I shoulder past him.“Shut up, Mellow.”
He follows anyway, because the man has no survival instinct.In fact, I dare to say he wants to dance with the devil and will die with a smile on his face thinkinghere I cometo the flames of hell.
Inside, the usual morning chaos is underway—Stunt arguing with Looney about a part for his bike, Grit polishing his shotgun at the knife like it’s therapy, Saged in deep conversation with Shaft about some business the club has going on.
Just another day.
And yet I feel out of place.
Like I left something behind in that bakery.
No.Not something.Someone.
“Riot,” Gainz calls, not bothering to look up from the papers in front of him.“Office.Now.”
Fantastic.
I head into the back, the door clicking shut behind me.Gainz doesn’t look up at first; he’s scribbling something on a form, jaw tight.When he finally lifts his gaze, one look at my face seems to tell him everything.
“You look like shit,” he states and I want to punch him.
“Good morning to you too.”
He drops the pen and leans back in his chair, crossing his arms.“So.You and Kelly.”
I stiffen.“We’re done.”
His brows rise slowly, like he’s giving me the chance to walk that back.I don’t.
Gainz exhales through his nose.“Thought you were takin’ that slow and steady.”
“Slow and steady turned into complicated,” I mutter.
“Complicated or you caught feelings?”
I shoot him a sharp look.“Don’t start.”
He tilts his head.“I don’t need to start, brother.You already in the middle of whatever the hell this is.And you’re handling it poorly.”
“Thanks for the insight,” I snap.
“Chux know?”He asks and I shake my head.
“He hasn’t asked, I haven’t shared.”
Gainz doesn’t blink.“Tell me what happened.”
I scrub both hands over my face.“She wanted more.”
“Did she say that?”
I hesitate.“Not in those words.”
“So you guessed,” Gainz deadpans.“And decided for both of you.”
My jaw ticks.I’m not here for therapy.He called me in here for what I assumed was club business or work.Not some bullshit chat about who I’m fucking or not fucking in this situation.
“She kept lookin’ at me like she expected something I can’t give her,” I share frustrated, but also knowing outside of my brother, Gainz is my closest friend.“She deserves more than a man whose life is strapped to chaos and club business.More than nights that end with me leaving before dawn because I can’t promise what comes next.”
