Page 14 of Blue

“It didn’t—doesn’t feel right going to the clubhouse. It’s his club,” she said.

One week since she’d broken her own heart.

Letting her face go, Dash peered at her. His jaw shifted from side to side in his silence.

“I know. It’s weird because the tattoo shop is his too,” she blurted because she couldn’t stand the quiet between them. “But Stella took over as my mentor so I could keep apprenticing.” Her words tripped over themselves as they fell from her mouth. “He’s away on the run, and I can still do the tattoo stuff. I need to get done. I’ll find a new place—”

“No.” The bald biker held up his meaty hand to stop the deluge of words flowing from her. “You’re not changing shops.”

Déjà vu.

Mooky had said the same thing. Maybe it was why she hadn’t left and why she hadn’t even bothered looking for a new shop. That, or maybe she just didn’t want a new place.

Dash stepped back and stroked his blond beard. His fingers came together at the bottom as he twisted a bit of the coarse hair. The stern look of concentration on his face clearly broadcasted he was not to be interrupted.

Once again, Blue fluffed her hair as the nervous energy pulsed through her. She needed something to do with her hands. The quiet between them grated on her nerves, building the anticipation. She gnawed on the inside of her cheek, waiting for Dash to say something—to pass some sort of judgment. Maybe even give her the answer, or permission, for what she should do now.

His gaze lifted, pinning her in place. “Come to the clubhouse tonight.”

“What?” she balked.

That wasn’t it.

“I can’t. I—it won’t—I’ll feel, it’ll be awkward,” she stammered.

He nodded. “It will,” he agreed. “But you’ll come.” Leaving no room for argument, he wrapped her in a quick but firm hug.

She wasn’t sure she had an argument in her.

“I got some shit to do. So, I’ll see you later.” He released her, booped her nose, and strolled toward his bike.

She wanted to be pissed off about it—at his arrogance and his orders. Had she been in a better place mentally, she might have sassed him back, just for funsies. Had she not desperately missed the clubhouse and everything that went with it, she might have thought about defying him.

While wringing her fingers, her stomach lurched at the idea of going to the clubhouse after breaking up with Mooky.

Despite all the emotional turmoil, a seed of excitement took root.

Nothing about this felt like it would go well. There was just too much baggage.

But something about the idea seemed like she could go home.

Home.

She didn’t belong there anymore, but Dash insisted. Who was she to say no to the VP of Odin’s Fury MC? She’d heard that didn’t go well for the last person.

Yeah, blame it on Dash. Maybe if she pretended she had no choice, she’d have less conflicting emotions. Lie to herself. That was one way to handle it.

If she wasn’t careful, that little seedling would lay down roots. Those dangerous roots would give her hope and a false sense of security in the clubhouse. She had no business having any of those. Mooky could shatter it all when he came home.

It’d been one week since she felt happy. She hadn’t even smiled genuinely since. Unfortunately, she’d let it get the best of her.

It’d be forever till Blue and Mooky said they’re sorry…if they said they’re sorry. Would they say sorry? Could they be sorry?

No.

What did Barenaked Ladies know anyway? They were just lyrics.

Blue and Mooky couldn’t be sorry. It had to go down that way.

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