“Then you man up and tell her how you feel,” Bear says, surprisingly gentle. “Lay it out that you’re into her, and the club’s part of who you are, take it or leave it. At least she’ll know where you stand.”
Suddenly, my phone buzzes. I reach into my pocket, yank out my cell, and when I see the name on my screen, my heart slams into my chest.
“That her?” Millie whispers.
Marley:Hey. Can we talk?
Four words that feel like a lifeline or a death trap.
“Well?” Ro demands, vibrating with anticipation.
I ignore all the staring eyes on me as I type back.
Me:Where and when?
Marley:Sunset Park near Sage’s? Half an hour?
Me:I’ll be there.
Noticing all the sets of eyes on me waiting with anticipation, I huff. “Yeah, it was her,” I simply state, and grab my keys as I stand.
“Use protection,” Ro calls after me, everyone chuckling as I flip her off without turning around.
“Nitro?” Sin calls out as I reach the front door.
I spin back, looking at him. “Yeah, Pres?”
“Go get your damn girl.”
I simply nod, the rest of the clubhouse cheering like dickheads as I spin for my bike. I hop on, hoping that this ‘talk’ is a good one and not an ‘I never want to see you again’kind of talk.
The ride is quick, and as I park my bike, I note that Sunset Park isn’t crowded. There are a few joggers, a mom with astroller, and Marley sits on a bench near the playground. She’s wearing those quirky glasses, a mid-length shirt meeting cute leggings that are showing off her curves, nervously pulling at her purse strap.
My heart feels too big for my chest, but I approach slowly. She looks up when she hears my boots, and our eyes meet.
“Hey,” I say, sitting next to her with ample space between us.
“Hey.” She lets out a breath she’s been holding. “So… I freaked out.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
She winces, getting straight to it. “I’m sorry. You were honest, and I… I don’t even know why I freaked out.” She turns to face me. “Part of it is guilt. Derek and I only broke up two weeks ago, and even though I don’t like the asshole, it feels weird kissing someone else so soon.”
“I shouldn’t have kissed you. Too much, too fast.”
“No, that’s the thing…” She looks at me seriously. “I wanted you to kiss me. That’s what freaked me out. I wanted it, and it felt really good. But there’s this gala, and we’re fake dating, and I’m worried about mixing signals.”
I choose my words carefully. “Okay, how about this, no more kissing unless we have to at the gala, for show. We stick to the plan. Be a couple in front of Derek, but otherwise, just… us. Friends. Absolutely zero pressure.”
She searches my face. “You’d… you’d be okay with that?”
“If it means I don’t lose you completely? Yeah. I never want you to be uncomfortable with me, Marley.”
Something shifts in her expression. Then, so quietly I almost miss it, she murmurs, “I wasn’t uncomfortable.”
I lean forward. “What?”
She meets my eyes, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “When you kissed me. I wasn’t uncomfortable. Just so we’re clear.”
