Page 21 of Blood & Ash

Chapter Nine

“What do you think?”

Ashley spins around the living room. “It’s bigger than I thought it’d be.”

“Won’t be once I get all of our shit moved in.”

“Won’t they miss you at the clubhouse?”

“I’ll split my time, but there will always be someone here to look after you guys.”

“I don’t need a babysitter. Shelby always knew where I was.”

“I’m not Shelby and you’re still a kid.”

“No, I’m not. I’ll be seventeen in a month.”

“Like I said. Still a little girl.”

“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes. “Do I get to pick my room?”

“Knock yourself out.”

“Sweet.” She takes off down the hallway, opening and closing doors.

I’m doing the right thing.

Ash and Ashley need a real home. Safety.

They were never going to have that with Shelby. She let Ashley run wild, like her mother did with her when we were this age.I’m not letting her loose to repeat her sister’s mistakes or mine. Ashley needs stability.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be what’s considered stable, but I’ll do my damnedest to try.

“How far are we from the clubhouse?” her voice carries from down the hall.

I follow the sound, packing Ash with me in his baby carrier. Who needs to hit the gym when lugging around a baby and all their shit all the time?

I find her in my old bedroom. Been some time since I’ve been back here but sometimes when I was in high school I’d hang here to party behind my old man’s back. Lost my damn virginity to Shelby in this room. She was worried I was going to fuck one of the club sluts.

That never really did it for me. Thinking about sticking my dick where everyone else already had turned me off.

“Nice posters.” Her cheeks heat and I track her line of sight to the closet, where I had some old posters of swimsuit models posing with motorcycles hanging up.

“You like them so much you can keep them.” I tease.

“Ha. Ha. Maybe if they were of Barry Keoghan.” She smirks.

“Who?”

“Guess you’ve not watched Saltburn?”

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s a movie. Forget it.”

“Better not tell Jackson about Barry. He might get jealous.” I chuckle.

“There is no Jackson. I took initiative and dumped him first.”

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