Page 53 of Broken

“I never said I was sorry and meant it,” Dirtysaid. “I … I don’t know what came over me. One moment we were doing good. Thenext, you told me you were pregnant, and I panicked. It makes no sense, becausethat would have meant you were mine.”

“I don’t know what you’re trying to do.”

“I fucked up. I hurt your feelings, and I knowthere is no way back from that, but I want you to know I’m not going to stoptrying.”

“Dirty?”

“Tell me you don’t love me,” Dirty said. “Tell meyou can’t stand to look at me, that you want nothing to do with me. Tell me Iam wasting my time, and it would be best for me to just move on. Can youimagine me with another woman?”

Petal frowned. “What the hell is this? You want toapologize and now what? Humiliate me?”

“Fuck!” He ran a hand down his face. “I’m not goodat this. I can’t stand you being with other men. I don’t want to think ofanother man knowing your pretty smile, or looking into your eyes and knowingyou’re one hell of an amazing woman.”

“I have no idea what you’re trying to say,” shesaid.

“It means I love you. I want a chance with you,and not in secret and not for any club reason. I want to be able to take youout on a date.”

Petal couldn’t believe she was hearing this.

“I know it is going to take time. This is not aneasy fix, but I also know we can make this work.” Dirty reached out and strokedher cheek.

It was such a tender touch that at first shewasn’t sure she felt it.

“I guess what I am trying to say is I’m not givingup. Not on you, not on us. You’ve got me, Petal.”

Chapter Eleven

Over the next week, Kim was predictable. She madesure Tanya was introduced to every member that entered the diner of the Satan’sDeath Riders MC.

By the end of the week, when the girls’ night wassupposed to happen, Tanya had declined. She said it was her and Leanna’s nighttogether, and she was never swapping her daughter for anyone. Kim admired herfor that, but it didn’t mean Petal would get out of it. She didn’t have adaughter or an excuse not to be there.

With her blonde hair curled, minimal makeup on,and a black dress, she was at the bar in town. The same one they had gone tofor Rosalie’s bachelorette party, which had ended with her taking her bestfriend home.

Colt and the guys had invaded, some strangers hadhit on her and Rosalie, and well, from what she could remember, Colt blamedRosalie. He’d been under the impression that her friend was used to maleattention. The truth was, she and Rosalie had only been interested in theirfriendship and not men. Rosalie’s father had changed all of that. Petal didn’tknow if she should thank him or hate him for introducing them to the Satan’sDeath Riders.

“That better be orange juice,” Petal said.

Her friend was starting to show, and her cute babybump was so adorable. Petal had to stop herself from constantly reaching out totouch her.

Rosalie laughed. “Trust me, I wasn’t much of adrinker before the baby, and I am not going to be now. Besides, this is just away to loosen up and have a good time together. You should try it.”

Kim was already on the dance floor with a coupleof women from the club. She asked Petal to join her, but she opted for drinkingan orange juice with her buddy.

AfterDirty’sdeclaration, she didn’t know what to think now. The following day, flowers hadarrived at her door from Dirty—roses, which were her favorite. The next day,baked cinnamon rolls from one of the bakeries she loved. She couldn’t bringherself to toss the flowers or the rolls out. The flowers were in a vase in thehallway, and the cinnamon rolls lasted as long as breakfast did. They tastedamazing.

She was not getting used to the gifts, but Dirtywas always at her door, waiting with his bike, to ride her to the diner. Atfirst, she tried to decline, but it turned out all four of her wheels had beenslashed. Dirty said the club was investigating. She didn’t know if the securitycameras would be able to pick up anyone who was lurking beside her car. It hadbeen a busy day, and anyone could have done it.

The shop needed to order her tires, and once thatwas done, they’d change them and she’d have her car back. Until then, her ridewas Dirty. She had a feeling he was the one who had asked to take her home. Hedidn’t try to kiss her or prolong their time together. He was, in fact, aperfect gentleman, even more than when they were on that cruise together. Shehad yet to tell Myth and Rosalie what Dirty had said.

“There’s nothing to stop you from enjoying alittle vodka mixed with that drink,” Rosalie said. “Help you loosen up andenjoy yourself.”

Petal laughed. “Are you telling me the only way toenjoy myself is to get drunk?”

Rosalie shrugged. “I don’t know, you tell me, isit?”

She glared at her friend, and taking the finalswig of her drink, she pulled Rosalie onto the dance floor.

There was a time she didn’t need anything to helpher have fun. Life had gotten in the way, as always.Work and life, making tough decisions, and fallingin love with a man who broke her heart. That same man now confusing her again,and it didn’t seem to end. It was an endless cycle of drama, or so it felt. Butshe allowed it to happen, and she wasn’t going to do it tonight. Tonight wasabout the girls, having fun and partying, and she grabbed Rosalie’s hands,shoving them up in the air to the beat of the music.

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