I look at her and smile wide admitting, “I am living it,” then look back at Damian and she gasps.
“You’re in love with him,” she confirms, and I nod, admitting, “With everything that I am, I’m just not ready to say it yet.”
Scarlett nudges me, making me chuckle, causing Damian to look my way and tilt his head. I smile wide, causing him to smile in return, and Scarlett announces, “Well, it looks like he’s in love with you too. If he wasn’t, we wouldn’t have met.”
I nod, not taking my eyes off the man who has become my everything, and mumble, “Good to know.”
I hold onto her words and hope with everything I am that she’s right because I’m never letting this man go, not for anything.
Chapter 13
Jokester – Two Months Later
Isighasmyphone rings for the fifth time since I sat down five minutes ago.
I’ve barely finished work after dodging several brothers wanting to see me, checking none were down for me to tattoo like they request several times a day. Now I’m meeting up with Adam, Essy’s dad, for a beer at the Black Angel’s bar and Grill while she’s on her way home after taking Aiden to Sea World for a brother/sister day, something she demanded and my phone hasn’t stopped going off.
Between school, the bakery, and spending most nights with me, Essy’s having Aiden withdrawals even though some nights when she’s with me, so is Aiden. Then there’s the growing friendship between Scar and her. On some of her free afternoons when Bella, her high school hire, takes over, not trusting Trina after the whole fiasco three months ago at the bakery, they have girl time in my apartment or at the park with the kids.
I’m pretty sure my girl has become Levi’s favorite person.
My phone stops ringing and starts right back up again, and I shake my head and quickly get it out before checking the screen.
Dad
“Of course,” I mutter, it’s his ninth call today.
It's been three months, and I’ve had no contact with him or the club. After Mama let slip that Bethany was going to calm down once I returned, something my dad and Butcher promised would happen, I told Hammer not to allow any club members in my room at the shop, including my mother. I know this must have upset her, but it’s not like I haven’t answered her texts.
The brothers haven’t stopped trying to get into my room at the shop or my apartment, but hopefully, soon, they’ll get the hint. I’m no longer a brother; I stopped being one five years ago.
The ringing stops and starts yet again, and I know I can’t ignore him because next, he’ll come looking for me, and I can’t have that, not right now, not when I’m trying to make sure my future father-in-law will be happy with me marrying his daughter; not that she’s ready for me to ask, though.
Groaning silently, I answer the phone and ask, “What’s the emergency, Dad?”
He growls, “The fact that you’ve banned brothers from even coming to see you at the shop, as well as your mother? The fact that you won’t answer anyone’s calls. The fact that you haven’t even come back to the clubhouse…. I’d say there’s a big fucking emergency!”
I huff and snap, “I’m not part of the fucking club anymore. You and Butcher are to blame for that, you even got it in Mama’s head that I’ll return and take Bethany back!”
He’s quiet for a moment and then states, “You’re the only one who can keep her under control. Butcher doesn’t want to send his daughter away, son, and I’ve tried telling you before there’s more to it.”
I scoff, “And I told you, she could have proof of someone being killed, I still wouldn’t go back there. I didn’t want her to begin with, and you and Butcher forced her on me, using my family as collateral something you are both trying to do yet a-fucking-gain. Guess what,Dad? The day you two did that, was the day you lost my trust and my respect. Don’t bother calling me again.”
I hang up and drop my phone on the bar as a body sits beside me, and I tense because I know for a fact that it’s Adam. I look and lock eyes with my girl’s father who raises a brow, and I sigh.
Fucking great….Thanks,Dad.
“Want to explain?” he says as Lucy places two beers down.
“Not really,” I mumble, then state, “My dad’s an ass, and the longer Essy goes without meeting him, the fucking better.”
He chuckles and nods, leaving it there thankfully as he takes a swig of his beer, then says, “Mer arrived home as I was leaving, poor Aiden was zonked.”
I grin and reply, “Doesn’t surprise me. I’d bet my truck and bike she bought some kind of animal matching t-shirts for them both,” before taking a drink. He chuckles, proving me right before another person sits down, but next to Adam, and I tense.
Fuck.
Bullet raises a brow at me as he looks at Adam, then back at me with confusion. I clear my throat as Adam looks towards him and eyes his cut.