“You know, as much as I do, just how risky this is.” I nod around me.
She starts to say something, but I cut her off.
“I know, I know. They’re still up in purgatory since Tate showed up at the clubhouse.” She doesn’t say anything else, just nods her head. “I have the next two days off work. Let’s go up the coast and get a hotel, and we can walk on the beach out in the open, together. Hell, we could go to dinner without the risk of coworkers or anyone connected with the club finding out.”
“That sounds amazing, but I have a final on Monday.”
“Hmm,” I shake my head. “How about you come over tonight…” I trail, smirking at her.
“I have to study.” She reminds me.
“I’ll let you study… eventually.” Grinning at her. “But next weekend. Let’s go out of town. I’ll get the week off. We can stay and celebrate the end of your semester.”
* * *
The banging on the back door pulls us apart as we lie on my couch.
“The fuck?”
“Eli!”we hear shouted, causing us to look at one another wide-eyed.
“Is that my brother?” Drew whispers as I get up, walking into the kitchen and seeing him standing in the back door’s window. “I didn’t know he was back.”
“Z?” I’m about to glance back into the living room when I hear Drew’s feet padding as she rushes into the bedroom, shutting the door.
Before I make it to the door, I can see the distraught look on his face. Pulling it open, I stare at him, confused.
“What are you doing here?” I finally ask, and I’m shocked as he looks back up at me, and water’s lining his eyes. “What the hell?” I open the door wider, letting him in. He walks through the kitchen and just sits down at the table.
He says nothing for longer than anyone in this house cares to sit with. I’m sure Drew’s sitting in the bedroom, ear pressed against the door, trying to figure out what the fuck is going on.
I just walk over to the cabinet, pulling out the bottle, pouring him a glass and walking it back over to him.
“Z, why are you here?”
“I didn’t know where else to go,” he whispers. “Everything is just so fucked.” He swigs the entire glass before putting it down and letting his head fall into his hands.
“What?”
“You came to me about her.”
I nod my head.
“He made her lose the baby.” Comes out in a strangled whisper.
“Shit,” I gasp this time, downing my glass before getting up and walking over, grabbing the bottle. Walking back over and refilling both our glasses.
“She showed up at the clubhouse with her bags packed. He put her in the hospital.” He downs a second glass, and I’m realizing that this isn’t his first drink of the night. “I’m so happy she’s there with me, but I’m…” He trails off, just starting. “I don’t even know the words.” He looks up at me. “I offered to raise him with her.”
“Where’s your bike?” Concerned about how he was able to stay upright on it.
“I walked.”
“From where?”
“Pistons. I came up the back cause I figured you wouldn’t want anyone seeing a criminal at your front door.”
“I don’t give a shit about that.” I wave it off. He gives me a curious look. “Let me drive you back.”
