Page 60 of All Our Ghosts

I don’t want that. I want fucking peace, but it’s my own fault for not being honest the first time Cole asked me.

A little while later, I heard the sound of a bike pull into the parking lot. I had sprung from the bed to peek out of the window in hopes that Holden had come back but instead was met with Dex and Cole arguing outside the clubhouse.

“What about this one?” Blake’s voice cuts through my mindless shopping as I turn to my new-found friend. She holds up a lilac satin dress. I have to admit, for a woman who mainly wears torn black denim and black tank tops and spends most of her day covered in motor grease, Blake has a sense of style.

I run my fingers along the hem of the dress, the satin is soft between my fingertips and I really do like the color.

“I don’t know Blake…” I don’t want to go back toMoon, let alone have a girl's night there, but she assures me that both Layla and Jane will be off that night. It’s also the only place that Cole trusts us to go without bringing half the club with us. Eventhough I have a suspicion that we’d be around club members anyway.

“You’re getting it,” Blake shoves the dress in my hands, “because if you don’t get it, I’m going to get it for you anyway.”

“You know you really sound like Cole sometimes,” I tease, folding the dress carefully over my arm.

Blake scrunches up her nose and narrows her eyes. “That was just mean.”

I laugh as we begin moving through the store before going to purchase our items. I appreciate the time I’m getting to spend with her. She’s a breath of fresh air compared to the testosterone-filled shop even if our outings were because Cole asked Blake to keep an eye on me.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Blake asks suddenly as we head towards the exit of the shop. I glance up from my bags, seeing Dex leaning against his bike just outside.

“That’s a good question,” I mutter, pushing the door open. Dark eyes find mine as I raise a brow at him. He raises one back and straightens himself, stepping up onto the sidewalk. “Did you come to find a dress too, Wolfe?”

Dex shakes his head, “Skirts aren’t really my style kiddo.” He grins folding his arms across his chest, “Sorry to cut the shopping spree short ladies, but I have something I want to show Kade.”

I tilt my head regarding him with narrowed eyes.

“That seems very suspicious, Wolfe.” Blake laughs as he shoots her a look. “Alright, fine. Here,” Blake reaches for the bags I’m holding, “I’ll take this back to the shop.” I reluctantly hold onto them and glance back over to Dex.

“I don’t have an option here, do I?” I ask.

He shrugs, “‘fraid not,mama.”

I let out a sigh and hand the bags to Blake. “Thank you, I’ll see you later?”

Blake nods with a grin, “You bet your ass.” She turns to Dex, pointing at him with narrowed eyes. “Have her back no later than six. We still have to get ready for tonight.”

He chuckles and nods. “You got it, Porter.”

With a satisfied grin, Blake spins on her heel and heads back towards the shop. I watch her for a moment before turning back to Dex, who’s already on his bike leaning against the handlebars and holding out his helmet for me. I take a few steps towards him, glancing down at the helmet before looking back up at him.

“Do I even want to know what you have planned?”

“You’ll find out.” A mischievous grin spreads across his face as he tilts his head when I still haven’t reached for the helmet. “C’mon, Andrews, live a little.”

I shake my head unsure of what he has in store for me but still take the helmet and slip it over my head before climbing on his bike behind him. He waits till I’m situated before pulling away from the curb and heading to a part of the town I haven’t been to yet. Run-down buildings and a train track separate us from the bustling sidewalks of Pine River.

Other than Blake, Dex has been around the shop more than I figure he has in the past. Even Scottie seemed shocked that he was doing ‘actual work’. It makes me laugh, but every time I go quiet in the office or stare just a little bit too long at the air conditioning unit when it randomly goes out, he’s there bringing me coffee or asking for something mundane that would pull me from my thoughts.

I feel fine being around people, around the guys and Blake, but those moments of quiet in the shop and at night are the hardest. The look on Holden’s face just before he left haunts me. The sadness, the anger that had weaved through the speckles of silver and green in his eyes, tears me up. All I want is to see him, even if he hates me I have to know if Layla is lying and I need to know whether the promises we made are true.

Dex parks outside of a small building, the windows are boarded up but it still looks as if someone has been caring for the building. He climbs off the bike before helping me off. I slide the helmet from over my hair and set it on the handlebars.

“What are we doing here?” I ask following him to the door. He doesn’t respond, only pushes the door open for me. The room is open with workout mats covering the floor. In one corner there are a few weight benches and in the other a punching bag hanging from the corner of the ceiling. I turn to him with a raised brow.

“You brought me to a gym?”

Dex locks the door behind us “Yeah.”

I hold my arms out to my sides, shaking my head. “Why?”

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