“Remi,” I mutter, still reeling from the call that’s been clawing at my head.
She gestures to the bench. “You mind if I . . .?” I shake my head. She slips into the space beside me, easy and unbothered. “I’ve seen you around,” she says after a moment.
“Don’t get used to it,” I mutter. “I’m leaving.”
Her brows lift. “Oh? How come?”
I huff out a humourless laugh. “Axel hates me, for a start. The club girls are sharpening their claws. And Shadow . . .” My words trail off.
Rue tilts her head, studying me. “Are you and he . . .?”
“It’s nothing,” I cut in quickly, shrugging like it doesn’t matter. “Just a good time.”
But the way her gaze lingers on me, gentle, steady, makes me feel like she sees right through the act. She glances back towards the clubhouse, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I’m with Atlas.” My brow creases, and she adds quickly, “Big guy, covered in tattoos. Works in the garage.” A soft laugh escapes her.
“Have you been together long?” I ask, more to fill the silence than anything.
“Not really. A few months.” Her smile softens, turning inward. “It’s weird. I was happy being single, didn’t need anyone. Thenhe came along, and suddenly, I’ve got this whole family wrapped around me. It’s everything I didn’t know I wanted.”
The word ‘family; burns the back of my throat. It’s everything I know I want, and everything I can’t have.
I push to my feet, brushing imaginary dirt from my jeans. “I should probably go pack or something.”
Her eyes follow me, careful now. “Yah know, I get it. Hot guy, surrounded by women . . . it’s a lot. But I’ve seen the way he watches you.” She hesitates, then says softly, “I really think he’s crazy about you. Don’t be too quick to give up on him.”
A bitter laugh escapes before I can stop it. “I didn’t give up on him.”
Shadow
I watch her from the bed, arms folded behind my head, as she moves around the room. She’s jumpy, restless, still pissed at me. She picks up the tatty clothes she came with and heads for the bathroom.
“Why do I get the feeling this is about to end in another argument?” I ask, my tone easy, casual.
“It doesn’t have to,” she says without looking back, leaving the door ajar.
I catch her reflection in the mirror as she starts pulling off my shirt and reaching for those old clothes. “What are you doing?”
“Changing.”
“Why?”
She sighs, heavy enough that I can hear the weight of it. She braces her hands on the sink unit, her head hanging like she’s carrying the whole damn world. “I always cause trouble,” she says finally, her voice soft, defeated. “And I’ll do it here. Axel’s going to kick me out. It’s just a matter of time.”
“So, I’ll buy us a house,” I shoot back with a shrug, like it’s nothing. Because to me, it is nothing.
Her shoulders hunch tighter. “It’s all so easy for you,” she whispers, and it twists something in my gut.
“Look,” I say, swinging my legs off the bed and shoving my feet into my boots. “How about I do this run for Axel, then we go grab some food and talk about it properly.”
“I’d rather not.”
I stand, towering in the doorway until she lifts her head and meets my eyes in the mirror. “I was asking to be polite, Rem,” I tell her, my voice low, firm. “You’re coming.”
I point to the bag with her new stuff. “Put something on that’s suitable for the bike.”
“Why don’t you go do the job and come back for me after?” she shoots back, arms folded.
I grin, digging into the bag until I pull out a pair of jeans and a cropped tee. I press them into her hands. “Nice try, darlin’, but I ain’t stupid. I’m not giving you a chance to walk out on me before I’ve even had a chance to sort this out.”
