“You can use my real name. If you want,” he replied, surprising me. Before I could think too much about it, he kept talking.
“Dad wants to see us at the house. You need to go home before we go there, or are you okay to go from here?” The hop in conversation had me scrambling.
Knowing a shower was out of the question since my curly hair required a laundry list of products, I was grateful to find face wash and moisturizer for me in the bathroom. I freshened up, making sure I had no lingering raccoon stains from the previous night’s makeup.
Dressed in Bash’s tee and my jeans, I walked into the kitchen to a plate of scrambled eggs and toast with a cup of coffee. Therewere no chairs, so we ate standing at the kitchen island together before he hustled us out the door.
We rode to his parents’ house on his bike, and once again, I was astounded by the feeling. It was like a rollercoaster without the stomach drops. Wrapped tightly against Bash, I felt connected to him in a totally different way, our bodies became one as we leaned into turns and sailed down the winding roads.
When we pulled into his parents’ house, I became nervous when I saw another bike out front. The house was eerily quiet when we entered. I expected Charlie and Cece to pounce on me as soon as we walked in. Instead, we made our way into the kitchen, where Reaper and Guard were sitting alone. Their faces were serious, and caused me to stop short with dread.
“If this is about Jackson, Atlas, whatever he goes by, I don’t want to hear it.” I looked at both of them, letting my face show that the topic was closed.
“Not here about that. We need your help, girlie, and no extra ears,” Reaper said, which shook me out of my stupor. Bash’s hand on my back propelled me forward. He pulled out a chair for me so I could sit at the table across from his President. Bash plopped down into the seat next to me, then addressed the group.
“What’s this about?”
“We’re having some issues with the club’s books. The numbers aren’t lining up, and I can’t seem to figure out where it’s coming from. We don’t want anyone getting wind of it until we have a grasp on the problem. Think you could make some time to review our files, help us figure out what’s going on?” Reaper asked, and I saw Bash stiffen.
“You think someone is stealing from the club?” he asked, his tone icy.
“We don’t know, and that’s the problem. It’s why we want someone we can trust to look at it. Someone impartial.” I lookedbetween the three men, their faces serious. After my run-in the night before, I understood the feeling of betrayal coursing through them. After everything they had done for me, how welcoming they had been, I had no issue helping out.
“I’m happy to help. As long as that’s okay with you?” I asked, turning to Bash, who was stiff next to me. I worried that I was overstepping. He must have sensed my concern because Bash grabbed my hand before turning to Guard and Reaper.
“No one knows Fee is helping. Need you both to promise this won’t put her in danger. You give me the books, and I’ll make sure they get to her. I don’t want her on anyone’s radar, especially if this is an inside job,” Bash said. The vehemence in his voice surprised me. His only concern was my safety, and something in me melted at that.
“Don’t worry, we will make sure our girl is safe,” Guard said, and I melted even more. Bash looked at me, reading my face to make sure I wasn’t just saying yes out of obligation. I smiled at him, letting him know I was okay with it.
“We done here?” he asked, looking between the two older men as they nodded. Both Guard and Reaper stood up at the same time we did. Before I left the house, they each gave me a strong hug and thanked me for helping. No mention of my brother came up at all.
I caught a look between Reaper and Guard as Bash got me set up for the bike. A large smile broke out on Guard’s face once I was seated behind his son, so I gave him a little wave before we drove off. Bash took me back to my apartment, where he insisted we spend the rest of the day together, watching movies without any outside interruptions.
It was the perfect Sunday afternoon, curled up on the couch, barely getting up because Bash insisted on catering to me hand and foot. He ordered dinner, refusing to let me cook. We werefinishing up a pizza pie when my gut started to churn. I didn’t want him to go. I didn’t want our little bubble to burst.
It was the first time I wasn’t ready for the upcoming work week. The first time I was focused on something else. Thankfully, before I could spiral too much, Bash announced he was sleeping over and taking me to work in the morning. I went into my bathroom and pulled out a new toothbrush for him. We got ready for bed, the same way we had the night before.
By the time we were both under the covers, our bodies naturally gravitated toward each other. It felt like something we had been doing forever, and part of me worried about how I would sleep without him going forward. I fell asleep to the steady beat of his heart and the soothing feeling of his hand running through my hair.
Bash dropped me off Monday morning, letting me know he would pick me up at the end of the day and would have the books for me to go over. We had developed a routine; he would pick me up and take me to the apartment, where we would spend the rest of the night together.
Sometimes, he cooked while I worked on the club books. Other days, he brought his computer to get some of his own work done. Each night ended with a heavy makeout session before Bash cut things off and made us go to sleep.
I knew he was doing it for my sake, not wanting to push me too far, but I felt like I was crawling out of my skin. Being near him, sleeping wrapped around each other, was an intimacy I had never experienced, and I was ready for more.
Friday was the first night I spent away from Bash, Charlie banishing him from the apartment, insisting on a strict girls’ night. It was good to see her, and I could see the amount of restraint it was taking her to keep from asking about my brother.
I hadn’t seen or heard from Jackson since the cookout. I didn’t know what the Brothers had said to him, but I was grateful not to have to deal with that. It may have been cowardly, but it was a trip to the past I wasn’t trying to visit at that moment.
We ate dinner and settled on which movie to watch, but I didn’t miss the side-eye Charlie was giving when she thought I wasn’t looking. After dropping our dishes off in the sink, I sat on the couch next to her.
“Alright, you’ve waited long enough. I can practically hear the questions swirling around in your head. Go ahead and ask,” I said, watching as a passel of emotions crossed her face before she softened, grabbing my hand.
“I don’t want to intrude. Yes, I’m curious, but this is massive for you, Fee. I just want to make sure you’re doing okay,” she expressed, her blue eyes shining with sincerity. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Charlie, you’re the master of intruding. Filtering your thoughts is not one of your strong suits. I love it. I’ve always appreciated how honest you are with me. I trust you. You can ask whatever you want,” I said.
“I don’t really know what to ask. That was your brother, right? The one you haven’t seen since you were a kid?” she asked, and I nodded.
