Page 5 of Marked By the Possessive Biker

He shrugs. “So what are you going to do?”

It feels hopeless. “What can I do? She won’t fit in here. Hell, Trixie and the other cherries would chew her up and spit her out.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t believe that.”

My hands fist. How can he act like he knows anything about Lexi? But before I can call him on it, he continues. “You’re not the type to be into some woman that is a doormat. Give her a chance.”

I jump off the counter and finish cleaning up. “Don’t you have work to do?”

He walks over to the door. “Okay, fine. I’ll leave you to it and let you figure things out on your own, but you do realize if Pres finds out you’re hanging out at a college campus, drawing attention to the club, he’s going to have your ass for it.”

I ignore him, and eventually he walks away. Immediately, my mind goes to Lexi, and I can’t help but wonder what she’s doing today. And how her study “date” went last night with Mr. Khaki.

4

LEXI

“Tara, I’m fine. Will you quit asking me if I’m okay? I’m good. I’ve been busy at school and?—”

“Bullshit,” she says and it’s loud as it comes through the speakers of the car.

“Tsk, tsk. I swear since you started dating my brother, you curse a lot more, but hey, I get it. He’s bossy and makes me want to cuss half the time.”

“Lexi, stop trying to avoid the subject. I’m your best friend, and I know something is up, so talk to me.”

I pull to the side of the road and put my car in park. I can’t have this conversation and drive at the same time. “Okay, listen, I really am busy with school but?—”

Tara starts to interrupt me, and I stop her. “But! There was a guy I was interested in, and I thought he was interested too, but...” I wince, thinking back on that day at the tattoo shop and him telling me he wasn’t interested in breaking in a virgin. “Well, come to find out, I’m not his type.”

Tara blows out a breath. “It’s Ben, right? Cruz was right when he said there was something going on between you two.”

I sit up in my seat. “Wait. What? My brother? How does Cruz know anything… I didn’t even tell you.”

“At my sister’s wedding, Ben asked me about you, and Cruz sort of figured it out. I told him there’s no way you were interested in Ben, but I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me?”

I start to laugh. “What was I going to tell you? That I liked your ex boyfriend’s brother? You had enough crap you were dealing with. Plus, nothing happened, so…”

I let my voice trail off. It’s crazy to think that I’m this torn up about things when I’ve never even kissed the man in question.

“Something happened!” Tara insists.

I huff out a breath, not wanting to get into it but knowing Tara is not going to give up until I tell her. “Fine. Yes, I thought we hit it off that night I went out with you and Grant. I made a fool out of myself and showed up at Heat & Ink to talk to Ben, and he said he wasn’t interested. It’s nothing, and I’m over it.”

Tara starts to stutter. “How? But? Really? Not interested? What an asshole.” She pauses. “But wait… he asked about you at the wedding and was looking for you. I saw you two together… are you sure there’s not something else going on?”

I clench my eyes shut and open them. “Yeah, I’ve seen him a few times. I mean, like just ran into him, not like dating him or anything.”

She’s quiet for a full five seconds, and I know she’s trying to piece it all together. “How do you ‘run’ into someone from a motorcycle club?”

Damn it. “Tara, look, it’s no big deal, and I’ll be honest with you, I’m glad you’re dating my brother. I’ve never seen either one of you as happy as you are now, but this is weird for me. I know you tell him things, and I’m really not wanting my brother to put his two cents in.”

She shrieks, and it seems even louder through the car speakers. “Lexi! You’re my best friend… you can tell me anything, you know that.”

Oh God, I hate this. “I know I can, but I need to figure this out on my own.”

“Lexi—” she starts.

“Ugh, Tara, I promise, I’m fine.” The sound of a motorcycle has me sitting up in my seat and looking out the window. It’s Ben, and he pulls over, stopping several feet in front of me, causing my stomach to drop and my heart to race. What now? “Look, I gotta go. I’ll call you when I get back to the dorm. Promise.”

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