Page 28 of Jet

I sit frozen, staring at him with only two thoughts running through my head.

He heard me talking to Kenny. He really hates me.

I look at Stella, who just looks at me kindly, waiting politely for me to answer. Then I turn to Kenny, who is looking at Reed with a slight frown on his face.

This is what I’m trying to hold on to? When I could be with Booker doing literally anything and be happy.

I stand up so quickly the chair falls over, and I look Reed dead in the eye. “You win.”

“What do you mean?” They look at me, nerves clouding features so similar to mine.

Ignoring him, I turn to Stella and Kenny. “Thank you so much for having me, but I’m leaving.”

“What? But you haven’t finished your meal,” Stella says, frowning.

“No, stay, please, Nicky,” Kenny says, getting up too. He knows what is happening and looks devastated. I fucking hate that I’m going to hurt him too.

“I spent twenty-plus years in a family where I wasn’t wanted. I’m not doing it again, Kenny.” I smile at him sadly, and I walk around the table, pulling him in for a hug. He wraps his arms around me tightly. “We’ll still keep in touch. The two of us can meet up, okay?”

Pulling back, I see a tear escaping down his cheek. “I’m gonna go back to the clubhouse. I’ll leave in the morning after breakfast if you want to say goodbye.”

“Of course I want to say goodbye,” he sniffs. I nod and turn to a bemused Stella.

“I’ll make sure to send you Bron’s mom’s gravy recipe.”

“I don’t understand what’s happening. Why are you leaving?” She looks close to tears now too.

“Goodbye,” I choke out and rush out of the house, ignoring the sound of a sob as I shut the front door and head to my bike.

The ride to the clubhouse goes by in a blur of half-formed thoughts and sadness. I know I did the right thing, though. My parents hurt me so fucking much, and I know Reed is just a kid, but he’s hurting me. And I have enough self-worth that I am not going to spend time with someone who makes me feel shitty about myself. That is never happening again.

I can get an apartment close by. I know I saw a cute house for sale, two towns over as I was driving in. Only an hour’s drive. Kenny could do that easily.

So could Booker.

I run up the steps to the clubhouse and crash through the doors, immediately scanning the room for the one face I want to see.

“You didn’t need a DNA test to prove you're Kenny’s kid. You walk through doors just like him,” Mac grumbles from the bar.

“Where’s Booker?” I ask him, sounding desperate even to me.

“He went up to his room as soon as you left,” Toni says, handing Mac a fresh beer.

With a quick thanks, I rush through the bar to the stairs. By the time I’m outside his door, I’m panting.

“Who the fuck is knocking so loudly?” Just the sound of his voice makes my fucking heart swell. “I told you all that I wanted to watch Grey's Anatomy and sulk.”

I don’t say anything, just knock again. His bed creaks, and then a few seconds later the door is swinging open, and a nearly naked Booker is standing there looking like all the wet dreams I’ve ever had rolled into one.

So.

Much.

Skin.

“I have eyes, you know,” Booker grumbles, crossing his arms. Shit. I just can’t seem to stop fucking up today.

“I love your eyes,” I say, wanting to just dive into the deep brown pools. “Can I come in and talk?”

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