“No,” I’m quick to reply. “I thought I was doing the right thing.” Was I jealous? Of course I was, but I’m not going to tell him that.
I take a step toward him until our bodies meet, and I feel the scorch of heat go straight through me. I reach up under his shirt, and I touch his hard abs. His body shakes and he sucks in a breath. I smile. My other hand goes to his jeans, and I slide it into his pocket.Score! I pull out his phone.
“What are you doing?” he asks, his voice husky.
I give him an innocent smile, shove the phone in his face to unlock it, and I bolt, running as fast as I can through the kitchen, out the door, and off toward Sophie. I hear heavy boots behind me, which just makes me giggle more.
“Hey,” he says, his voice playful. “Give that back.”
I laugh, thinking it’s hilarious, and pass the phone off to Sophie. She holds on to it for dear life, and I rush to take a seat next to Ivy. The music changes to a techno beat, and Axle lets out a gigantic groan, narrowing his eyes at me. “Really, Milly? I thought we were friends.”
I wave him off. “Let her choose a song.”
Twitch shakes his head with a grin and takes a seat opposite me.
“Oh, damn,” I say. “I forgot my drink.”
Elena stands with her empty glass. “I’ll get it for you. I need a glass of wine anyway.”
“Thank you! It’s the cocktail in the fridge.”
She’s so lovely.
I look around to see Sammy on the play equipment and Hope on the swing. Ava is pushing her. The sweet butts and a few of the men are sitting on sandstone blocks around the fire. It’s relaxing out here, and with the trees and being on the edge of the national forest, it’s a great spot.
After dinner, we all sit around the fire, drinking. Sophie and Cash plan on getting us all drunk, I’m sure of it, as the drinks just keep appearing. It’s a happy vibe, full of talk and laughter. I get the evil eye from Mercedez every now and again, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.
Bomber and Demon coordinate the fireworks. They let off loud cracks, spiraling and shooting into the sky in vibrant splashes of color and unique designs. It’s spectacular. I love seeing the huge smile on Sammy’s face. The close bond Demon has formed with her is a beautiful sight. Demon and Bomber changed when the right women came along.
Is it possible that Twitch could see our relationship as more than just sexual tension? Could someone like him ever commit? I hear my brother’s laugh and look across the flames to see Ava on his lap. The sight snaps me back to reality. It wouldn’t matter if Twitch could see us in a relationship because it’s never going to change the fact that my brother is the club president and we are defying him.
Ivy sits beside me. She frowns. “What’s wrong?”
I fake a smile. “Nothing.”
She leans close and lowers her voice. “Is it about who I think it is?”
I reluctantly nod.
“Do you want to go inside and talk?”
It must be the alcohol, but I’m feeling a little extra emotional tonight. “Okay.”
As we’re walking up to the house, Ivy says. “You look really beautiful tonight.”
“Aww, thank you. Ever since the kidnapping, I’ve been down, but I’m starting to feel like myself again, so I thought I’d get out of the sweatpants and dress up.”
Her brows pull in as she opens the back door for me. We step inside.
“So you’re feeling better? That’s great news! I know we’ve talked about what we’ve gone through, but I always thought you were just saying it to make me feel better. You’re always so put together and strong. No one would have ever known you were struggling.”
We walk up the stairs toward the bedrooms.
“I was being honest. I’m good at hiding it. I’m surprised you haven’t heard me cry out in my nightmares.” Because Twitch is there, I’m lucky to feel safe, secure, and able to overcome my fears. Even though I like him as more than a friend, he’s the friend I always wished I had.
“All the women seem to have gone through something traumatic, so I never would have guessed who it was, and it was none of my business, so I never asked.”
I love that about the club ol’ ladies. No one judges. It’s refreshing. We all want what’s best for each other. Well, all the women do, except for Mercedez. She looks out for number one only.
