Page 37 of Tech

I still haven't heard from my girl. I pick up Ollie and Josy most days, and spend some time with them, and both have assured me they are going to help me win her back.

It helps having them believe me and being on my side, but fuck do I miss my girl.

"Son?" my dad calls and I look his way to see him still seated. He tilts his head, a small smile on his lips, and says, "Don't give up hope. Josy apparently heard Brook tell their momma that she loves you and needs time to think about things; she’s just struggling with how she felt when she walked into your room. She's still yours. Besides, she still has your property cut."

I hum, then state, "I just want to hear her voice, Dad. I fucking miss her, and I know, without a doubt, while Nina is still hanging around, no thanks to Momma, I won't win Brook back. She's the type of person who values family, which means?—"

My dad cuts me off, "She won't give you a chance if your momma hates her."

I nod, and he curses, dropping his head. He hasn't stayed at home since Nina returned. He and Momma have argued several times about it.

Momma doesn't think she's in the wrong. It turns out she found out MIT still wants me, and was hoping Nina will convince me to leave the club—or, well, that's what she screamed at my father one night.

He told her he didn't want to see her, and left for the club. He's stayed here since, while she's flat-out ignoring him, which is something none of us saw coming. And I know my dad’s struggling with the silent treatment.

"Well," my dad states, slapping his hands on his legs before he stands, "Looks like I need to have words with your momma then, because like fuck am I allowing you to lose someone you love. First though, I’m going to have to fucking get her to look at me."

With that said, he turns and leaves, and I shake my head, but soon chuckle humorlessly when I hear, "Doc, have you seen Tech? He wasn't in his room."

Fucking Nina.

"No, and even if I had, why in the fuck would I tell you? Go back to where you came from, Nina. Tech isn't leaving the club for you," he snaps back, making me grin.

I hear her screech, and then laughter from the brothers, and I sigh, leaning back in my chair, not wanting to leave this room for a little while.

It's good to have your brothers at your back, keeping you going, but I don't know how long I can go without holding my girl in my arms.

Fuck, I miss her….

12

Brook – Two Days Later

I sigh as I shut down my laptop, then stretch my back. My eyes go to the picture on my desk of James with Josy and Ollie sitting on his bike, and the picture of him and me in the fields behind my parents' house next to it.

I'm looking up at him with such adoration my heart hurts.

I swallow hard, my eyes tearing up. I'm in my office going through finances to see if I can hire another vet. Things are flipping hectic around here, but I can't concentrate.

I miss James.

I miss his voice, his forest scent, his arms when they're wrapped around me, the way he looked at me and made me feel. I miss waking up with him kissing my neck, and him whispering sweet nothings in my ear while I cooked for us.

I miss my safe place, my home.

He hasn't stopped calling or messaging, and he continues to see Ollie and Josy, warming my heart. He's showing me I'm all he wants….

So why am I not showing him he's all I want? Because I’m an absolute idiot that’s why….

I tap my fingers on the desk, a lump forming in my throat as I look at the pictures. His momma doesn't want us together; she wants her son out of the club, something I'd never force him to do, but Nina would. I don’t know what happened to Carol over the years, but what she’s doing to me, to her son, it’s wrong, and she has to know that surely….

I bite the inside of my cheek, frustration building.

Why in the hell am I letting her win?

So what, she's his mother. I'm his everything…well, at least I think I am….

Christ, why am I letting others dictate my future? James is the first man I've met who I've let in, and here I am wallowing, frightened of feeling more pain.

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