“Then what the fuck are we waiting for? Let’s go and get tested right now.”
She laughs again. “Hold your horses. We’ll need to book an appointment, and if you don’t have health insurance we’ll probably need to pay.”
“I um… I actually got health insurance,” I say, “after you told me what happened with your parents.”
“You did? Oh… I’ll book appointments then. The results take between five and ten days to come back, so hopefully by your birthday we’ll be good.”
“Shit, best birthday present ever!”
I laugh as she punches me in the arm, but quickly pull her in for another kiss.
Chapter 17
Diablo
HavingElizabethattheclubhouse is great, but I miss the little bubble we had in her apartment, a place where we could be together without worrying about anyone else. We eat our meals with the guys and hang out with them around her classes and work shifts, and that’s fun, I did miss seeing the guys so often, but I hate pretending to just be friends with Elizabeth. Sitting near her and not being able to touch her, saying goodbye and not being able to kiss her, it’s torture.
We’ve been taking the car or my bike up to the mountains whenever we can, but it’s not the same. I’d gotten used to being with her in a bed, able to take my time with her, giving her the attention she deserves, being as loud as we like. A quickie up against a tree is fun, but I can’t wait until my birthday when I can take her to the hotel I’ve booked.
I sneak into her room at the clubhouse, but the walls are so thin, we either have to be incredibly quiet, or we go straight to sleep. But at least I get to sleep with her in my arms, that’s something I definitely can’t do without.
“You ready?” she asks from my door.
I glance up and let the smile form on my face, I can’t not smile when I see her. She’s wearing old jeans which are torn on the knees and thighs, and a t-shirt that’s already covered in paint stains.
“Not as ready as you apparently,” I chuckle, “are we really gonna get that messy helping Slim decorate?”
“No idea, but if we do, I’ll be okay with it. I can’t imagine you being so happy getting paint on your jeans.”
“I’ll just have to be careful or take on more of a supervisory role.”
“Excuse me?” she says, “If anyone is the supervisor of this project, it’s me. Slim gave me free rein to decorate his place; I have big plans.”
“Okay,” I say, walking to the door and pulling her into my room, before pressing her against the wall. “You’re the boss.”
I lean in and kiss her, a kiss full of promises of all the things I want to do but can’t.
“Mmm… I just hope you’re this agreeable when it comes to any of our own future decorating projects,” she says, looking up at me nervously.
My heart skips at the thought of us having a place of our own someday.
“I promise you, princess, when you agree to live with me in our own place, you can one hundred percent be the boss and have free rein. I’ll let you do anything you want.”
She grins and pulls me into another kiss, full of promises of her own.
Slim’s new place isn’t too far from the club; several blocks of duplex houses were built around the same time as theindustrial estate, and he managed to get one when it came on the market. Knowing how much he values his own space, I’m happy for him, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried too. I don’t want him to isolate himself too much from people, and he’s not the type to make friends with his neighbors.
I pull up and we all get out of the car, Tank and Pretty Boy came with us instead of having our bikes parked out front, we don’t want to scare the neighborhood too early. Slim’s already sitting on the front steps, cigarette in hand, and I know it’s not his first of the day.
“Hey,” Elizabeth says, “did all the stuff that I ordered arrive?”
“Yeah,” Slim says.
“And? What did you think of it?”
“I haven’t looked.”
“Slim, I know you’re letting me decorate, but I want you to like it. Come on,” she says, playfully pulling on his shirt, “I’ll talk you through it all.”
