“Why do you need a fuckin’ datin’ app?” he asks.
“Hmm, let’s see.” I hold up my middle finger at him. “For one, you and Kurt seem hell-bent on me finding a pack not in the club, and the last two dates I had were horrific. So I took matters into my own hands,” I answer, still giving him the finger. He pushes the finger down when he sits at the table with me.
“Did they try anything on this date? You know I’ll handle it,” he reminds me.
I want to tell him that Axel already handled it, and then me after, but I keep my mouth shut.
“It’s fine. I can handle myself,” I state.
Leon takes a long sip of his coffee before placing it on the table and looking at me intently.
“I’m sorry for the night of the BBQ,” he apologizes.
“Water under the bridge,” I lie, still feeling bitter about it all—about how Leon is keeping so many secrets and the way he’s pushing me out of the club.
“The sweet butts and a few of the guys are ridin’ out to Madison Blue today. You wanna come?” he asks.
I try not to jump out of my seat with excitement. “Who all is gonna go?” I ask, which is the only appropriate response. I’m sure I would have a fine time without the men I sure as fuck hope are going to be there, but it would make things a lot more enjoyable.
“Shelby, Cora, Axel, Maverick, and a few others,” he lists.
“I’m in. Let me go get dressed,” I tell him.
“Shorts, Lily. Wear fuckin’ shorts,” he begs of me.
I roll my eyes but run upstairs and praise God that my period is finally over. I grab a small olive green bikini, putting it on first before throwing on a pair of jean shorts and a Dead Palms T-shirt. I put together a small bag of essentials and toss it over my shoulder.
Leon gives me a small smirk and shakes his head before opening the back door and ushering me out.
“Thanks for inviting me,” I tell him softly.
“I think we all need a little fun,” he says.
We walk over to the clubhouse where far more members and girls than I thought are waiting to get on the road. Axel is there, giving me a tight smile. I sadly don’t see Cash, but Tate is here and not even looking in my direction.
“Lily, you can ride with me,” Axel offers and my brother scoffs.
“Like fuck she is,” my brother dismisses, looking around at who else is available. It’s obvious he wants Shelby on the back of his bike. He whistles, grabbing Tate’s attention. “Lily’s gonna ride with you,” he tells Tate, not leaving any window for argument.
Tate looks around and just nods his head. I suppose we’re acting like last week didn’t happen.Okay, then. That’s fine, it’s totally fine…except I’m about to spend an hour on the back of his bike with my thighs wrapped around his body.
I can totally play this cool. He’s my stepbrother, he loves me in a platonic caring way, there’s nothing else there. I can ride on the back of his bike, no problem. I’ve ridden on the back of Leon and Kurt’s bikes multiple times. It’s not a big deal.
“You better get a fuckin’ brain bucket before we leave your ass here,” my brother says with a smirk.
Shelby is a sweetheart and hands me one, giving me a grateful smile. She knows if I told my brother I was uncomfortable, he would have booted her to ride with someone else. I would have felt like a completely shitty friend doing that to her. I can handle an hour on the back of Tate’s bike.
I pull my hair into a low ponytail and situate my sunglasses before putting the helmet on.
“You’re with me,” Tate repeats, not looking at me.
“If that’s okay?” I ask, feeling insecure.
He just nods, tucks my belongings into his saddlebag, and swings his leg over on the bike, waiting for me to get on. I take a deep breath and look over at Axel, who is glaring daggers in our direction. I huff out a breath but get on the back of Tate’s bike.
My grip is light on his sides, and he lets out a frustrated noise in the back of his throat. “Hold on,” he demands. I grip his cut a little tighter, and he jerks the bike forward, forcing my frontagainst his back as I squeeze around his body. “There you go,” he teases.
Fuck, he smells good. I need us to get on the road so that the wind might clear the fog from my head, or at least rattle some of my brain cells so that my focus isn’t solely on how our bodies are touching.
