She’s joking, but I’m serious. “No, I mean it.”
Her smile fades, and I can see her thoughts have turned bad. “It’s not that I don’t believe you. I see it in your eyes when you look at me, and I hear it in your voice. I know you mean every word. It’s just that I’ve never felt desirable. It makes me so happy that you feel that way,” she says, then gives me a small smile. “I guess I just need to learn to love myself too.”
“How could you not love yourself? You’re a fucking wet dream.” I add a cheeky wink, then decide to add humor. I straighten my back and push my chest out. “Self-love is looking into the mirror and saying, ‘Wow, I’d date me.’?” Then I pretend to kiss my bulging bicep.
The bedroom door flies open. Rose gasps; I freeze, thinking,What the fuck?Axle’s loud fucking laugh comes tearing through the room, echoing off the walls. I just know that laugh will torment me in my sleep.
His grin is stretching wide. “I’m digging this motivational speech. What was it again?” His hand goes to his chin, but his eyes are delighted. “I’d date me,” he says in the girliest voice possible, then laughs.
“Oh fuck,” I murmur to myself.
Rose is chuckling at him. I can’t believe Axle heard that. I just wanted to see her smile and laugh again, so I said the first thing that came to mind.
She looks at Axle. “Be nice to him—he’s a good guy who’s just trying to make me smile.”
“Smile?” he asks with a wide-ass grin. “How did you not burst out in laughter?”
I release a huge sigh. My ego is bruised.
“Oh, ease up, buttercup,” Axle says to me. “I never knew you were funny. It’s good to see you loosen up. Even if you sound like an utter douchebag.”
Rose slams her lips together as if trying not to laugh. I stand to force him out of the room. He hightails it, but I hear his evil laughter all the way down the hallway.
I groan. “He’ll never let me live that down. I’m sure when I die it will be on my headstone.”
“You guys call us women dramatic.” She adds a little eyeroll for good measure. “He heard you make a joke. It’s not as bad as you think it is.” She’s clearly not hearing me.
“I’ve destroyed my reputation. I’m no longer going to be seen as a man who can handle himself. All Axle will hear when he sees me is me bragging, saying, ‘I’d date me.’?” My head falls back.
She moves away from me, making me pout even more, but she gets under the blanket and pats the bed beside her. She doesn’t have to ask me twice, so I get under the blanket and shuffle closer to her.
“Do you need a big cuddle?” she asks as though she’s speaking to a baby.
Hey, I’ll take anything. “I sure do,” I say, loud and proud.
She giggles and shuffles close to me and rests her head on my chest, wrapping her arm firmly around me. This right here... is perfect. I can’t imagine any other feeling being better than this.
“You have a big heart, Rage, but if you haven’t noticed, your friends just want to see you happy. Even the sweet butts do. This image you’ve tried so hard to project to people... you really don’t need to.”
Her words hit me like a freight train, but she’s not done.
“People like you because you’re a great guy, but you’ve already proved yourself. I think perhaps you haven’t let the MC see the real you yet. You should be able to be silly and joke around with friends because you feel safe with them. They’re already your family, and just seeing Axle’s reaction—he loved that he found you to be funny.”
I’m speechless. What the fuck do I say to someone who knows me better than myself? “Are you a mind reader or something?” I finally manage to say. My voice is rough but laced with humor.
She chuckles. “Just an observation.”
“A few years ago, I was a prospect for the club. I had to work to prove myself to be able to get a place in the MC. I guess I’ve never stopped trying.”
“That’s what I’m saying. You’ve proved yourself. You’ve built strong relationships with people you now see as family. You’ve earned your place—now enjoy it. Don’t stress so much. You’re so much more than just this angry young man who’s a good fighter. You’re a friend, and from what I’ve seen, that means something here. You’re lucky you have such good friends... I’m jealous.”
I snort. “Yeah, right.”
“No, I am.”
Heck, she sounds serious.
“You’re so lucky to have found a place with people who love and care for you and treat you right. I’ve never had a friend like that. Not even one...” She sounds sad, and I feel bad for her because she’s such a good person.
