Page 39 of Stealing the Biker

“No. It was a job. Nothing more. I went a little too far one time.”

“I don’t know how to trust you.”

“I swear to you. That’s all that happened. I’ll never see her again.”

“And what about the next job or the next skank?”

“Things will be different. I’ll be coming home to you every night. We’ll do what you said. Move in with Smoke and Ember until we can afford our own place. I won’t have to sleep at the clubhouse or crash at Trenton’s.” I take her hand and pull her up from her chair. “Come on. We can make this work.”

“I don’t know.”

“Think about it.” I wrap my arms around her. I’m a selfish bastard.

I should cut her loose, but I’m not ready to lose her.

Chapter Fourteen

“You look beautiful.” Mom hands me my corsage and I slide the elastic band over my wrist, admiring the pink roses that match my hair. “One more picture.” She presses her palms together.

“We’ve taken enough pics. I’m going to be late.”

“You’re picking Bethany up and going to the dance. Then, after you’ll be spending the night at her house?”

“Yes. I’ll video call you before bed.”

“No parties. No Jonesy with the lickable abs.”

“Ugh. As if. I have better taste than that.” My thoughts shift to Jimmy and my heart cracks a little further. I’ve been trying to forget about him, but it’s hard. I overheard Mom and Prodigy talking about how him and his girlfriend are moving in with Smoke and Ember.

It’s none of my business.

Things have changed since my father broke into the house and held us at gunpoint. Prodigy officially moved in with us and Mom has gotten even more strict with when I’m supposed to be home and where I go. One would think it’d be the opposite now that my sperm donor is rotting in a jail cell. Marie and my littlesister are back living at Lily’s Hope. A place for abused women. I don’t really know the specifics. Mom’s trying to help Marie, but she’s also got her guard up. My father says they were working together, but Mom isn’t sure.

Prodigy living with us has brought some good changes too. Like Mom is starting to give me a little more freedom, allowing me to drive her car sometimes, but she’s keeping tabs on me more than she did before. She says at least if I’m in her car when I drive, she can breathe a little easier when I go out the door.

She snaps a few more pictures and hands me her keys. Picking Bethany up isn’t that far of a drive. She lives two streets over from me. When I pull up, she’s already running across her front yard, nearly taking a tumble when her heel catches on something.

“Oh my God. Did you see that? I would have died,” she gushes as she climbs into the passenger seat.

“I only wish I was filming,” I tease. “Don’t tell me you’ve already been drinking?”

“Only a few sips. I had to bribe my brother with doing his chores for the next two weeks to get this.” She opens her overnight bag, and I see three bottles of Snow Creek poking out the top.

So I may have told my mom a slight fib. I’ll be with Bethany, but we aren’t staying at her house. Her mom thinks she’s sleeping at my house. Not exactly foolproof, but we’re hoping neither of them calls the other to ask questions. Carissa Hodgins is having a party.

It’s my senior year and I’ve not had any fun. Tonight is my chance to be a little impulsive.

“That was so boring. Did you see what Deona was wearing? Like I could almost see her ass,” Bethany says, passing me a red cup full of cheap wine. “I can’t believe she beat out you and Lisa for homecoming queen.”

I shrug. “I don’t really care.” I was only trying to get Jonesy’s attention. Total waste of my time.

The dance was lame, so we left early, and we took turns calling our mothers to pretend we were in each other’s bedrooms when really, it’s Carissa’s guest room. I only wish Sam were here and that Jimmy could have seen me in my dress.

“Let’s get this party started!” Carissa turns on the stereo as more of our classmates squeeze into the living room.

Bethany elbows me. “Don’t look now, but Jonesy is staring at you.”

Warmth floods my face. I didn’t know he would be here. I figured he took the hint when I blew him off the last time. I’m not interested in him, but maybe I could use him to make Jimmy jealous. I still have his phone number.

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