“There was a little something between you two huh?”
“Yes, well, unrequited. I always had the biggest crush on him, but I was too shy to do anything about it.”
“You’re not shy now, are you?”
“Oh please,” she moved her hand as if it were crazy talk. “I would be quite happy not to have to see another man naked for a long time.”
“As your brother, I am very pleased to hear that, but as someone who just reunited with someone who plagued my every thought since I left, there’s always time.”
When she came up to a stop at the lights, she looked over at me, something in her expression told me she hadn’t even thought what could happen with her and Brogan. She’d put it down to an old school crush, but maybe, just maybe she could think about it.
I trusted Brogan. He was a good guy.
He would be good enough for her.
“It was all one way, Alex, I assure you. He had the hottest girlfriend in school. I’d never compare to Lucille Margrave.”
“He’s not married now,” I told her. “Nor does he have a woman, so maybe Lucille wasn’t all that great.”
“There’s so many layers to you, Alex.”
“I’m a fucking onion, what can I say. I’m just saying, give him a shot, he may surprise you.”
“I will,” she smiled again, taking off down the long road that led to the clubhouse. “Thank you.”
TWELVE
Bear
The party was in full swing by the time Sheridan, Morena, Ryleigh and Shauna came through the doors to shouts and cheers that they were back. I watched as Sheridan ran straight into Ace’s arms, and Morena to Hawk. Orla hadn’t left my arms the entire time she’d been here, and I intended to keep it that way.
Shae moved in through the door and straight to the bar, looking worse than I’d ever seen her. Red rimmed eyes told me she and Dempsey may have called it quits already.
Fuck.
Was I going to have to have a chat with him too about his relationship? Tierney was sitting in the back of the clubhouse with some of the bunnies, as if her day hadn’t been completely shit. I noticed Shona had covered up her bruise with heavy makeup, and wondered if that was for Savage’s benefit. If I was right, he would rip Cameron limb from fucking limb if he found out.
“Look who it is,” Orla said, motioning toward the doors. I looked over to see Dempsey standing there, waiting for me. I kissed Orla on the temple and told her to stay put. She probably wouldn’t, but I came to expect that from her. Exiting the clubhouse, I moved down to where Dempsey stood by his bike.
His face looked worse for wear, which was why he probably didn’t want to come in. I noticed the absence of a cut on his back.
“How’d it go?”
“He’s taken care of,” he said. “Don’t worry, these bruises and cuts ain’t from that shithead. Brogan took the lead on that.”
“Damn, didn’t know he had it in him.”
“Yeah,” Dempsey chuckled. “Look, I gotta get lost for a few months.”
“This have anything to do with the lack of a cut on you?”
He looked down at his feet for a moment. “Yeah, the Reapers, what’s left of them anyway, ain’t too happy about my deceit. I gotta run for a bit until they calm the fuck down.”
“That why Shae looks ready to murder you herself?”
“She doesn’t need to know. She’ll follow me if she does. I need her to be safe, yeah?”
I nodded. “I’ll keep her here, rather than send her back to the Nomads. Demps, you can stay here. We can protect you.”
