Page 39 of Taken By the Biker Daddies

“I’m sorry,” I told her again, freeing my hand from her grasp.

Then I just kept going. I couldn’t face her. I had to get away.

And I had to keep my distance from Lauren from now on, because even though she was the most incredible woman I’d ever known and the sex with her was nothing short of amazing, I didn’t deserve her, and I couldn’t afford to do any more damage than I had already done.

I had to stay away from Lauren.

Chapter Twelve

Wade

“Are you avoiding me, too?” Lauren asked as I passed by the living room after restocking the cupboards. I was headed to my room to change.

I hadn’t even noticed that she was on the couch. Now, I did. She sat slumped against the cushions right in the middle, her hair in a loose ponytail draped over her right shoulder. The contrast of her loose-fitting cardigan and snug leggings made it look like she had just come from a yoga class, but I knew she hadn’t. She wasn’t supposed to leave the house alone after what happened yesterday, something that even I was still pissed off about. I had a feeling that wasn’t the reason for her foul mood this morning, which she seemed to have decided to vent on me.

I sighed as I approached the couch. “What? Did you and Max have a fight before he left?”

“No,” Lauren answered without even looking at me, her gaze on the blank TV screen as she fidgeted with the pendant of her necklace.

She had said “too”, though, which meant someone else was avoiding her.

“Was it Jake you had a fight with then?” I asked.

Lauren didn’t answer, which in a way, answered my question.

Honestly, I found it hard to imagine Jake fighting with a woman, especially Lauren, who he seemed to be fond of, but he had been acting strange lately. Still, if he had an argument with Lauren, he must have had a good reason.

I sat on the armrest of the couch. “I’m sure Jake is just worried about you, especially after what happened yesterday.”

I had never seen him so worried as when he had called me yesterday telling me that Lauren was in trouble. Then again, I had to admit even I had felt worried as fuck. Scared shitless even. It made me mad as hell when we found Lauren with those devils. If I was the man I used to be, I would have killed them.

Lauren looked at me with narrowed eyes. “Do you always make excuses for Jake?”

“No. I’m just telling you what I know, and I’ve known him longer than you have.”

She shook her head. “I doubt anyone can tell what he’s thinking at all.”

I shrugged. “Well, I’m no mind reader, but I know Jake is a good man. He’s been through a lot.”

“What exactly has he been through?” Lauren turned to me with furrowed eyebrows. “Billie told me your backstory but not his.”

Right. Billie did tell Lauren about my failed marriage, but I suppose she didn’t say anything about Jake’s past. It was more complicated than mine, after all. And darker.

“You never said what you thought about mine,” I said, changing the topic.

I was curious to know her opinion. Lauren shrugged. “What’s there to say? Marriages are tough. Most of them don’t last. That’s why I’m not sure I believe them.”

She didn’t? Interesting.

“Anyway, I’m sure you tried your best.”

I arched an eyebrow. “You are?”

And here I thought she saw me as a jerk. The fact that she didn’t, nearly made me smile, giving me hope, though I quickly squashed it.

What on earth are you hoping for like some fool? She’s Max’s girlfriend, remember?

“What about me?” Lauren asked. “What do you think about me? Do you think I’m weak and stupid?”

---