Page 25 of Filthy and Dirty with the Bikers

I swallow hard and tuck my hand into the pocket of my jeans. Maverick and I have been thick as thieves since I got out here two years ago. Since then, we’ve revitalized the old MC here together and we’ve built a friendship that feels more like a brotherhood, but I don’t think either of us was expecting to have concurring feelings for the same woman.

“Look, I was drunk. You know how badly I’ve wanted Molly.”

Maverick stares down at the gravel driveway, kicking the stones with the toe of his boot. “Yeah, I know.” He scrubs his hand down over his face, and though he’s not saying it, I see his frustration. “I gotta stay away then, man. I can’t do this. Looking at her, seeing her… body. Hearing her voice and watching her lips move so softly… it’s too much. I almost kissed her today.” His eyes widen. “I wanted to kiss her. I thought about it all fuckin’ day.”

I bite the inside of my cheek as I stare at my friend. He’s got it bad, and I can’t blame him for any of it. Molly is byfar the sweetest, mouthiest, most legitimate blend of a woman I’ve ever met. She pushes my buttons and challenges me, while simultaneously showering me with love and affection. What she offers is genuine in a world of disingenuousness.

Maverick stands straighter. “You’re in love with her, right?”

I nod slowly, knowing how confusing and hurtful this whole thing is for him. I know what it’s like to love a woman you can’t have.

“That’s all I needed to know.” He taps the back of the truck twice as Rosie’s car pulls onto the dirt road toward the cabin. Molly said that she was giving her a ride home after the shop closed.

“Don’t go. We need to tell her everything and I want you here for whatever happens with Holden tonight.”

“Tell her what? That I’m a fuckin’ idiot that fell for her ex-boyfriend’s games? I mean fuck, dude. When you tell her what he’s been doing, she’s going to be so fucked up. How do we even help her with that?”

The wind blows, carrying a flurry of powdered snow. “Don’t know. Maybe Holden will.”

“Then what? You tell her the truth and I’m still sitting here alone, loving some girl I can’t have.” Maverick stares down at the ice-covered driveway and shakes his head.

“You said the ride in this morning was nice, that you felt a connection.”

“But she’s yours. You made that clear last night when you ripped her off my lap.” Okay, he’s pissed. That’s reasonable. I wasn’t in the mood to share last night. I’m not sure I’ll ever be in the mood to share, but I know deep down it’s what Molly wants. It’s what she needs.

I breathe slowly, trying to find the right words to describe the emotion I’m having. It’s not my forte. “I was confused last night, and drunk. The truth of it is, we share everything.”

“She’s not a fuckin’ case of beer, dude. She’s a whole person. You’re not actually buying into the sharing shit, are you?” he says, his tone lowering as Rosie’s car gets closer to the cabin.

“I think I am. I love her and I want to see her happy. If that’s with us,” I shrug, “it could be worse. Stay tonight. Let’s talk to Holden and see what he thinks about all this. Maybe we can work together to make Molly safe. I can’t do this alone, man. She’s going to need all of us.”

He laughs. “You’re serious?”

I fold my arms over my chest and stare at my buddy. “I can’t believe I’m saying it, but… I am. She needs a lot right now. More than she even realizes yet.”

The conversation settles as Molly climbs up out of Rosie’s car and waves her goodbye.

“That was nice of her to bring you out here. It’s out of her way, isn’t it?” I reach out and pull Molly against my chest, kissing the top of her head as I breathe her in. I missed her so fucking much today.

“Usually, but she’s staying with her bestie Owen for a while. His place is only a few miles north of here. Is everything okay? You guys look like you were in the middle of something serious.” Her dark brown gaze lifts to mine, and I’d do anything to take every worry she’s ever had away. That said, I always want her to know that I’ll be straightforward. After what she’s been through with Tyler, she should never have to second guess with me.

“Holden is coming over at six. We’re going to talk things out with him. I’m hoping the whole psychiatrist thing comes in handy.”

Her brows wrinkle. “What’s going on? You’re scaring me. You sent me this weird text and then I see you guys are out here fighting about something.” Tears stream down her face as she stares up at me with wide eyes. “Tell me what the fuck is going on!”

I glance toward Maverick who’s standing with his hands tucked into his jeans before the overcast sky. “We should take her inside. It’s cold as hell out here.”

“No!” She wipes away her tears and draws her eyes back and forth between the two of us. “Tell me now!”

I flash back at Maverick who’s gone to pacing the space between our trucks. Jesus, I didn’t realize how much an asset Holden would be. Together, Maverick and I are a couple of ill-equipped idiots trying to make sense of emotions we rarely navigate.

“Okay,” I sigh, landing my hand on her small shoulder. “Last week, Maverick came to me with a photo of a girl he’d been talking to online. I’ve known about her for a while, but he’d never shared any pictures.” I reach for her hand and hold it in mine. “The photo of the girl was you.”

“Me?” Her eyes widen as she says, “Well, that can’t be possible. I’m not talking to anyone online.”

Maverick steps forward and pulls out his phone, swiping to a gallery of photos he has of Molly. Some are simple pics of her face, but others are much more risqué. Her naked body. Her round tits. Her taking a shower. Her sleeping at night with a t-shirt twisted up around her.

“I showed this picture of you to Rhett.” He scrolls to a photo of her face with a big, wide smile in a field of sunflowers. I know right where the place is on Old Farm Road. “I’d been talking to you for about a year. I shared everything with you, and I believed you were sharing yourself with me. When Rhett sawthe photo, he mentioned that he knew you and that you were with someone else.”

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