I wrapped my hand around her finger, pulled her toward me, and kissed her cheek. “I’ll bring them to Sunday lunch so you can meet them. How does that sound?”
Mom smiled brightly. “I’ll make sure to make extras.”
“I love you, princess.”
I pulled Dad into a hug as well. “I love you, too, Daddy.”
Mom brushed my hair away from my forehead before tucking a loose strand behind my ear. “Go, before I change my mind and chain you to the kitchen table for dinner.”
“Wise words,” Dad murmured as he gave my cheek one last kiss.
I giggled softly as he relinquished me. “Sunday lunch, okay? Just like usual? 12:30?”
She did her best not to start crying again. “Just like usual. 12:30. Promise?”
I held up my pinky finger and she wrapped hers around it. “Promise.”
HOOOOOOOOONK! HOOOOONK! HOOOOOOOOONK!
I whipped around and smiled at Jax. “Love you guys.”
“Love you, too,” they said in unison.
And that’s when I took off.
Everything moved in slow motion after that. I tore across the street, even as tears streaked my neck. I threw myself into the shadows and didn’t bother looking back as I ran toward Jax and his bike. Even he had a grin on his face, a smirk that overtook his usually stone-cold features. And as he slid his sunglasses down onto his face, I threw my leg over the back of his bike.
I looked over at my parents and found them waving at me.
“Love you guys!” I exclaimed, waving back.
“Stay safe, honey!” Mom called out as she cupped her hands over her mouth.
“See you Sunday!” Dad bellowed, waving his hand at me over his head.
“And don’t forget to bring your friends!” Mom yelped.
“Your momma a good cook?” Jax asked.
I wrapped my arms around his waist. “One of the best.”
He chuckled as he revved his motorcycle engine. “Count me in for Sunday, then.”
Feeling the wind whipping around my body as he kicked off and soared down the road lifted my heart out of its dark cavern. The closer we grew to the clubhouse, the more my soul took flight. I thought they had forgotten about me. I thought they had left me behind, discarded me like my sister had been the day we were born. And for the smallest of moments, I felt for her. For the smallest of moments, I felt what it had been like to realize you had been left behind. To realize you hadn’t been loved enough to have been considered in decisions.
If she pulled through things, I’d make sure she knew someone cared.
Even if the guys didn’t agree with my efforts.
The world zipped by us like lightning as I focused on the desert unfolding in front of us. Jax took a sharp left, pulling off the asphalt and soaring through the cracked, cactus-laden desert. Dust kicked up around us and I had to bury my face against his back to keep from breathing it in. How he kept his head high while he drove was beyond me. The dust damn near suffocated me as is.
But when his rumbling motorcycle came to a stop in front of the place I had called home for the last week, I couldn’t throw myself off that bike quickly enough.
“Axton!” I roared.
I scrambled up the steps and slammed my way through the front door.
“Maverick! Dante! Where are you guys!?”
