He tilts his head back, defiant when I grab my phone, slap it on the laptop, and haul the whole damn lot upstairs with me to find some fucking peace and quiet.Cozy evening by the fire, my ass.Ain’t anything cozy in a clubhouse. They’re worse than gossiping teenagers, most of them. So starved for drama that they seek it out in places they aren’t welcome.
I abandon the insurance bullshit on my desk and take my phone to bed, propping myself up against the headboard.
When you truly know me, you’ll be able to work it out.
Fuck my life.
SIXTEEN
KYRA
“Rough day?”I cross the street to where Jinx waits for me.
He picks up a takeaway coffee off the top of the stone wall and hands it to me. “A lot on my mind.”
“Anything I can help with?”
It’s become a habit. When he doesn’t have club business keeping him busy, he waits for me to finish work and we go for a walk through the gardens, often stopping beneath one of the oak trees when the weather permits, or finding shelter in the bandstand.
It’s cathartic. Peaceful. Sometimes neither of us says a word; we simply watch the raindrops hit the broad green leaves and let the gentle sounds of nature take away the stresses of our lives.
And all the while, the people continue to gossip to my father about whom I choose to spend my time with. To the point I’ve started waving at the nosy fuckers when they pass by, failing at hiding their interest in our coffee dates.
“Nothing I can tell you about.” Jinx pushes to his feet. “You wanna go somewhere different today?”
“Why?”
He tilts his head back, indicating the small party that already fills the bandstand in the center of the gardens.
“Oh.” The weather isn’t exactly great, but there’s no hint of rain, so I guess we’ll be okay. “Where did you want to go?”
“How about you take me to see this house of yours?” He smirks.
I tilt my head and smile. “I haven’t got the keys yet. You’re early by about two days.”
He rolls his lips, glancing down the street as though to come up with a Plan B. He’s not as inked as some of the other members, but Jinx doesn’t have clean skin either. The peek of artwork shows from beneath his wavy hair, curling behind his ear to almost meet the line of his trimmed beard. I like it. It’s subtle, highlighting the strong column of his neck.
“How about we take a walk up the main street,” he suggests, “and I can buy you a housewarming present.”
“Aren’t I supposed to have a party for you to be able to do that?”
“Then it’s a new home gift. A welcome back token. Whatever the hell you’d like to call it.” He smirks.
“Fine.” I turn left and start walking. “But you’re not buying me anything. Your company, while I browse, will be gift enough.”
He mutters something that sounds like, “Try and stop me,” yet feigns nonchalance when I glance his way, sipping at his coffee.
“You know, buying the house has made us doing this easier.”
He glances at me. “How so?”
“Because if I wasn’t already moving out, I think my father would have kicked me out for defying his order.”
“Order?” Jinx frowns. “You said he didn’t want you to see me. Are you telling me the asshole actually ordered you not to talk to me?”
I nod. “What else did you expect?
“Fuck’s sake, Kyra. You’re a grown ass adult capable of making your own decisions.”
