He stands upright before straddling his bike and starting it up. “If you could do shit on your own, you think I’d be here? Think about it. Text me when you find a place, and I’ll check it out.” And then the asshole drives away, and I’mleft there with the door still wide open and my mouth on the fucking ground.
I slam the door and then go to my side, dropping into the driver’s seat with a huff. I hit the steering wheel five times and then shake out my frustration as Nat gets into the car and watches me work through a tantrum.Just like a five-year-old.
I glare at my reflection in the mirror, but it doesn’t do much more than stare right back at me.
“Is your dad in a gang?”
I deflate at her words and grab the steering wheel with both hands before I close my eyes and put my head against it. “It’s a club. They call it a motorcycleclub. He’s the president and overprotective, but I love him.” I take a deep breath and turn my head just enough to see her without moving it from resting against the fabric-covered wheel. “That going to be a problem?”
We’ve never talked about this before. For two years, she’s seen a few brothers come and go, but we never spoke about the details.
“They going to be living with us?”
I shake my head.
She grabs the seat belt and buckles up, then looks straight ahead. “Good. Because if they did, we’d need a bigger place.”
She side-eyes me and gives me a small smile. One that has me breathing steadier and sitting up straight too. I start the car and pull into traffic, heading to my favorite coffee shop near campus. I have no clue what I’d do withoutNat. I like her. And that she can deal with the club is a win inmy book.
Chapter 3—Kooper
Sixmonthslater
“Look, just take the damn sandwiches.” Ruby tries to push the tray into my hands, but I don’t take it.
I don’t even take a step back, just keep my hands at my side. Should have known that taking gate duty was going to suck today. I woke up to a hole in my sock. Nothing good ever comes when you get holes in your footwear. It’s an omen for a bad day if I ever heard of one. Some say it’s nuts to think like that. Those are the same people who say, “Just put one foot in front of the other and see where the world carries you.” To that, I question them on what goes out in the world first. If it’s a sock with a hole and your big toe is exposed to the elements, well, that shit is liable to get frozen or cut off. That doesn’t make for a good day. Might be an extreme, but so is thinking that your feet just carry you places without a thought in your mind as to where you’re headed.
“Don’t want them.”
“They ain’t for you, asshole.”
Kind of seems like they are with the way she’s pushing them on me.
“Then why ask me to take them?” I smirk at her and watch the red rise from under her shirt.
She growls low, and I don’t even hide how big my smile is at her annoyance. “They’re for the club, not you.”
I look down at my vest and then back at her. She might not like it, but Iamclub. But if she wants to be petty and exclude me, then I can be more blunt about it so she gets the point.
“Still no. Club ain’t interested.”
“Never known any male to turn down free food.” She pops her hip as if she caught me in a lie or some shit.
“Those finger sandwiches?”
She eyes the plate in her hand that’s covered with tinfoil.
“Maybe. Why?” Her eyes narrow at me.
I shrug as I cross my arms. “Bikers don’t do finger sandwiches. Besides, you’re coming from Mama Bear’s bachelorette party. Pretty sure they’re shaped like dicks—another thing bikers don’t eat.”
Her glare might work on some of the brothers, but I’m immune. Been doing babysitting duty for months now. We might not get along, but the job has been fairly easy so far. She’s kept to the rules. Doesn’t even try to push them. Either she has no life or is just better at hiding shit from me than I care to look into. Whatever. I’m doing my job. She’s breathing. It’s a win in my book.
“Whatever.” She turns and huffs away.
“Nice chatting with you as always, Ruby,” I call out to her as she goes back to her car and puts the tray in the back seat.
She doesn’t even look up, just flips me off as she tosses out her words. “Eat shit, Koop.”
