Page 15 of Goose

I grumble and turn around so I don’t have to look at her. “Whatever, Mav. Don’t you have a fucking diaper to change or some shit.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “Aren’t we touchy today?”

Striker gets up and leans against the bar, “Hey there, Bambi. How are you doing today?”

She looks up and smiles at him. “Hey, Striker! I’m good. Fucking exhausted but ya know, same old.”

Maverick nods. “How’s everything else? Willow told me about what happened with Ellie Jo. You okay?”

Striker growls. “Let us know if you need anything. I can have a prospect guard your house. Mad Dog is kicking himself for not walking you up.”

I quickly turn around to watch Bambi. Her eyes go right to mine and then quickly look away. She flutters her hand in the air.

“It was nothing, really. I’ll be fine. I had the gun Joker gave me and pulled that on her. Ellie Jo just wanted to apologize and be friends again. I don’t believe her, but supposedly she’s been seeing a therapist and shit. I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her, but everybody deserves a second chance.”

I stand so fast my chair knocks over behind me. Everybody turns and watches as I stalk toward Bambi.

When I reach her, I grab her face in my hands. “What the fuck, Bambi! Why didn’t you call me?”

She rips away from me and puts her hands on her hips. “Because it’s none of your fucking business, Goose. I had it under control. It’s my personal life, not the club’s life. Mind your own damn business.”

Frustrated, I run my hands through my hair. “Mind my business? Are you fucking serious right now?”

Bambi stares me down. “Yeah. Let it go. I have work to do and I’m done talking about it. I’m also not arguing with you in front of the kids. Drop it, Goose.”

She grabs the clipboard and walks up the stairs. I race after her and grab her around her waist, pulling her into Maverick’s office.

I slam the door and push her against it, caging her in with my arms. Her eyes darken with anger and a mix of desire.

I can still turn her on...

“Let me go, Sawyer. I’m not playing games with you. My personal life doesn’t include you. You are not my old man, you are not my boyfriend, and you are not my friend. Just leave me the fuck alone.”

I lean in closer and gently kiss the side of her chin, peppering kisses down her neck. Goosebumps appear across her arms as I kiss her.

“Seems to me you have some mixed feelings here, angel. Your mouth says one thing, but your body tells me another.” She sighs as I nip her earlobe and nuzzle into her neck. “You will always be my responsibility, Bambi. Until the day I die, you will always be my best friend. You will always be my priority. It kills me not to talk to you or see you every day.”

Bambi pushes me back and paces around the office. “I don’t believe you, Goose. You say these things but then act like an ass. Best friends don’t lie to each other. Ever since Ellie Jo came into the picture, things have just gotten worse. You are not the same boy I fell in love with sixteen years ago...”

“I’m not a fucking boy anymore, Bambi. You know the shit I’ve done, what I’ve been through. You know what I do for the club. How can I stay the same after all of that? You’re certainly not the same girl I fell in love with sixteen years ago.”

She turns on her heel and I can see the tears forming in her eyes. “That’s not fair, Sawyer. You know what happened with my mama and daddy. You know what I dealt with and you were the one who put an end to it. How could you say something like that?”

I shake my head. “Exactly. You know what I did for you. I was just a fucking kid, Bambi. Yet I manned the fuck up and dealt with your problem without asking for anything in return.”

Bambi just stands there, staring at me, breaking my fucking heart. “You’re an asshole, Sawyer. Just because you saved me doesn’t mean you own me. Fuck off.”

“That’s not what I mean! You promised yourself to me, and then you just gave yourself up to that club. To the first man who gave you any attention.”

She grips the edge of the desk and glares at me. “Fuck. You. That’s not what happened. You never gave me a chance to explain how I got in that position. And every time I try to bring it up, you run away. Fuck you, Sawyer. I’m done here. I’ll always be a club girl in your eyes.”

Bambi runs toward the door and before I can grab her, she whips it open and runs out. I’m a fucking asshole and I know it.

I slam the door shut and sit down in Mav’s chair.Why the fuck do I keep doing this to myself?

Nothing Bambi could say would change my mind. Sixteen years ago, she promised me the world, then ripped it all away from me in one night along with my shattered young heart. Closing my eyes, I can picture it all in my mind again like it was yesterday.

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