Page 27 of Untouchable

“Oh please, like you wouldn’t love for that man to boss you around.”

Hmm, maybe so, but not the point.

“You know what I mean, Tabs. He’s so loyal to my father and the club, he didn’t even bother looking my way until a few weeks ago. Every time I’ve seen or talked to him since then, it’s always strictly circumstantial. Someone drugged me, or my car is broken and I need a ride or?—”

She cuts me off before I can finish. “Or he brings you your camera bag because he just wanted to see you?”

I quickly deny her claim, knowing I’ll think too much into it otherwise. “Because he knows I need it for my job.”

Her face falls. “Girl, you have two other cameras in your bedroom. You did not need that one to do your job.”

“Yes, but he doesn’t know that.”

She lets out an exasperated breath. “Okay, well on the bright side, this is only a baby crisis, and you’re definitely not a whore. It’s okay if you’re attracted to Ace, and it’s definitely okay to want to know if he sees you the same way. Who knows, maybe after everything settles down, after Viper’s memorial and everything, you two will get a chance to talk and get to know each other.Again.” She squeezes my knee, offering me an encouraging smile. “Okay. If there’s nothing else on the agenda for tonight, I have got to get some sleep.”

“Sorry for waking you.” I scrunch my nose, and she waves me off.

“Talking about Ace is always an acceptable reason to wake me from my slumber.” I laugh as she puts her coffee mug in the sink. “And I fully support you printing out that photo of him. I’m talking like a big ass, practice making out with it, poster size print out. Maybe for the back of your door or above your bed?”

“Psh. I’m not thirteen anymore, Tabs.”

Because thirteen-year-old me totally would have done that.

“Whatever you say, Kitty Cat.” She gives me a thumbs-up over her head before shutting her bedroom door behind her. I pull my SD card from my camera, sliding it into my computer to pull up all my latest photographs. When the one of Ace displays across my computer screen, I stop and stare at it for a while. There’s something about him that part of my soul connects with, I just can’t figure out what it is. For a while, I thought it was because we spent so much of our childhood together, but the more I’m around him, the less convinced I am that it is. I hope Tabitha is right, I hope we get the chance to talk without all the drink spiking and tragedy that’s been going on around us ever since he started speaking to me again. He may very well be just looking out for the club president’s daughter to show his loyalty, but maybe there will be a chance for us to get to know each other again. I guess only time will tell.

CHAPTER 16

Katarina

“SOLACE AND SUNDRESSES”

“Is this appropriate to wear to a memorial?” I ask Tabitha as I assess my outfit in my floor-length mirror.

She peeks her head in and smiles.“Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be?”

My shoulders drop on my exhale. “I don’t know. I just feel so out of my comfort zone.” I used to wear dresses all the time when I was younger. My mom and I would go shopping every spring to pick out new styles, and she’d remind me of all the times she would make us match when I was a baby. After losing her, the dresses no longer sparked joy in my life the way they used to. I’m pretty sure the last time I wore one was at her funeral.

“Well, it’s a lot more appropriate than cutoffs or ripped jeans. I say leave it on.” She appears next to me, wearing a black dress of her own, only she’s paired hers with pearls and a pair of summer wedges. Whereas I’ve chosen to wear my usual heeled boots and wear only the rings that are practically soldered to my hands. I hit a phase in college where I wore rings on almost every one of my fingers, and it ended up being the fad that never faded. I still love the look, and no one will change my mind about it.

Tabitha gently squeezes my arm to get my attention back on her. “You ready to go?” I smile at her in our reflection and turn to face her.

“I can’t thank you enough for coming with me today.”

She shrugs with a sweet smile on her face. “What are best friends for?”

When we pull up to the church, I almost can’t believe how many bikes are parked in the lot. I almost never see the entire club at one time, unless they’re leaving for one of their rides and I happen to be in town to see them off. I’d all but forgotten just how big of a family my dad has created through this club, and every single member, plus some are here to mourn the loss of one of their own. Tabitha parks her car near the back, and when we get out, every single pair of eyes outside of the building lands on us.

“Umm. I thought you said you feel invisible when you’re at the clubhouse,” Tabitha mumbles through her teeth, linking her arm with mine.

“I am.”

“Bullshit, babe. Every head on this lot turned when you got out of the car.” My ponytail whips around as I look over at her.

“They must be looking at you, hot stuff.”

Her eyes roll at the same time she dramatically tosses tendrils of long brown hair over her shoulder. “As if.”

The guys I recognize give me a small smile and tip their heads as Tabitha and I walk past them. “Thank you.” I smile at one of the prospects who must be on door duty today. My head is on a swivel as I look for my dad, stopping when I see him up front. I grab Tabitha’s hand and pull her with me as we make our way over to him.

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