Page 4 of Storm

“Yeah?” Ivy asked, her tone full of challenge. “So that means you’re going to help us decorate for Carlee’s birthday party tomorrow?”

Storm froze.Fuck.He’d forgotten about that. It felt like there was a birthday party every other week, one of the reasons he’d finally decided to buy a house of his own. The clubhouse was too much—too loud, too excited, too…full.The girls hyped up on cake and in full Little Space were pure chaos, and he usually hid in his small apartment until the sugar crash hit.

He glared at them, his scowl deepening. “No.”

Then, without waiting for a response, he stomped off, muttering curses under his breath. Behind him, Ivy and Remi’s giggles followed like a trail of sparkles.

“Love you, Stormy-Normy!” they called out in unison, their sing-song voices brimming with cheeky glee.

Brats.Storm shook his head, the faintest smile tugging at his lips despite himself.

“You’re in a great mood. Remi’s starting to think you hate her.”

Storm paused mid-swipe, glancing up from the car part in his hands as Kade approached, leaning his broad frame casually against one of the large toolboxes. His friend's tone was teasing, but there was an edge of seriousness beneath it.

“That’s ridiculous. You know I don’t hate her,” Storm muttered, then turned his focus back to wiping down the component from the classic Chevy Chevelle in front of him. The part gleamed under the overhead lights, but his mind wasn’t on the task anymore.

“Iknow that,” Kade replied, folding his arms, “but when all you do is snap at them, their Little hearts don’t know that. It hurts their feelings.”

Shit.

Storm’s jaw tightened, and he stared at the metal in his hand, suddenly unable to concentrate. The last thing he ever wanted was to make any of the Littles sad. Sure, he wanted his own space, away from the chaos and noise, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care about them. Hell, he’d put his life on the line for any of them without hesitation. They were his family, too.

“You’ve been extra dickish lately,” Kade added, his voice lighter but still pointed. “What’s going on with you?”

Storm bristled at the comment but couldn’t bring himself to deny it. If he was being honest—totallyhonest—he had been crankier than usual. But the cause? That was harder to pinpoint. It could be the lack of sex, but deep down, he wasn’t convinced that was it.

“I’m not being extraanything,” he snarled, though he hadn’t meant it to come out like that.

Kade snorted, shaking his head. “Bullshit. I’ve known you forever. You haven’t been yourself. So, what the fuck is going on? Why are you so on edge?”

Storm sighed, setting the car part aside with a metallicclink. After tossing the oily rag over his shoulder, he turned to face his friend. Kade wasn’t going to let this go, that much was clear.

“I’m buying a house.” Storm’s words were heavier than he’d expected. “I put in an offer on one today.”

Kade’s brows drew together as he studied him. “You’ve never talked about wanting to live outside the clubhouse. What’s brought that on?”

Storm hesitated, unsure how to answer. He wasn’t used to talking about his feelings, especially not when they felt so tangled. When he didn’t respond right away, Kade let out a deep sigh.

“Does it have something to do with all the Littles we have around here now?” Kade asked bluntly.

Hearing it said out loud hit hard, making him feel like an asshole. Apparently, everyone already thought he was one anyway.

“It’s a lot, being around them all the time,” he said finally, the honesty sitting heavy on his chest.

“No shit,” Kade said with a glimmer of humor. “They’re fucking loud, bratty, and a total pain in the ass.” His lips curved into a small smile. “But are you buying a house to get away from them or because being around them constantly reminds you of what you don’t have?”

Storm’s chest tightened at the question, something sharp twisting inside him. He met Kade’s gaze but didn’t have an answer. Or maybe he didn’twantto have an answer.

“It’s time for me to live on my own,” he said gruffly. “Besides, the girls will be thrilled not to have me around, you know, being such an asshole.”

Kade smirked and pushed off the toolbox. “Actually, I think they’re going to be crushed that you’re moving out. Like it or not, they love you—despite your sparkling personality.”

Storm stared after him in stunned silence as Kade strode out of the garage, his words lingering like an echo in the air.The girls love me?That felt like a stretch. They tolerated him, teased him relentlessly, and harassed him on a regular basis. Surely, they weren’t going to have a second thought to him leaving.

And yet, the idea of not seeing them every day made his stomach roil uncomfortably.

What the hell was that all about?

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