Page 33 of Bound by Family
“I figured that.”
“Oh, you did. Why’s that?”
My brain screams,because you seem to be an action man, and texting is more of a passive thing, but it would be stupid tossing every card I have out on the table so early.
I begin to pace, looking down and noting some of the fluff has gone out of the carpet. “I don’t know, just the way you were at the rally. You seem to be in the moment.”
His laughter comes over the line, sending goose bumps down my arms. Damn, I like that.
“Somethin’ like that.”
“Yeah, something.” I sigh heavily, feeling like an idiot. “Look, I’m not good at this.”
“What a coincidence, neither am I.”
“You’re not?” This surprises me. I mean, come on, Cooper is a hot man. He must have women all over. That thought twists my gut.
“Beautiful, I’m a biker; we don’t chat with women.”
No, they don’t. They sleep with them and then move on to the next. I saw my brothers do it when they still lived in the house.
The idea of Cooper getting serviced by another woman sends burning fire through my veins. It’s not that I don’t like it …
I hate it.
After a pause, I’m relieved when he talks. “So, today I was at the shop.”
“Banner, right?”
“You paid attention.”
Boy, have I ever. Every little tidbit of information he gives me, I suck on it, wanting to know every detail.
“I was there with Ryker today,” he continues, “and this asshole comes in, demanding to get his car fixed immediately. He was one of those suit wearin’ types who has an office job and has never gotten his hands dirty in his life. Well, this doesn’t fly well. We get into an argument, and he calls me a pussy bitch.”
I laugh. “I bet that went over well.”
“Let’s just say the asshole won’t ever come back.”
“I bet not. I’ve seen the guys you hang out with.”
“My brothers.”
“Yeah, your brothers.” My mind spins at this revelation. It’s not that I didn’t know; it just hadn’t sunk in. Cooper has brothers, just like my blood does. They see me as an outcast. The pain hits me that Cooper would think the same thing. I’m in their world, but not. I know some things, but not most. I’m an outsider looking in. Cooper is going to realize that soon enough, and our conversations are going to be over.
Dread washes over me like a cold shower.
Is this a premonition of what’s to come? Hell, I barely know the guy. I shouldn’t even care, but I do. Dammit.
“Where’d ya go?”
I snap back to the conversation. “I’m here.”
“Nah, you were far away.”
“Sorry, it was a busy day.” It’s not a lie, but it isn’t the entire truth, either.
“Tell me about it.”
