Page 74 of A Love So Hard

“Get the fuck out of their way, and take note of who they are. That there is Lucy, Double-D’s old lady and wife, and that is Annalise, his baby girl. You ever see them, they get let through immediately.”

“Yeah, okay, sorry. I didn’t know.”

That was still a blow. It had only been six months and I was so forgotten that the new guys didn’t even know I existed. I suddenly did not want to walk through those doors. The only thing that made that possible was knowing I had to be strong for my girl, and that I knew whores weren’t allowed in the clubhouse anymore.

“Go on in, girls. I bet he’ll be glad to see you both here,” Crow announced.

“You’re not coming in?” I asked. Yes, I was the one procrastinating now.

“Nah, came out here for some fresh air. Thinking on taking a night ride.” He pointed up at the sky that was just darkening as the last of the sun set off behind the clubhouse. “Stars are going to bright tonight.”

“I bet it will be a gorgeous ride,” I agreed and then I pulled up my big girl panties and pushed inside. Even though the lighting was somewhat low inside it didn’t take long for my eyes to adjust since it was already dusk outside.

It took a full two minutes of standing there and scanning the place to see the clubhouse was mostly empty, but I recognized the head full of silver hair over at the bar, and he wasn’t sitting there alone. My heart fell to the pit of my stomach just then and the only thing keeping me standing was the firm grip that squeezed the shit out of my hand. I turned to my daughter and saw the worry there in her eyes.

“It can’t be what you think,” she said quietly. “It can’t be. He wouldn’t.” She sounded just as heartbroken as I felt. “We can leave,” she offered. “I’ll come earlier tomorrow, on my own. Or, I’ll get Ever to set something up for me.”

“No. We’re here. Let’s get all of this over with now.” I wasn’t just talking about her problems now. It was clear that my marriage was over. You couldn’t get any clearer than seeing your own husband laughing at the bar with another woman. A woman, judging by the new club rules, he must have brought here since he was the only brother sitting in the vicinity with her.

Chapter 30

(Lucy – age 44, Double-D – age 47)

Sandman had brought two women home with him tonight. One was the best friend of his new girl who had apparently been stood up for their double date. Kelly was sitting beside me while Sandman took his woman back to his room to show her something. I just bet I knew what he had to show her. I laughed at the thought as the new prospect behind the bar grabbed Kelly a drink.

“What’s so funny?” Kelly asked before taking a sip of the girly drink that had been made for her. She then turned the prospect. “That’s fantastic, what is it?”

He shrugged his shoulders and blushed. “Just something I came up with,” he mumbled.

Shy ass bastard was about to earn himself a road name. I was thinking Blush, just to make it extra good. I again chuckled to myself at the thought.

“Okay, Mister, that’s about enough of the laughing without letting the rest of us in on what you have going on up there,” she tapped a manicured pink fingernail against my forehead causing me to raise a brow. “Oh, that’s a good look on you,” she laughed out.

“I just thought of his road name, if he makes it through prospecting for us.”

She clapped and giggles giddily. “Oh! Do tell! I always wondered how you guys came up with those things.” Again, her fingernail flicked out and she touched my kutte. “Especially yours,” she added with a waggle of her own brows. I moved back a little just out of reach of her hand and then shook my head.

“Can’t tell you until he knows,” I informed her.

“Well,” she poked her painted pink lip out in a pout. “He’s standing right there, you can tell him and then I’ll overhear it.”

I laughed at that before I saw the worried look on the prospect’s face. He’d just answered the phone and glanced at me then to the door. I followed his gaze and there stood Lucy and Anna. I was floored. My heart immediately kicked up a notch or fifteen in my chest as my elation rose. My woman had finally come for me. Thank fuck! Thank fuck! “Thank fuck!” I ended up hissing out the last under breath.

“Thank fuck?” Kelly muttered, parroting my words behind me. Then she must have noticed who I was looking at. “Of course, all the good ones are always taken.”

Still, knowing the words she had just uttered the woman stood and moved to my side. My whole body stiffened at Lucy’s response. She definitely had the wrong idea here. Kelly, not picking up on the seriousness of the situation stuck her hand out. “Hi, I’m Kelly,” she offered. Lucy just gawked at her and Anna looked like she was about to attack. I put my hands on Kelly and moved her back a few steps.

“NO!” I huffed out at her. I then turned to the prospect. “Go get Sandman. Don’t care what he’s doing. Tell him to come collect his other person now.” It was the best way I knew to let Lucy know what was going on without embarrassing her, or having Anna fly off the handle, which she was apparently prone to do the older she got.

“Sorry, I don’t understand,” Kelly mumbled.

“He didn’t mention he had a wife?” Lucy asked.

Kelly flushed, embarrassment staining her cheeks even through the makeup she had on. Probably because of the makeup she had on since it was understated and classy. Whatever moron had stood her up would regret that shit one day. “I um,” she started. She had noticed the ring on my finger. I knew because I was watching her when she clocked it. Made me lose some respect for her right off the bat since she was still willing to try to flirt with me after seeing it, but I hadn’t reciprocated.

“Sorry,” I apologized to my wife. “Sandman brought his girl here to show her something, and they had an extra along. He asked me to keep an eye on her until they were done.” It was the truth, but I could see Lucy thought it was a bunch of contrived bullshit.

“Oh,” Kelly huffed out. “I thought he was kidding when he asked you to babysit me.” The woman looked completely embarrassed now. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, if that looked bad. I thought Sandman was trying to set me up since I got stood up tonight. I didn’t realize he literally meant for you to babysit me until he was done.”

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