Page 26 of Claim Me

“Indigo wouldn’t cheat,” Hunter states as a fact. “He waited for you. But I think maybe, just considering it from a psychological point of view, Indigo might be weird about sex. That’s something you should keep in mind.”

“Weird how? We didn’t do anything exotic during our hookup.”

My friends snicker at the word “exotic” before Hunter explains, “Indigo isn’t just weird aboutyouhaving sex. He gets agitated when anyone talks about sex around him. I think that’s why he’s always butting heads with Golden.”

“Hedidseem disappointed in me for putting out.”

“Or he might have been disappointed in himself for putting out. Indigo might need help viewing sex as a positive act.”

“I’ll ask my dad to give him the sex talk again,” I say, making them snicker. “But what if I’m pushing this thing with Indigo?”

Hunter nuzzles her cheek against my shoulder. “Just go on the date and see how you feel. If you realize you can’t make things work, you are under no obligation to love him like he wants.”

“Poor Indigo,” I mumble. “I’m going to break his heart.”

“You have a right to be happy, even if that means he can’t be.”

“Your honesty is killing my hope boner.”

“Well, in that case,” Hunter replies in a peppy voice, “I think Indigo is a handsome, loyal biker, which is just what you need. You’re used to odd men, and you can handle him. I know he’ll be a greatfather since he’s protective of his dogs. Everything will work out perfectly.”

“You’re right,” I say, embracing her happy lies. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll just be me, and Indigo will just be himself. We’re already friends and family. The only thing that’s changed is how I want to rub all over him and put his dick in my mouth.”

“There you go,” Natasha says, snickering at my horniness. “Just have fun. That way, if things don’t work out, you can at least make good memories. And if things do work out, you’ll know it’s because you two make sense and not because you pretended to be someone else.”

I take their hands and try to see myself on a date with Indigo. He’s been in my life for so long. I’ve watched movies with him before. We’ve gotten meals out, too. I consider him one of my favorite people.

Yet, Indigo didn’t react at all like I expected. I have no idea how he’ll behave tomorrow on our date.

INDIGO

On the morning of my date with Siobhan, I get set on the idea of staying in the hills. I used to call this place my home. It’s where I belong. I don’t need anything more.

With the house too quiet, I end up at a small diner located across from where Lorrie died. The place is nearly empty when I order my coffee. A few people come in and out over the next hour. Only the owner and a waitress are around when Caveman strolls inside. He gestures for them to leave.

“Aren’t you supposed to be heading south to pick up your lass for a date?” he asks, standing next to the table where I stare out the front window.

“I’m not sure I have it in me to be what Siobhan needs.”

Caveman nods and goes to pour himself a cup of coffee. When he settles in his seat, he rests his feet on another chair and leans back as if he won’t be going anywhere soon.

“You know I was seventeen when I took in my first little one. I’ve got a heart built for fatherhood. So, naturally, people often ask if I want to find a wife to help with all these kids. And I always say I’m open to the idea. But the reality is I’m too much of an asshole to keep a woman.”

“Is it the fucking?” I ask him as my gaze remains focused on where my mom died. “Zoot once said he couldn’t get married because he wouldn’t want to deprive his dick of variety. He claimed marriage demands monogamy which is a Latin word for boredom.”

“He’s full of shit. The reason he doesn’t have a wife is because he’s like me,” Caveman says and then smirks. “A charmless, weaker version of me, but we’re the same when it comes to being assholes. It’s a fundamental part of our makeup. We’re jagged and dangerous for any lass who tries to stick around.”

His words make me think of my mom. She longed for a man to love her and make the world easier. Instead, they used her body and slapped her around. Rather than a real person, she was viewed as nothing more than a leech with two kids and a head filled with crazy.

“I’ve wanted Siobhan for a long time. But I’m messed up inside. I knew I’d make her feel bad.”

“Well, there’s no denying you’re an asshole,” Caveman says after a long drag on his coffee. “You’re not a natural asshole. Lifeturned you into one, but you’re still a handful. Any woman who takes you inside her heart is asking for a helluva lot of drama.”

“Should I stay away from Siobhan?”

Caveman rubs his gray-and-black beard and studies me. “I know you boys from the farm look at Elvis as a fun fucker without a bad bone in his body. But the man’s an asshole.”

“He’s good to Aunt Fred.”

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