AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I cleared my throat and shook my head.
“Just wasn’t sure it was—”
He cut me off with a slap to my back as he closed the space between us, “What did you think that one-percent patch meant on the left of your breast?”
Speechless, I just looked down at the white number sewn into my leather cut. I hadn’t ever considered it before, or what it would mean for me if I joined.
“Now you get to go explain to my daughter what her future looks like if she chooses to be with a Stone Rider. Good luck, son.”
I swallowed the thick lump in my throat, staring down at the new vest he’d placed in my hands.
It was leather, like mine in almost every way except the patches on the front. Instead of a member patch, it had Callie’s name with the initials of the club below it, and on the back, instead of the club colors, there were just three words stitched in white.
Property
of
Wes
SEVENTEEN
CALLIE
The letters sat bundledon the table as Laura and I drank our tumblers of whiskey.
Max ran after the tennis ball I was launching with a ball thrower. The sun had set, and the ice in our glasses nearly melted as we lounged on the back porch. The only reason Killian wasn’t harassing us about going inside was that Wesley’s yard was secluded, and private from the rest of the club.
Killian had shown up shortly after Laura had settled in, but as soon as she saw him, she decided we needed some fresh air and promptly pulled me outside. He was on the other side of the glass, watching television, glancing our way every so often.
Laura broke the peaceful quiet between us, turning her head to catch my gaze. “There’s a bus station about fifteen minutes north of here. Can you drive me to it tomorrow?”
Mine snapped sideways in return.
“What do you mean?”
A long exhale came out of her as she tugged at the fabric of the chair, then squinted as she watched Max. “I just need to get back.”
“Did something happen? I thought…I mean, you seemed excited to be here with me.”
Her shoulder came up in a small shrug, “I’m still excited to be with you. I just grossly underestimated how intense your upbringing was. This is a lot, and I feel that itch under my skin to get back to work. I’m either going to get a job here and start looking for an apartment, or I need to get back home. My roommates will be expecting a rent check from me soon.”
Shit. It wasn’t like I had assumed she’d be here forever…I just assumed she’d be here until I was ready to go back.If I was ever ready to go back.
“Of course I’ll drive you. In fact, if you want, you can take my car back.”
Laura shook her head. “No, you’ll need it for when you return.”
She was right, of course, but there was still that strange sensation thrumming against my chest, like a plucked chord of curiosity where I didn’t go back.
I shook those thoughts and dipped my chin to my chest. “Okay, then, I’ll drive you.”
She looked behind her, where Killian was inside, and frowned.
“We should do one of our infamous girl’s nights. Go set up in the guest room, where grumpy motorcycle president threw me, and you can stay with me while we binge watch television shows all night and eat junk food.”
I followed where she was looking and tried to piece together what was on her mind, but her focus returned to me, and so had her smile. I gave in and squeezed her hand.
“Let’s go raid his pantry.”
