Page 3 of Van

“Everything’s going to be fine,” she says once more before pulling away from me. “Let’s finish this before the guys get here,” she adds. I nod my head, and we finish packing up my boxes before stacking them near the door. I need to do this while Derrick is at work. He has no idea I’m leaving today, and hopefully, he doesn’t know until he gets home tonight. By then, I’ll be out of here.

A knock on the door pulls our attention. Derrick wouldn’t knock on his own door so I assume it’s the guys here to help us move. I walk over and pull the door open to a few guys standing there.

“We’re your official movin’ crew. Where’s your shit?” the one in front asks. The other slaps the back of his head, making me smile a little. It’s been a long time since I’ve smiled like that.

“Stop talkin’ shit and grab the damn boxes, Van.”

“What did I do?”

“Talkin’ shit,” the one behind him says before walking past him and into the apartment. He grabs a few boxes and walks back out to the waiting truck, loading them in.

“I was talkin’ shit?” The man, Van, asks me. I shake my head slowly as a smile tugs across his face. He’s a good-looking guy. In fact, all of them are, and it’s a little unnerving to have them all in my apartment at the same time.

“Oh, good. They’re here,” Nicole says as she walks out of the bedroom and drops another box on the pile.

“We’re here. This all of it?” One of the others asks.

“Yeah, that’s everything,” I tell him.

“Not much stuff here,” one comments. I shrug like I don’t already know that. I know there isn’t much, but that’s okay with me. I don’t need much to live.

“Is there room for all of it?” Nicole asks as one of the guys pulls her into his arms and hugs her.

“We got room, darlin’.” I find myself smiling and wondering what the dynamics are like at the clubhouse. How she plays into things. The guy, Pike, his cut says, kisses the top of her head, and she pulls away from him grabbing a box and passing it to him. He grins as he walks out the door and out to the waiting truck. Thankfully, our apartment is on the first floor, and they don’t have to carry it too far.

After a few minutes, all the boxes are gone, and there’s nothing of mine left in the apartment. I stand in the middle of the room, just looking around. I can’t believe it. After three years, this is how it’s ending.

Derrick wasn’t always like this. Lately, he has been, and it’s scary for me. I never know what to expect from him.

“That’s it,” Pike says, looking around the room.

“Yeah, that’s it.”

“Let’s go before he shows up, and I have to kick his ass,” the other guy, Van, says. I smile and glance over at him, but he isn’t looking my way.

With everything in the truck, I grab my purse and phone and head for the door, with everyone following me. We all step out, and I close the door on my past behind me, on a relationship I couldn’t stand any longer. I almost feel like a failure.

“Whatever you’re thinkin’, it’s not your fault.” I nod my head before looking over my shoulder at Van. His face looks serious as he stares at me.

“I know.” Do I know that? There’s a part of me who wants to blame myself for all of this. A part of me that should have known better and saw this coming, but I didn’t. And now look what this has become.

“Let’s go,” Nicole says, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and leading me toward the car. I walk along with her until she pulls the door open for me.

“We’ll be right behind you, just in case,” Van says. I nod my head, and Nicole thanks him as we climb into the car. Once we’re both in, I sigh.

“You okay? I know this is a lot on you.”

“I’m good. I’m just thankful to have you. I wouldn’t know what to do without you, Nic.”

“Good thing you’re stuck with me,” she tells me. I smile and grab her hand in mine, squeezing it.

“You’re the best friend I could ask for.”

“I’m the only friend you need. I got you, girl.”

“You always do. So, what’s this going to look like? How’s it all going to work?”

“Mask has a room set up for you. He said you can stay as long as you need to, even after the baby is born. He’s informed all the guys you’re going to be there, so they all know.”

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