I kissed her again. “You know my motto: ‘Go fast, don’t die.’”
Merci shook her head with a small laugh, but I could see the worry in her eyes.
“I’ll drop by during your shift. We can talk then.”
I glanced one last time at Merrick, his scarred face stony and his grip tight around my cut. The patch represented the only family I’d ever had before Jessa, but I’d give it all up to be with Merci.
Chapter Nineteen
The screen door slammed behind Hatchet, and I smacked Merrick’s arm. “Why are you such a dick?”
“How am I in the wrong here?” Merrick asked, exasperated. He carefully folded Hatchet’s cut and set it on the counter.
I shook my head. Were all men this dense or just my brother?
“I can date whoever I want. I can fuck whoever I want. Sure, we didn’t want you to find out like this, but you’re overreacting.”
“I’m overreacting?” Merrick shouted. “I come home to find my baby sister in bed with my best friend. I think I’m just reacting.”
I crossed my arms and scowled. “I’m not open to debating my relationships with you. We’re together. Get over it. Or don’t. But it’s going to make for a shitty Thanksgiving.”
“It’s cute you think this’ll last until Thanksgiving,” he said with a dark chuckle.
“That’s enough,” Kenna warned, stepping between us and putting a palm on Merrick’s chest. “Let’s put a pin in this conversation for now. I think you both need some time and space.”
“Whatever,” Merrick grumbled as he stormed out the door toward the clubhouse.
“Well, that was fun,” I said, shooting a weak smile at Kenna. I slid onto a stool at the kitchen counter, tracing the edges of Hatchet’s abandoned cut with my finger.
“So, you’re in love with Hatchet?” Kenna asked, as if the grenade I’d thrown hadn’t resulted in shrapnel piercing through the two men I cared about most. No judgment. No doubt. Just simple curiosity.
I sighed. “Yeah. I am.”
Kenna grinned. “I’m happy for you both. He’s a good man. He’s grown up a lot just in the time that I’ve known him.”
“I think watching you and Merrick fall in love made him want to.”
Kenna nodded. “He was so understanding about that. He gave us grace when he could have been angry. That’s why I’m so disappointed with Merrick right now.”
I grimaced. “I mean, how he found us wasn’t ideal.”
“Oh, shit. Was it that bad? What percentage of clothing were you wearing?”
“Um, does a sheet count?” I quipped.
Kenna cackled. “Yeah, the conversation probably would have gone slightly better if you’d started it with clothes on. I’ll talk to him.”
“Thanks. I’ll probably stay with Hatchet after my shift. Give Merrick some more time to calm down.”
Kenna nodded. “Probably a good idea. He’ll be fine. They both will. Reaper says they’ve always butted heads. It’ll probably come down to them punching it out, and then he’ll get over it.”
I offered Kenna a small smile. “I hope so. I hate that I’ve come between them.”
Kenna moved in and hugged me. “I get it. I know exactly how you feel. It’ll all work itself out.”
My mind whirled as I peeled out of the driveway in my truck to head to work. I would’ve never asked, but Hatchet gave up his cut for me. No hesitation.
But the club was in my blood, too, and I didn’t want him to lose our family for love. I wanted him to have both.
