SANDRA
I was temptedto stay at the club overnight, but while I might be annoyed with Natalie, she’s my sister. I’m not trying to freak her out for real. Sometimes I wish I didn’t care, or that she didn’t, but the truth is we do and what we really need to do is find a middle ground that works for both of us. Once we've both had some time to cool off we can try talking again.
But I have to get to work. Piston insisted on taking me so I wouldn't have to take the bus, so now I'm waiting downstairs, hiding from the sun inside Books & Crannies so I can avoid talking to Nat before I’m ready. My plan backfires when Faith comes downstairs and spots me.
“Hey, Sandra. Are you and Nat fighting again?”
“Sort of.”
She leans against the counter, sipping a coffee. “Is it about Zero and the guys?”
“Kinda.”
“Wow, you’re a fountain of information this morning, aren’t you?”
“Sorry, it’s just…” I sigh. “Sister stuff. She has this idea in her head of how my perfect life should turn out, and I’m not sure I get much of a say in it.”
“Sometimes it’s not so bad having a two-year-old for a brother, I guess,” she says with a laugh. Damien was a real surprise to Eagle-eye and Miriam, at their age.
A familiar rumble sounds from down the block, echoing off the buildings as it comes closer. Then Piston pulls up along the sidewalk outside. Saved by the biker.
“That’s my ride!” I dash out, stopping right next to him, suddenly weirdly shy. After what we did yesterday, you’d think that’d be the last thing I’d be. But what if it was just a flash in the pan, just a little perfect storm and now we move on? But he’s here to pick me up, after all. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.” God, that smile. He looks amazing. His gray shirt clings to his athletic shape under his cut, and his jeans are worn soft and tight over his thighs. “Any regrets in the light of day?
"Not a one.” Am I blushing? Nah, just the heat.
We didn’t even have sex. Technically. I’m pretty sure what we did yesterday was intense enough to count, but now that I knowexactlywhat they’re working with, I'm a little worried about taking that final step.
"You sure?"
I flash him a smile. I'd flash him more than that if we weren't on a public street with Faith watching. So instead I swing my legover the back of the bike, wrap my arms around him and press my breasts into his back. "Maybe that I didn’t spend the night."
"Good, ‘cause I wouldn’t mind that either, baby.” He starts the bike.
Driving instead of taking the bus is so much faster. Piston weaves expertly through traffic, using our smaller size for all it's worth. I bet everyone around here is used to watching out for motorcycles, and nobody in South Side would risk hitting a Screaming Eagle if they could possibly avoid it. From what I’ve seen, the club is well liked in the area, but it’s because their presence keeps the trouble to a minimum, not because they’re gentle and forgiving.
By the time we’re in the Ditch, the traffic eases. I close my eyes and enjoy the last few minutes of the ride, wishing it was longer. If they're going to keep insisting on driving me to work, I'm not going to find it hard to adjust to, that's for sure.
Travis’s car is already in the parking lot when we pull in, and the lights are on in the front. Probably doing paperwork, as usual. Which is fine. He’ll usually do a quick visual check when he gets in, but it’s me or Carl that does the morning routine. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day, to be honest. There’s something satisfying about hosing everything down and socializing with the dogs. They're all so excited to see me.
I give Piston a brief goodbye kiss, but then he gets off his bike.
"Are you coming in, too? You don’t have to. Junkyard’s fine. Jerry’s watching her for a couple more days. Want me to send a picture to the group chat?"
"Yeah, but that’s not why I’m staying. There’s been a lot of trouble lately, and I didn’t like the look of that guy we ran offthe other day. We talked about it last night. One of us will stick around while you’re working." He shrugs like that makes perfect sense.
"Funny, I don’t remember that conversation and I feel like I’m an important part of it.” I cross my arms over my chest. First under my boobs, but when his gaze drops, I readjust. "I'm serious. You can’t just babysit me at work."
His smirk is unapologetic. "This isn't a macho thing. Some trouble has moved into the Ditch, and it’s connected to the club. And like it or not, so are you now. It’s probably fine, but I don’t want to risk it."
"We're an animal shelter. What are they going to do? Steal our flea shampoo?" I gesture at the worn building. "And that guy shouldn’t be back. I told him we didn’t have a dog matching the description he gave, and Travis told me that when the guy called later to complain, he backed me up."
Piston looks unsure. “He said that?”
"Yeah. He wasn’t happy with me, but he had my back. The point is, I have enough people in my life telling me what to do.” I reach out and stroke my hand down his arm, trailing our fingers together. “I'm having fun, I think you're having fun, but if we weren’t—whatever we are now—can you honestly tell me that I’d be getting the guard duty experience?" We lock eyes, and holding my own is tough, but I need him to know I mean it.
He sighs. “Maybe, but probably not.”
