“No. Actually, the opposite. I was going to ask Reaper if I could stay for a while so I could pay for a chef course in community college because, if I get in, I don’t think I’d be able to afford the course and pay for accommodation and everything else.”
She claps, her face instantly brightening with a wide smile. “Oh, that’s amazing news! I remember you saying you wanted to cook professionally. You’re going to kill it, and you can practice all your new skills and recipes on us.”
“I was worried about leaving Beau. I never thought any of this could be a possibility, and, honestly, I’m so grateful for everything you and the MC have done for me.”
Motorcycles whir, then speed up as the sound of their exhausts gets more distant.
“What’s going on with you and Reaper?”
I inch back, surprised by her question. “I don’t know. He’s great, but...”
“What’s wrong?”
I slump down on the stool and confess. “I’m not skinny like all the other women here, and I come with baggage. I’m not even sure if I’ll ever recover from what I’ve been through. Why would he want that? Why would anyone want that?”
She slips her arm around my waist. “You need to stop putting yourself down. Everyone has baggage. You’re an incredible person. You have a big heart, and everyone adores you.”
I smile weakly. “Thanks, but you’re my sister, so you’re biased.”
“Stop it!” she warns. “I’ve never seen Reaper care about a woman before. Axle said that Reaper’s loyal and has always been there to support every man in the clubhouse. Axle said he will treat you the same. He hasn’t rushed you into anything, has he?”
“Now that I think about it, he let me make the first move when it came to kissing and sleeping in his bed.”
She nods as if happy with my answer, but her eyes go wide, and she points at me and scowls. “And don’t you dare talk about your body like that again! I think it’s unfair you got all the boobs and ass.” She looks down at her breasts, then back at me. “I think you got both of ours.” We both laugh at that. “Reaper’s got the best of both worlds.”
My insecurity lessens. “I didn’t think of it like that.”
She points to under her eye. “Look!”
I lean in further, not sure of what I’m supposed to be examining. “I don’t see anything.”
“My first fine line. The wrinkles have begun.”
She sounds devastated, but I see no line.
I snort. “You’re still in your twenties. Don’t be ridiculous.”
She rolls her eyes. “How can you not see the line there?”
“At leastIdon’t have to worry about wrinkles.”
She quirks a brow. “Hmm, and why is that?”
“Fat don’t crack, baby!” I say with a wink.
She smothers a laugh before her face falls back into seriousness. “You’re not fat!”
A phone rings, and I know it’s Elena’s because it’s a Cardi B song. She brings it to her face, grimaces, but doesn’t answer it. She just lets it ring. She peeks at me from under her eyelashes, then back down at her phone.
“It’s our parents, isn’t it?”
She smiles sadly. “Don’t worry, I won’t answer.”
I let out a long sigh. “It’s okay, I’ll talk to them.”
Her brows rise high. “Are you sure? You don’t have to.”
My hand comes out as I wait. She hesitates before putting her phone in my hand. I answer it. “Hey, it’s me, Ava.”
