Page 37 of Collect the Pieces

“No problem.” I punch Rooster’s shoulder on my way out, relishing his exaggerated grunt of protest.

Happy to be free and not asked to stick around, I make a beeline for freedom. Rock, Z, Wrath, and Murphy seem to have things to discuss. Since I prefer to mind my own business, I head out of the war room, intent on putting some distance between myself and both presidents.

“Look at you leaving the table like a big boy today,” Rooster jokes, coming up on my left.

“One time, motherclucker. One time.” I roll my eyes. “You act like I’m always staying for detention or something,” I growl at him, still annoyed that he questioned how Margot feels about me in front of everyone and pointed out she’s my first girlfriend. As if I’m too dumb to figure out how relationships work.

Anger rising as I keep thinking about it, I stop and slap my palm against Rooster’s chest, halting him in his tracks. He glances down at my hand and back to my face.

“What the fuck’s your problem?” I growl, low enough that we won’t be overheard. “Why’d you question Margot’s motives like that in front of everyone?”

A deep frown creases his forehead. After a second, he brushes my hand away. “Has she toldanyonein her life that she’s seeing you?”

“Huh? Who, the corpses?”

“No, her friends, her dad? She must have other people in her life.” He closes his eyes and shudders. “Besides corpses.”

“I’m pretty sure her dad already knows—he talked to me this morning before I left.”

His eyes widen. “Yeah, and how’d that conversation go?”

“Fine.” I shrug. “Basically, he wanted to let me know that I’m not as slick as I think I am, parking my bike alongside the house where I thought he wouldn’t see it.”

Rooster snorts and ducks his head. “Smooth.”

“Other than that, he wanted to make sure I’m not weirded out by what they do there.”

“Are you?”

“Not really. I don’t exactly go wandering around the house, though.” I blow out a breath. “I guess he was concerned I might only be seeing her because the club asked me to spy on her.”

He scoffs. “If only he knew Z told you not to.”

“Right.”

“I’m sorry,” he says.

Holy shit, is an asteroid about to hit the planet? “Did you just apologize?”

He lets out a heavy sigh, as if he already regrets it. “Something about pretending not to know you rubbed me wrong…” He shrugs. “I don’t want you involved with someone who doesn’t even want to acknowledge you’re together.”

“I can’t decide if I’m deeply touched.” I press my hand against my chest. “Or deeply offended.”

“Fucking hell. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.”

“Well, yeah.” I nod and punch his shoulder. “If it makes you feel better,Dad,” I sneer, “I think she told her cousin about us. Same thing—he’s seen and heard my bike there a lot.”

“Okay. Good.”

“You realize the whole point isnotto tell the cops anything personal about ourselves, right?” I ask since he seems to have forgotten Outlaw 101. “I was fuckin’ proud of her for not saying anything. Wrath agreed.”

“You’re right. Jesus Christ, I already apologized. You need me to beg too?”

“Gee, could ya?” I wave my hand at the floor. “Maybe puff out your chest, strut around, flap your arms at your side and yell cock-a-doodle-do a few times? Then I’ll know you’re truly sorry.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“It’s part of my charm.”

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