“Okay. Thanks for the food and money.” She waved from the door as he started up his truck. He was glad he didn’t have his Harley; the asshole would’ve spotted it in a second. Jerry was positive the three men staying with Randy and Dolores were from the Skull Crushers MC.They’re back in our territory selling meth. Sonsofbitches.They were probably selling the homemade crank the couple was cooking up. It was pure luck he spotted the fucker that night.
He bypassed going to his apartment, instead racing to the clubhouse to share the news with the brotherhood.
Chapter Thirteen
Kylie rushed downthe hall to her room when she heard her phone ring. Still riding a high from the previous weekend with Jerry, she held her breath as she picked up the phone from her bed, not daring to look at the screen in fear of jinxing herself.
“Hello?”
“Hey, babe.” Jerry’s deep voice covered her like a warm blanket on a wintry day.
“I was hoping it was you. What’re you up to?”
“Same stuff—working, drinking, smoking too much weed.” His chuckle danced on her skin. “What about you?”
“Studying and more studying, and even more studying. Ugh, I amsoready for the semester to end. You know, I’ll be home in three weeks, and we’ll have the whole summer together. I can’t wait to see you. You excited to see me?”
“Uh… sure. Yeah.”
Kylie frowned. “Don’t overexcite yourself,” she snapped.
A jagged breath pushed through her ears. “You know I fucking want to see you… and be with you. We just gotta be extra careful.”
“Way to kill the romance.”
“Babe, you know we’re both skating on thin ice with this, right?”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course I know. I’m not stupid. I was just excited about seeing you soon, that’s all. I didn’t want to talk about anything but that.” She paused, hoping he’d say something. He didn’t. “Whatever. I have to go to the library. I should have been there an hour ago.”
“Don’t be that way. I really can’t wait to see you and spend time together.”
“Whatever. I’ll talk to you later.” After his good-bye, she clicked off the phone, tears springing in her eyes. She knew she was overreacting, but she wanted him to tell her that he couldn’t wait until she came, and they’d have the whole summer to make passionate love, ride the backroads, and lie on the ground, staring up at the twinkling stars, their hands clasped together. She didn’t want to hear the hesitancy in his voice, the warning about being careful, and all the other shit he left unspoken.
“You going to the library?” Taylor walked into the room, interrupting Kylie’s musings.
“Yeah. You planning on going?”
“Fuck no. I’ve lived in that damn place for the past five days. I’m beat. Tonight, it’s junk food and a juicy reality TV show.” She took her lollipop out of her mouth, her purple tongue licking her lips. “Want a sucker? They got a whole mess of these at the front desk downstairs. I picked up a handful.”
Kylie shook her head then flopped onto the bed with a long sigh.
“Trouble with your hot guy?” Taylor sat on the desk chair and scooted closer to Kylie’s bed.
“No. Yes. I don’t know. He was so different when we were together over the weekend, but now that he’s back home, he acts reserved and hesitant. It pisses me off, that’s all.”
“Didn’t you say your dad would go ballistic if he knew you were having an affair with Jerry? And he is in your dad’s club. I mean, when he was with you last weekend, it was like he was on vacation. No club. No pissed-off dad. Just the two of you.”
“I get that, I really do, but does he have to remind me every time that we need to be careful, or what the consequences are if we get caught? I want him to tell me he’ll fight for me, no matter what.”
Taylor nodded. “I’d want that too. Maybe he’s not ready for that, though.”
“As the time passes, I’m starting to think he just wants some fun for a while, and there’s no reason to get on my dad’s bad side if what we have is going to fizzle.” Her voice hitched.
Taylor looked at her, softness lacing her eyes. “Guys are like that. They think with their dicks, and we think with our hearts. Do you love him?”
“No,” she replied quickly. “I’m all in for the fun too. I don’t know. I guess I’m worn out with all the studying and stress of the upcoming finals. And my period is starting. I always get so sensitive during that time of the month. It’s fine with Jerry. No biggie at all.” She pushed herself up and slung her backpack over her shoulder. “I better get going. It’s going to be a long night.”
Crunching on the bits of sucker in her mouth, Taylor grasped and squeezed Kylie’s hands. “It’s going to be okay. I could tell by the way he looked at you at the spring festival that he’s crazy about you.”
