“Well, how about you care about me a little fucking less. Huh?” I snapped before slamming the car door shut. After a few tense moments, Katie climbed into the driver’s seat and started the car.
“That was a strange thing to say to a woman who’s spent most of her day looking after you,” Kaite bit out. “Maybe I’ll just roll you to the nearest bus stop and you can get your own damn self home.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I know you’re only trying to help. I mean, youarehelping, and I really fucking appreciate it. I’m just not used to needing anybody’s help, you know? I’m comfortable calling my own shots. Living as freely as possible.”
Katie chuckled. “You guys crack me up. You know that?”
“What did I say that was so fucking funny?”
“All you Dogs are the same. Every club member talks as if he’s a lone wolf, alpha male. Free from the shackles of society, and yet you all dress the same, talk the same, and think the same. If some civilian tells you do something, you tell them to eat shit, but if an officer of the club told you to jump off a building, your only question would be from what floor.”
I shook my head. “Non-members can never tell the difference between abiding by society’s rules and club rules.”
“Maybe it’s you who doesn’t understand,” she snapped back. “And I may not be a member, but as long as my brother is, I’m family. A position I’ve earned through my loyalty to the club, by the way. And do I need to remind you he’s a fucking officer?”
We drove in silence for the rest of the trip home. Me only breaking it once we’d pulled up to Hatch’s place.
“Katie, I’m sorry. Of course, you’re family and I love you like you’re my own sister, probably more, but being told what I can and cannot do is pegging my needle into the red. I really feel like I’m gonna crack up if I don’t get out of this cast and get my assback on a bike.”
“I’m sorry, too. But Iamconcerned that you’re not taking your recovery and rehab seriously enough. And you getting physical with your physical therapist is the last thing that should be on your mind.”
Of course, Katie was one hundred percent right, but the truth of the matter was, I was going to ignore one hundred percent of what she said. Waverly would most certainly be a distraction, but she’d be a distraction of my choosing.
* * *
Waverly
The next day, I arrived home to find a giant bouquet of flowers and a tin of Almond Rocha waiting for me at my front door. I carried it inside, and after locking up, I found the card and opened it.
“I love you forever and a day, and I’ve given you space, but if you don’t answer your phone, I’m going to get my ass on a fucking plane and come out there. I will hug you so tight, you won’t be able to breathe. Do not test me, Gravy. Love you, bitch. Lenn.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath.
Lennon was my ride or die. She would never do anything to hurt me on purpose. Maybe I was being unfair.
Or...
Maybe she shouldn’t have lied to me.
I sighed, opening the tin of Rocha and peeling the foil off one of the treats before popping it into mymouth. I kicked off my shoes and opened my drawer to figure out what I was going to order just as my doorbell pealed. Grabbing my phone, I checked my doorbell camera and let out a quiet squeak. I engaged the microphone and growled out, “No.”
“Housekeeping,” Lennon sassed.
“No.”
“Open the door or I’ll make a scene.”
“No.”
“Bitch, you know I can rival you in the dramatics. Open the goddamn door.”
I let out a frustrated squeal and stomped to my door, yanking it open. “What are you doing here?”
She walked inside like she owned the joint, closing the door behind me. “If the mountain won’t come to Mohamad...”
“Are you calling me fat?”
Lennon smirked. “Yes.”
