Bobby levels me with his intense attention. Ty and my father would never hurt me. They’ll hurt Bobby. On the flip side, Bobby could break my heart. Break my heart, and my father will kill him. It’s a lose-lose situation no matter how I look at it. I’m not a gambler. I’ve taken care of myself since my mother’s death. Except I can’t think myself out of this mess.
I blow out a breath and confess my fears. “I’m afraid of losing my friendship with your sister. I’m afraid Ty and his crew will hurt you. I’m afraid my father will have you killed from inside his prison cell.”
“That’s a lot of fears needing slaying, baby, but I’m up for the job.”
“I refuse to see you in secret.”
“Not asking you to. You and Carlos did, though.”
“Yes,” I say in a whisper, afraid that saying the truth out loud will carry my words to my brother and the crew. Then they’ll hate him, believing he took advantage of me. “How’d you know?”
“Slate. He told me what you said. You went to Crimson to dance in his memory. That day was the anniversary of your boyfriend’s death.”
Bobby said the word I dread, but a deep sadness doesn’t weigh me down. Instead, my body is light. Bobby and I have a shared bond through Carlos. Carlos was the friend whose wish he wanted to make come true.
“For the record, I respect Carlos, but I’d never keep you my dirty little secret, Ever.” Bobby’s jaw tightens. “Fuck the ten years between the two of you. Fuck your brother’s judgment and control over your life, but respect to your father for always having his little girl’s interest in mind. I’d kill the motherfucker who dares to see our little girl without permission.”
Our little girl? An image of a baby girl with dark hair, sea-glass-colored eyes, and chubby cheeks brings a smile to my face.
Bobby smiles back. “There’s my girl. It was your smile that had me approaching you inside my nightclub, sweetness.” He palms the back of my head, brings my head to his, and kisses the top. My heart melts.
Bobby is the real deal. There was no false bravado in his voice, and he was clearly pissed at Carlos and my brother. Bobby is a warrior ready to slay dragons for me, but I’m no damsel in distress. I fight my own battles. Asking for help is needy, and I’m not a needy person.
Before I can tell him that I’ll handle my fears, someone clears their throat from behind us. With my legs still wrapped around Bobby’s waist, he turns us around to face our audience.
My heart drops to my stomach.
It’s Midnight and Dare Sterling, and the bouncer, Mr. Snarly Face. I’m in deep shit. Mr. Snarly Face is Gage’s cousin, and he’ll tell Gage what he saw. Midnight and Ty are good friends. Midnight will tattle on me. Then all hell will break loose.
I need more time to think through what’s happening between Bobby and me, and how we can continue seeing each other without my father and Ty knowing.
Now our newly minted relationship’s cover is blown, and by the loudest mouths in all of Dumas. What can I do to convince the bad boys of Dumas not to tell my brother about Bobby?
How do I continue with my routine when Bobby is practically next door with a fence separating us? When we last talked about a theoretical relationship, it was a long-distance one. How do I accommodate Bobby into my routine? I need routine. If I don’t have it, I panic.
Life was so routine for my mom and me that it left little room for me to find and get into trouble.
Mom got out of bed first. Then she came inside my bedroom and woke me up with a kiss on my forehead. Brushing my teeth and getting dressed came next, followed by pancakes and eggs for breakfast, then getting in her car for school drop-off. Mom picked me up afterward, and we’d go to the coffee shop next to the house and talk over pastries and coffee for her, and a sweet drink for me.
Our lives were so routine that I could live out my life in my dreams. Then life became chaotic when my mom’s addiction consumed our lives.
Except Bobby showed up on his motorcycle, and the small but significant ripple in my “routine” didn’t send me into a panic attack. While Bobby’s here, he’ll want to see Gwen and his half-brothers, right?
Come to think of it, he said he only had one sibling, a sister. Why didn’t he admit he has four half-brothers? Is there bad blood between them? Oh God, is there bad blood between him and Braxton?
They’re the same age, which means their moms were pregnant around the same time. I’d be upset, too, but not enough to disavow someone’s existence. Bobby doesn’t know what happened with me and Braxton. Had he known, he wouldn’t have asked about the scar on my leg.
Someone clears their throat loudly.
I blink. I was overthinking and got lost in my thoughts. I blink again and clear my mind.
Midnight stares at me with his head cocked and his brows slanted toward his nose before he swings his gaze to my legs wrapped around Bobby’s waist. His cousin lifts a brow. Mr. Snarly Face scowls.
Flushing from my hairline to my toes, I demand in a low whisper that he put me down. Bobby doesn’t listen.
Instead, he does the unthinkable and puts everything on the line—my friendship with Gwen, my past with Braxton, his past with Carlos, and his life.
“Boys, meet my girl, Ever Moretti. Isn’t she beautiful?”
