scratching the back of his neck.
“Work, and I’ve been getting motorcycle lessons.”
He smiles, but it fades quickly. “I could’ve spent more time with you and taught you. Maybe we can do it again.”
I shake my head with a sigh. “With everything going on now, you couldn’t have. I enjoyed riding so much I wanted to keep doing it. One day when I own my own bike, maybe we could ride together.” It’s false hope, but still hope, nonetheless.
I glance up at him. He’s frowning, like he’s already given up. There’s a tightness in my chest. “I need to know... have we truly ended what we had going on?”
He takes a step back, and his eyes sharpen. “Well, it seems so when you’re going on dates with other people.”
I scoff. “Well”—I throw back in the same tone he used—“seems like you and Mercedez are close again. That didn’t take long at all.”
“We. Aren’t. Close.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
He lets out a cold laugh. “You’re going out on a date with the most boring person ever. But at least he meets your brother’s checklist.”
I suck in a breath. He didnotjust say that! “That’s not fair. Edward’s a nice guy.”
“Yeah, nice...” he says like he threw up in his mouth. “Perfect for the MC president’s sister.”
“Jealousy really brings out a new side of you, Twitch.”
He drags his hand down his face. “Onlyyoudo this to me! I’ve never been so jealous in my life as I am about you going out on a date with someone else.” He clutches his chest. “It’s like a serrated blade cutting my heart. I don’t want Mercedez. I want you! But I can’t do anything about it right now.”
I struggle to breathe. My eyes blur.
We can’t find common ground. We’re stuck in a maze we can’t escape, caught between our dream of being together and the reality we live in.
He leaves, and once I hear the front door shut, I open my car door and jump in. I turn my car on, and I’m out of there, leaving the Mercedez and Twitch drama in my wake.
Once I get home, I send McDaddy a message:
