Page 113 of Torn In Two

But what was I supposed to do when the other moms at Hayley Jade’s school asked about her father? What if she asked? How was I supposed to say her father was none of the three men I was dating?

I wasn’t sheltered away from the world anymore. I had to live in it, and the world didn’t accept women wanting more than one man.

My quick steps turned trudging.

Amber caught up with me and sighed heavily. “I don’t say it to be mean, Kara. But you’re delusional if you think you can just have all three of them and there be no consequences. What happens behind these gates isn’t the real world, you know? I just don’t want to see you hurt.”

I didn’t really think that true, but when I glanced over at her, her expression seemed sincere, so I kept my doubts to myself. I spotted Hayden’s truck in the parking lot and hurried inside, ready to break up the interrogation.

When I entered the clubhouse, Grayson wasn’t in the hot seat after all. In fact, the only people in the room were women. Queenie and Hayley Jade sat on the floor coloring. Kiki and Fancy hovered around the closed “church” door.

All eyes turned my way.

That didn’t bode well.

I faltered in the doorway. “What’s going on?”

“Hawk called church.” Fancy didn’t spare a look, her gaze focused on peering through the tiny gap between the door and the frame. “Your men are all in there.”

I blinked. “Hawk and…”

She raised a thin eyebrow at me. “Don’t play stupid, girl. All your men.”

That didn’t make any sense. “But that’s church. Members only. Hayden and Grayson can’t go in there.”

“Whatever was on Hawk’s mind was clearly big enough he thought he needed to break the rules.” She shook her head. “Never seen that in all my years here.”

“Ugh,” Amber groaned. “They’re going to call a lockdown, aren’t they? For fuck’s sake. I can’t do that again. I’ll lose my mind.”

“Maybe they’re planning a takeover,” Kiki mused. “Maybe Hawk wants that prez patch.”

“He better fucking not be.” Fancy had venom in her eyes at the thought of her son being overthrown.

“Hawk would never,” I assured her. But worry bubbled up inside me all the same because something was definitely wrong. I glanced at Queenie, hoping she’d be the voice of reason.

Even she seemed concerned. “Don’t worry, sugar. I’m sure whatever it is has nothing to do with you.”

Nobody believed that. Least of all me.

A few minutes later, when the men all filed out of the room, nobody appeared very happy. But it was the three men I knew best who I turned to for reassurance.

Hawk’s face was a storm cloud. He kissed the top of my head but then mumbled something about needing to do a thing and disappeared into his room.

Hayden made a beeline for his, disappearing down the hallway without a word.

I looked to Grayson, trying to decipher the expression on his face and lowered my voice so no one else would hear. “Did you tell them about the… Do they know? Is that why everyone is mad?” I stared at Hawk’s closed bedroom door. Last night he’d been all for me and Grayson exploring the attraction between us, but he’d been drinking, and we’d been surrounded by sex. We’d both gotten lost in it. Was he having regrets? My stomach clenched at the thought of hurting him more than anything else.

But Grayson shook his head. “It’s not about you and me. Whether you tell them about the kiss is up to you.” He paused, his gaze raking over me. “I really hope you tell them though. Because I want to kiss you a whole lot more.”

His words sent a tingle of pleasure down my spine.

I squeezed his fingers. “I want that too.”

He breathed out slowly, his thumb stroking over the back of my hand. “Not tonight, though. There’s other things going on.”

“Why were you in church with them?” My voice was barely above a whisper because I didn’t need Fancy or the others poking their noses into my business. “They don’t let anyone in there. Not even prospects most of the time.”

Grayson’s mouth pulled into a grim line. “Hayden’s getting changed and then he’s going to fill you in.” He breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of my hair. “I don’t want to leave.”

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