Chapter Eighteen
Jagger
“What the fuck are you doing?” I hissed at myself in the confines of my bedroom. I was pacing the floor with only the streetlamps lighting the way.
I’d wrongly assumed that when Bailey left to go to Carson City, we’d come to an agreement to move in together when he came back to Vegas. He’d reiterated he wasn’t leaving me behind, and I took that to mean we would live together at my place since he didn’t have a place in Vegas.
When he arrived in a chock-full rental SUV, I was certain things were solid. I’d cleaned the junk out of the closet in the spare room until I had time to go through my closet and make more room for him, and I’d been looking online for a chest of drawers to match my bedroom set, but I hadn’t found one since my bedroom furniture was older.
“I’m an idiot.” That was no lie.
I got too damn upset earlier when things didn’t go as I’d planned, and I didn’t try to talk to him. He went to bed without a word from me, which was wrong on so many levels. For someone I was sure I loved, I’d treated him like someone I didn’t care about.
I tossed and turned all night, trying to figure out how to fix it. It was my fault for not asking him outright, but that wasn’t something I was good at doing. No one needed to tell me that for a man who was forty-four years old, I was being ridiculous.
A scent in the morning air caught my attention. Was that…bacon? I sat up as though that would make it easier to smell whatever it was. I wasn’t out of bed yet, so it wasn’t me making bacon in my kitchen.
The door to my room was open, which wasn’t the case when I’d given up the ghost and gone to bed shortly after Bailey went upstairs the previous night. What a dumbass I’d been.
The scent of bacon and something else had awakened my morning wood as well. If I hadn’t been such a prick, I probably could have gotten rid of the wood in a very fun way before we went down to make breakfast together…
I went to the bathroom and took care of morning business before smoothing down my hair that was sticking up in the back from my restless sleep. I slid on a pair of basketball shorts and a T-shirt, making up my mind to be in a much better humor than the previous night.
The house was cool because I’d turned on the air conditioner while Dixie was visiting. Poor girl didn’t need to pant all night because I was a fan of fresh air. My parents kept our house freezing cold when I was a kid, and I’d hated it. When I could get by with it, living in hot and sunny Las Vegas, I turned off the air and opened the windows. But that wasn’t often.
When I walked into the kitchen, the smell of fresh coffee hit my nose, and I saw biscuits on the counter. My mouth watered.
“I went to the store after I returned the rental. I got a rideshare back. Did someone move my bike?”
I swallowed, having forgotten about Sawyer and Fitz’s visit a few days ago. “Uh, yeah. It was supposed to be a surprise for you, but I’m sorry I didn’t ask you first.
“Not knowing how long before you’d be ho—back in Vegas, I asked Fitz’s husband, Sawyer, to come take it for a short ride to keep it lubed and running. He looked at a few things, but did he fuck something up? I’ll pay to have it fixed.” It was as if I had a garrote around my neck. Nothing was going right.
I glanced at Bailey as he stood by the stove, turning bacon. “No, not at all. It’s better than it’s been in years. I’ll have to pay him for adjusting the timing chain.”
“No need. I’m glad it’s better. I cooked dinner for Fitz and Sawyer last Monday night in exchange for Sawyer starting your bike. He took it out for a short ride and then got out his tools while Fitz and I sat in the garage, drinking beer and gossiping about folks at the office.
“Sawyer said if you want to sell it, he’d like to buy it.” I’d told him that would never happen, and I intended to make sure of it. Bailey loved that bike.
“You like him? Fitz’s husband?” Bailey turned from the stove to stare at me. He had dark circles under his eyes, not unlike my own, I was sure. Neither of us had slept worth a fuck the previous night.
“I do. He’s a great guy. He manages the dispensary his motorcycle club owns, though he’s no longer an active member of the club. I’m not sure what’s up with that because I don’t ask questions. It doesn’t feel as though it’s my business.”
Sawyer Abbott was an amazing man, and it was easy to see Fitz adored him. They were a good couple with a few more years between them than Bailey and me. If they could make it work, couldn’t we?
Bailey glanced over his shoulder. “How do you like your eggs?”
I stepped over to the stove and took the uncracked egg from his hand. The bacon was on a plate with paper towels covering it to absorb the grease, and the biscuits were on the counter under a clean towel.
“Can we talk, please? I’m so sorry I was such an asshole last night. I’m not good with disappointment.” If I couldn’t be honest, I was going to blow it with this incredible man.
Bailey smiled. “Please? I wanted us to remind each other how much we missed each other and maybe talk for a while after. I’ve missed the fuck out of you while I was in Carson City, Jagger.”
I released a breath I’d probably been holding all night. “God, I missed you too. I’m so damn sorry I was a huge prick last night.”
Bailey pulled me into his body and kissed my neck. “Let’s clear this up right now. I want to be here with you, if you want me.”
“God, I want to see you every night when I walk through the door after a long day and wake up next to you every morning. I don’t give a flying fuck how long we’ve known each other or what other people consider an acceptable timeline.
