He leaned up on an elbow. “Lex, you did. It was a long time ago when you were so adamant, but Jazz asked if you still meant it last summer.”
I narrowed my eyes recalling the night I said that. “You weren’t even there. How do you know what I said? Jasmine wouldn’t tell you.”
An almost bashful expression crossed his face. “I was right outside the room.”
I narrowed my eyes. “No. You were out with Steel. I specifically asked where you were when I got there.”
He shot me a sheepish smile. “Steel sent me home early because I hadn’t committed to prospecting with the Devil Lancers versus the Riot. I saw your car in the drive and made sure I was quiet when I went inside.” He paused and when I said nothing he continued. “So… Why’d you say it?”
If we were going to work, I had to be up front. “Because I hate the domineering over-protectiveness and the fact that most brothers leave their women in the dark.”
“Sounds like bullshit,” he muttered.
I shot him a look. “When anyone else gets too protective, it feels like control.” I hesitated a beat. “The few times you did it in high school, it didn’t feel like that.”
He stared at me. “What did it feel like?”
“It felt… natural.” Deep down, I suspected that nobody else would be able to pull that off.
“Still think there’s B.S. in there, but do you still feel that way about the MC? Because I’m not leaving the club and you’re the woman I want at my side.”
The past two days felt surreal. Everything about us was fast, but not fast at all. It was intense, but easy at the same time. All because we had so much history.
“What are you thinking, Lex?”
“That I love you even if it’s way too soon to say that, and— Oof!”
Rafferty planted me under his body. “Nottoo soon, Alexandra. I love you, too.”
“No kidding, since you basically just said you want me to be your old lady.”
His eyes flared. “Yeah, but you didn’t answer my question. Are you still determined not to be part of the Riot after you graduate?”
I debated it for a moment. “Not determined exactly, but I don’t want to be the club’s dentist either.”
“Your dad would never—”
“Vamp and Razor already mentioned it.”
“They were kidding. Seriously, Razor would never put you in that position.”
I shrugged. “That’s true. Now that I know where things stand with us, I’mnotdetermined to break free of the MC life.”
“Good,” he said, lowering his lips to mine.
We were getting lost in this kiss when my phone rang.
I twisted my lips free. “I better get that. It might be Ines or her mom.”
Raff blew out a sigh and let me up. “Yeah.”
My phone sat on the dinette table. The number listed on the screen had the name of the hospital listed above the phone number. My stomach suddenly felt like a pit. “Hello?”
“Alexandra, this is Dolores Tallow, Ines’s aunt.”
“Hi. How is Ines?”
Her breath hitched before she spoke again. “There’s no easy way to say this, Alexandra. Ines passed away just after two o’clock this afternoon.”
