So, I waited. I stayed. Until Veronica finally made me leave. She needed time and I’m prepared to give her that. But like I told her, I’m not staying away. She has until the end of my next shift.
But now, I still have a patient that needs to be seen. I tried to call, but he didn’t answer, so I called in reinforcements.
Me: Hey where are you?
Mack: At the clubhouse right now. Planning to head home to my firecracker. Why? What’s up?
It’s not even noon yet. Him heading home, I know exactly what he’s planning on doing. Not that he’d give the specifics. Thank goodness for that.
Me: Is Hank around?
Mack: Yeah, he’s currently sitting at the bar with a beer in hand and club girl, sidling up to his side.
Fucking hell. If he screws with one of them before he makes shit right with Veronica, I’ll kill his motherfucking ass.
Me: Keep him there. I need to check his wound, and he’s not going to want to see me.
Mack: ??
Me: Long story. Shit’s happened between him and Veronica and I, well I have a part in him being pissed at the moment.
Mack: 2 questions. Did he hurt her and am I killing him?
Me: Yes. Not physically and not yet. But in the future the answer may be yes.
Mack: He’ll be in his room. Find me when you get here.
He doesn’t question me about what happened. As long as Veronica is okay, he’s not in the doghouse with Ash.
I start my truck, pull out of Vee’s apartment complex, and head to the clubhouse, ready to face the wrath of the man that’s normally the biggest teddy bear you’d ever meet.
God I need to sleep. First, I need a coffee.
Along the way, I detour through a drive thru and get a cup of coffee and a biscuit. I figured I should eat something before I head to bed.
I’m about to handle Hank, but I still need to talk to Luke first.
I pick up my phone and scroll through my contacts until I get to his name, and hit the phone icon. Ringing sounds through the speaker before he finally picks up and speaks.
“Is she okay?” I can hear the desperation in his voice.
“No, she’s not. She’s hurting, and she doesn’t know what to do,” I tell him, hitting the turn signal and slowing to a stop as I check to make sure it’s clear to turn.
He clears his throat. “Did she tell you what’s goin’ on?”
“Yeah, and I really need to sit down with you and Hank and have a conversation.” I’m going to be honest with my brothers because I don’t plan to make her choose between me and them, nor let her get away. All of us being together is the perfect scenario. Each of us can be there for her in different ways that she needs. She’ll never be alone or crave attention.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. He was pretty pissed with me when we ran into each other at her place.”
Interesting.
“You didn’t come together?”
“No. I wanted to talk to her and check her tattoo. She got pissed at the shop and ran off and I…”
He doesn’t finish what he’s saying. He just goes silent, and I can hear his deep breaths echoing through the speakers.
“I have a twenty-four hour shift tomorrow. I told Vee I was giving her until it was over, and I was coming back. I like her, Luke. Have for a long time, but I’ve stood to the side waiting for you to claim her as yours, and you didn’t.” I swallow hard. “I know she loves you. She loves Hank. But she has feelings for me, too, and I won’t make her choose. If she’ll have me then I’m hers, but I’m done staying on the sidelines.”
