Page 42 of Charger

“How did you know I lived here?” Staring right into his blue eyes, I wait for him to answer. I blink, finding myself getting lost inside them.

“We need to talk.”

“Oh,” I let out a sarcastic laugh. “You’re only about six years too late. Goodbye, Zach.”

I go to close the door, but he holds out the palm of his hand, stopping it. “It’s Charger.”

“What?”

“My name is Charger now. I don’t go by Zach anymore.”

“Charger… like the car?” I say it in almost a mocking way while he glares at me.

Looking at the patch on his leather, I can see the name: Steel Valley Chains MC. He really is in a motorcycle club now.

“Let me in, Jules.”

My attention snaps back to his near perfect face. Hearing my name from his lips again stings in places all over. What’s even worse… I miss him calling me pretty girl. Hell, I would even settle for Specs, although I hardly wear my glasses anymore. Thank God for contacts.

“Pass.”

But this time he’s too fast. He brushes past me, right inside.

“I said leave, Charger.” I tell him as I grip the door, waving my hand to shoo him out.

I shouldn’t be trying to kick him out before telling him. I glance over at Chloe, who’s building some kind of tower with her food.

“You’re giving me five minutes. And I’m not asking.”

“I see you’ve lost any charm you ever had.”

He steps closer to me, but I take one back. Not because I’m scared, but because I don’t trust myself to be close to him. I’m afraid I’ll remember what his scent was like.

He pushes his way in until I’m cornered and tucks his hand under my chin, tilting my head up to meet his eyes. “Five minutes.” The words leave his mouth as a soft whisper, causing my body to erupt. My lips part slightly. Why the heck am I reacting to him like this? Jesus, Jules. Calm your “horny for your old high school boyfriend” vagina. It’s been six years.

“Mommy, is he your friend?” Her cheerful voice pulls me out of my fixated trance. I close my eyes because, well, shit. Chloe stands right next to us. His body tenses in front of me as he scrunches his eyebrows in confusion. I watch him as he turns around slowly. He’s staring at Chloe as if he’s a deer in headlights.

No. No. No. This was not supposed to happen this way.

Chloe sticks her hand out to Zach as he glances down at it. His mouth opens, as though he’s trying to process a million things inside his mind. With his chest rising and falling in a less than normal fashion, he finally takes her hand. It’s so tiny compared to his.

“I’m Chloe. What’s your name, Mister?”

“I… uh…” He clears his throat. “My name’s Charger.”

She giggles and the floor underneath me feels like it’s sinking. I have so many emotions right now. I guess I never did prepare for this moment.

“That’s a funny name.”

I pry my feet from the floor, moving forward, toward Chloe. “Okay, sweetie, why don’t you go to your room and play. I need to talk to Charger alone, okay?”

“Fine.” She stomps to her room. I turn on her Barbie radio, and then close the door without latching it. I spend a few seconds with my back to him, not removing my hand from the doorknob. When I finally have the courage to turn around, Zach is still staring where Chloe had been standing. He doesn’t say anything.

“Zach…”

He holds up his hand then finally shoots his eyes to mine. He points at her door. “How old is she?” When I don’t say anything, he repeats himself, angrier than the first time. “How. Old. Is. She. Jules?” If he mentally did the math, he would know. He would know how old she is. Not to mention the fact that she inherited every single feature from Zach. Blond hair with the same piercing blue eyes.

“I can explain.” The burning that’s setting in is making my eyes blur.

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