Page 89 of The Price of Love

“I get it.” She reaches out and lifts my chin. “And that’s why I’m gonna stick it out. See this through. By my figuring, it’ll be at least this fall before my vote comes up. Lots can happen in four, five months.”

All I come up with is, “I’m sorry.”

She shakes her head. “What do you have to be sorry about?”

My mind races with all the reasons I’m sorry, and then they spill out of my mouth. “I’m sorry I’ve put you in such a bad position. You wouldn’t have knocked her out if it weren’t for…uh, this.” I wave my hand between us, but when I see my hand shaking, I shove it into my pocket.

“I’ve jeopardized your opportunity for a patch.” I gaze into her sincere eyes. “And I’m sorry I can’t be what you want me to be. Even if the other shit wasn’t going on, I’m not worth it. I’m too broken. I’m not certain I can be in a relationship with anyone. Some people are better off alone.”

I see her hesitate, wanting to reach out to me but uncertain how I’ll react. I don’t know how I’d react myself.

“That’s it,” I say, knowing I need to go. My hands are shaking worse in my pocket. “I just wanted to stop and thank you.”

She takes a step toward me and holds out her hand. I should leave, but my feet don’t move. She doesn’t take another step toward me. Instead, she opens her arms.

Fucking Storm. She broke me. I used to never need anyone. I’m a fighter and learned as a kid that the only person who’d take care of me is me, but Storm changed me. She’s allowed me to need other people, or at least her. With all the problems weighing on her, I can’t have that from Storm. Right or wrong, Jazmin fills that gap.

I can’t bring myself to move, but I motion her toward me. My nerves are frayed, and I need a hug. She steps into my arms, and her strength brings me comfort.

“It’ll be okay,” she says into my ear, and I want to believe her.

Still, it feels weird letting someone else see this side of me. I get by on my smile. I’m the carefree one. If she only knew what demons are inside me. What scars my dimples hide, she’d run away.

Suddenly, her arms feel claustrophobic, and I push away. Surprise registers on her face, but it disappears as quickly as it came.

Needing to regain control, I point at her bike. “Your tires need changing, and I need to get home.”

I turn on my heels and hurry toward the door, needing to escape this room.

“Hey,” she calls, but I don’t look back. “For the record, I think you’re worth it.”

CHAPTER 35

STORM

I heard Dimples’ door close earlier, but she didn’t stop by my room like she always does. I’m worried about her. Since Saturday night, she’s been off. I know this shit with Frost has her edgy, but it feels like something deeper.

Last night, I was in the clubhouse drinking a beer when she came home late from work. When I asked where she’d been, she said she’d stopped by Black Briar because her tires needed air. Seemed strange since we have our own pump in the garage out back, but I didn’t question her.

Typical Dimples, she smiled and joked around with everyone, but I knew better. When I’d cornered her, she brushed me off, telling me the thing with Frost had me on edge. Since she needed me to, I’d let her think I believed her. But I won’t let her get away with it again tonight.

I glance at the clock. Shadow won’t be home from work for another hour, so that’ll give me plenty of time to check on Dimples.

I slip from my room and knock on her door.

“Yeah,” I hear her say.

“It’s me. Can I come in?”

There’s a long silence, and I’m thinking she won’t answer. Have I done something wrong?

Yeah, I’ve done plenty wrong. At every turn, I’m fucking up the club, but Dimples is my anchor, and if I’ve lost her, I’ve lost everything.

The door opens a crack. Her eyes are red and puffy.

Without thinking, I push inside and place my hand against her head. “Jesus, what happened? Who did this to you?”

Anger builds inside me. If Frost did anything to Dimples, I’ll end her.