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"Hi, Leah."
I tense but don't move.
"Yes, she's safe; she's with me… No, just give her some time… I know you meant well, honey, and so does she, but at the moment, she feels manipulated and betrayed. Please just give her some time… OK, shit, yes, I'll tell her... I will love you too, sweetheart."
I let out a sniffle when she hung up. Her fingers go into my hair, playing with it and soothing me, just like when I was a little girl. "Honey, Ink was looking for you; he's a mess, sweetheart. I think Leah told him you were here, which means..."
She's cut off by the roaring sound of a bike, and I scowl.
Momma sighs. "I'll get rid of him for you, baby."
I sniffle and shake my head. "No, he won't go unless it comes from me, and his uncle is the sheriff, so he won't be any help; I've got this momma." She smiles at me proudly before kissing my cheek. "I'll be in the bedroom, but baby..." I sigh and nod, knowing what she wants to say; it's what Leah was trying to get me to do tonight: "I'll try."
She smiles again.
She wants me to at least hear him out before I kick him to the curb because what I feel for Ink is what my parents felt for each other; it's consuming and a forever feeling, but trust is a big part of a relationship. Well, I don't trust him anymore.
I get up and go to the door, opening it as he walks towards me. "Ink, you can't just..."
My words are cut off by the pain in his eyes, and I stiffen, remembering his brother's 911 message.
"Jackson?"
I whisper as he walks right up to me, cupping my cheeks before he rasps.
"Baby, Mel, she was; she was shot, Soph; they don't know if she'll make it."
My heart stops; tears fill my eyes as a sob lets out, making him take me in his arms. "But, but she was f-fine when I messaged h-her, she-she was-was going home with-with Dagger."
He holds me tighter as my sobs turn into wails, making my Momma come out to see what's going on. I vaguely hear him tell her about Mel, and my mother comes over to us, holding me with Ink as worry for my friend pours out of me, not knowing if she'll survive. She knows how close we've become over the months. She knows I never let people in that I don't think I would last since losing Daddy, and now I could lose my friend while Ink's brother could lose the love of his life after being put through hell to even get to her.
I sob into Ink's chest, holding him tightly.
Chapter 16
Ink - 2 months later
I sit up and crick my neck before I hear a snort behind me. I turn to see Ashley, Sophie's Momma, smiling at me.
She nods, "Two months staying on my sofa; you're doing good, Ink."
I smile at her before shaking my head. Since Mel was shot, I've spent all my nights at Sophie's Momma's house, staying on their leather couch. She's refusing to speak to Leah, but now more out of guilt, even two months later, and I feel fucking horrible for it. Gunner says she's inconsolable, but he doesn't know if their friendship can survive. Leah knows my girl best, fuck, better than me, really, so she understood that Sophie needed me and needed to get her anger out so we could move forward, but Sophie may have left it too late to sort things out with her friend, especially after she ignored all her phone calls the first few weeks.
Todd did warn me this could happen, but I honestly thought he was playing it up a bit, but obviously not. Sighing, I fold the sheets before taking a seat again. Ashley hands me a coffee, and I thank her as she sits on the leather chair under the window that I'm told belonged to Sophie's father before looking at the stairs and sighing.
"She's quite stubborn, that daughter of mine."
I smile. "That she is. My balls still hurt from where she kneed me, which I wholeheartedly deserved. Todd definitely found it funny, and Leah, well, she doesn't deserve this treatment from her friend."
We've become quite good friends. Todd and I, much to Sophie's ex, Josh's, annoyance—he was alright with me until he found out I was with her. Apparently, he's hoping Sophie will take him back so he can become a 'kept' man. He's been fucking Pheobe until Sophie comes to her senses, which is never going to happen; she's mine. Todd overheard him gloating about howher dad's black Mustang was going to be his soon. He had to hold me back from killing the fucker. Leah gave up calling my girl a month and a half ago, and now my girl feels too much guilt to call her back, pushing her friend away unintentionally. She knows Leah was trying to help her; she realized it the next morning but felt too guilty to answer her calls, and when Leah stopped calling her, she mourned her friend.
Ashley grins wide, bringing me back to her as she states, "I taught her all I know, and don't worry about Leah; they'll sort it out; they always do; they're sisters through and through."
I laugh while she shakes her head and says,
"My husband. He was my everything. Sophie grew up watching our love, and when he passed, she had to try and help me through my heartbreak. I furrow my brows, and she smiles a little. "Even to this day, it feels like only yesterday since we lost him to cancer, yet tomorrow is the fourth anniversary of his death—the day he last smiled at us, the day he took his last breath." My heart aches for the pain in her voice. "What I'm trying to say is that, since losing her father, she's held people at arm's length because she doesn't want to feel the pain of losing someone like I lost my heart." She looks me in the eyes, hers shining, and says, "She loves you, Jackson. She loves you so much that she doesn't realize that she's hurting anyway. You've spent the past two months trying to delegate between your job, your club, and your blood brother, all while trying to help my daughter through the pain of possibly losing her friend, but also trying to show her how much you regret your words." I nod. I'm so fucking tired, I am, but my family and my girl need me. "And I cannot think of a better man for my daughter to end up with, who will take care of her and put her first."
I smile at her and say, "Yet, she still won't give me a chance. My words hurt her deeply, and even before that, I'd only spent a few weeks trying to convince her I didn't see her as a bed buddy. I'd kept her separate from my life, not wanting them to scare her away until I'd at least had my ring on her finger, but it backfired on me."
