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I shrug and sigh.
My sister keeps talking. “You know he sat at the hospital all night long, right? I didn’t see him throwing pebbles at any windows, but the man has a dedication to the part.”
My heart does this weird crushing thing against my ribcage that’s oddly uncomfortable. “No. What?”
“Yeah, I went out a few times to call…someone, and I saw your guy in the parking lot. He was sleeping in his truck.”
“What?”
She nods. “He was there all night. I saw his truck again the next day, but it had moved.”
“Why would he do that? I told him before I got out of the truck that I needed to focus on the family.” I close my eyes and open them slowly, trying not to burst into tears. “I need to move on. Seeing him only makes it harder. Also, why did you say‘someone’so weird? Who did you step out to call?”
Alaina bites the inside of her cheek and twists her yellow hair to her shoulder. Her voice is high pitched as she says, “Oh! Chap. Dad needed help at the shop until he’s feeling better. Chap knows bikes. So…”
I can’t figure why she’s changed her voice when she speaks of him or why Mom didn’t ask me to call Chap. I’m at the shop every day and my relationship with the MC is pretty tight. It makes no sense to ask Alaina. She barely knows the guys.
“Was there a problem, or is he going to help?”
“Help with what?” She tosses the last bit of peel onto the table.
“The bikes. You said Chap was helping with the bikes.”
“Oh!” She grins. “Yeah, he said he’ll help. Anyway… back to you. I’m going to figure things out here today and you’re going to talk to the boy you’re pretending not to love.”
I shake my head. “I’m not going.”
“So, you’re going to sit around and pretend you don’t feel the way you clearly feel? How long does that last?”
“As long as I let it, and I’m done with all that. I’m going to take a deep breath, put my life in focus, and recognize that although I have feelings for him, they’re simply not reasonable.”
She laughs. “Oh, okay. Well… maybe you go for closure then. I mean, I think I caught you guys in the middle of something pretty heavy the other day.”
The mere mention of that moment has my heart aching for his again.
Why? Why can’t I move on?
Why can’t I know he’s there, and not ache with an undeniable urge to run toward him, feel his rough hands on my skin, and hear his graveled voice in my ear.
My chest tightens and my throat closes. Maybe she’s right. Closure is what I need. I need to tell him it’s over. I need to look him in the eyes and say it. I need him to hear me. I need to hear his response. I need to apologize for the way things ended last week. I need to find peace. When I do, all this will go away, and we can both move on.
“You’re right,” I finally manage. “I should get some closure.”
Alaina smiles and squeezes my hand in hers. “For sure. I’ve got things here today. You go get ready. I want all the details when you get back, so take notes.”
An empty fluttering ensues in my stomach and my heart pounds as I imagine Romeo in front of me again. His lips, his arms, his giant frame. And all at once I know, closure isn’t what I’m looking for.
I’m full of absolute shit.
Chapter Eight
Romeo
Kane and Diesel stand with crossed arms in the center of the lodge. They’re both tall and inked with long beards and straight faces. They may have a reputation for being stand up guys, but you can tell they’re not the ones to be fucked with.
“What are you going to add to Rugged Mountain MC?” Kane leans against the log wall and stares toward me with a grimaced face. “We don’t need another body just for numbers.”
“I grew up working construction with my grandpa. Nothing professional, but good, redneck work.” I stare up at the rafters, admiring the heavy log beams that travel across the open space. “I’m good at trim and detail work. I could finish this up in a week or two.”
