Page 5 of Greedy Grizzly
“We can read between the lines, y’know?” Sugar laughed, her cheeks turning bright red. Ever since her and Art got together, and they had Alexandra, Sugar had been more sassy and vibrant. Motherhood and the love of a good man seemed to have awakened a side of her I hadn’t seen since before the OG Prez, Matt’s, passing.
“I’m sure that was his intention.” Maddy stared up at Storm and puckered her lips.
“One day, I’ll interfere with his good time with his girl,” Prez said in a husky voice just before kissing his wife.
I snorted, taking Libby’s elbow. “She’ll be right back to help with supper.” I guided her outside before the old ladies’ giggles and witty banter started. Libby would want to join in and I would never get between her and the other women. They were her tribe and loved her almost as much as me.
“Is something wrong, babe?” She shaded her eyes as the bright July sun hit her face. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and no humidity. On such a perfect day, we should’ve been hiking or kayaking, instead of at the clubhouse.
“Just need to ask you about something.” I led her to the gazebo, away from curious ears. “I got an email from Toby.”
“Oh?” She sat and didn’t appear surprised when she should be. I hadn’t been quiet about my frustrations with Toby. I’d even asked her a couple of times if she knew if I’d done something to piss him off, and she’d said he hadn’t told her anything.
I tilted my head, squinting. “Did you know he was coming for a visit?”
“Yes,” she answered honestly and scooted next to me, taking my hand.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“He wanted to be the one.”
“So he emails me instead of calling? What the hell is going on with him, Lib? He’s been weird since the last time he was in town.” It had to be thealmostkiss. Maybe I’d had it all wrong and he wasn’t bi-sexual. Was Toby a homophobe? Weirded out by the almost kiss? Did he think I was gay? Into him? He’d seen me with Libby all the time so that should have eased his mind.
Had I read him wrong?Probably. I’d never been good with people and missed most social cues. But something deep inside me had made me believe Toby felt more for me than friendship.
“Babe, don’t overreact. Toby’s been figuring stuff out. When he gets here, he’ll explain everything.”
“What is there to explain? Just tell me because I’m confident you know exactly what’s going on.”
“Landon, just wait until Toby gets here, please.” She rubbed the top of my hand as if to pacify me. And calling me Landon wasn’t good. She only did that when she wanted to keep me calm.
“How do I fit into all this?”
Her manicured brows knitted together. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t play me for a fool, Libby.”
“I’d never.”
“Then just be straight with me.” I yanked my hand out of hers. “Tell me what I did wrong.”
She stared at me with so much damn compassion in her eyes, it made me uncomfortable. There wasn’t much in my life that mattered to me, but Libby waseverything. My MC brothers mattered, but not more than Libby. And not more than Toby…
Libby stood, hiked up her skirt, and straddled my lap.
“Not now,” I grumbled and turned away from her.
“Look at me.” She took my face in her hands and forced me to turn toward her. “I would never do anything to hurt you. You know that, right?”
“I don’t understand what the big deal is. Why won’t he just come out and say it? And why the hell do you know and not me?” My voice raised when I didn’t mean it to.
“He confided in me, just like you confide in me. I’ve never told a soul your secrets and I won’t tell Toby’s.” And just like that, she put me in my place.
I blew out a frustrated breath and snaked my hands around her waist, tugging her closer to me. “I have one question.”
“I’ll try to answer it.” She softly kissed my lips.
“Are you leaving me for him?”
