Page 35 of Panther's Magpie
MAGGIE
It’s been a month since I’ve seen or talked to Aspen, but it feels like it’s been years.
It’s crazy to think about the fact that I have spoken to Aspen every day of my life since I was eight years old. Even when she would visit Calloway on occasion, she would still text or call me every day to talk about random shit.
I’m realizing she kept some important parts of herself hidden, but she has always been there for me. Not having her now is starting to hit me like a ton of bricks.
My best friend might truly be in danger. Not might. She is. I know she is because I know the kind of men she is with. The kind who would hit a woman for rejecting his advances.
What horrors is she living through?
What’s worse is that I actually find myself smiling and enjoying myself here with the Mountain River MC brothers. They have all welcomed me with open arms, which is what I’ve always wanted. That only adds to my guilt because Aspenshould be here. She should be with me. She would eat up all the attention here.
Then there’s Calloway. He has been spending more and more time with me. This is Aspen’s brother. I shouldn’t feel the things I do when I’m around him, but I can’t stop myself. The more I get to know him, the more I think I like him.
I’m dangerously close to developing a huge crush on the guy.
That only adds to my turmoil. I shouldn’t like my best friend’s brother. That goes against all girl code. Not only that, but I know how possessive of Calloway Aspen can be. If she knew I were having these thoughts, I truly think that she would end our friendship over it. That scares me more than anything.
Then again, am I clinging to him because he is all I have of her right now?
My head is a jumbled mess. I have no idea what I am even thinking anymore.
“You look upset. Is everything okay?” Panther asks as he finds me sitting in a chair out front watching the guard at the gate.
“No. Everything won’t be okay until Aspen is here,” I admit to him.
He sighs, sitting down next to me. “I agree. We are doing everything we can. You can’t let it put you into a depression, though.”
“I have nothing else to do, but think about it. My rent is up to date. I don’t have school anymore. I have no friends here, really. The guys are great, but they have things to do.”
“You’re lonely,” he says.
I think it over. I am. I really am.
“I guess so,” I mumble.
He stands and holds out his hand to me. My stomach erupts with butterflies.
“Come on. Let’s go, Magpie.” He wiggles his fingers as he smiles at me.
I beam at his nickname for me. It’s something so simple, but it means the world.
“Where?”
He snorts. “You’ll find out when you take my hand and trust me.”
I shouldn’t do it, but I do. I take his hand and let him pull me out of the chair. He uses such force that I collide into him. His hand grips my hip to keep me steady.
“You okay?” he whispers.
I nod, swallowing hard. He turns me, keeping his hand on the small of my back as he leads me around the main clubhouse.
I don’t say a word as he leads me to a trail at the edge of the woods. Not until we get a bit farther in and I realize I am wearing the wrong shoes for this.
“I think hiking boots would be better for this,” I tell him, looking down at my flimsy tennis shoes that are meant more to look pretty than be functional.
He looks down and frowns. “We aren’t going far. I can carry you if it’s too much,” he tells me.
