Page 26 of Panther's Magpie
“That we do.” I kick at the rocks. “She seems to like it out in California, though.”
Maggie tilts her head from side to side. “Yes and no. She likes the people, but she misses you.”
I close my eyes as my stomach sinks.
Shit. If only I hadn’t pushed her away, maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation.
“I miss her too,” I admit.
Maggie turns toward me. “At the risk of making you mad, I need to talk about something else. Anything else other than Aspen. My nerves can’t take it.”
I shift my body and put my arm along the back of the bench. “Tell me about you.”
A little line forms between her brows. “What?”
“You’re my sister’s best friend and have been for over a decade. The way I see it, it’s time we got to know each other, yeah?”
“Yeah, what do you want to know?” she asks as she begins to smile.
Goddamn, does she have a nice smile.
“Everything. Tell me everything.”
Maggie opens her mouth, and everything flows out of her. She tells me her favorite color, food, and places to go. She tells me about her hopes and dreams. How she loves school and never wants to stop learning.
Somehow she even manages to get me to open up to her, answer for answer.
Somewhere along the conversation, I realize she’s not the one to blame for the shit storm Aspen has found herself in. My anger and resentment fade and are replaced by intrigue and infatuation.
The entire time she talks, I can’t help but become more entranced by her.
By the time I get her back on the bike, I know I’m in trouble. I only spent a couple of hours with the girl, and I am already thinking about how to spend even more time with her.
Margaret Ellis is mesmerizing, and if I’m not careful, she will pull me under her spell.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
MAGGIE
Istretch as I wake up once again in the same bed that I’ve been sleeping in.
I should be freaking out that I practically had to drop out of school and move into a clubhouse full of men, but I’m not.
Dare I say that I am even enjoying this?
That would be crazy, though, right?
It’s now been two weeks since I arrived, and I’m starting to settle in. I’m understanding these guys more and more each day. They are even talking with me more. Well, at least some of them are.
Like when I asked Eagle why they didn’t party here like in the romance books I’ve read. He only laughed at me a little as he told me that Panther bought a bar for the raunchy shit. They only hold celebrations in the clubhouse now. It’s meant to be more chill.
I have to admit, I like the chill part of this life. I also like that no matter what time of day it is, I can find one of the brothershere. Even if it’s walking down to the gate to talk to whoever is guarding that day.
I shouldn’t love it here, but I do. I love that I’m never alone. I don’t have the opportunity to feel depressed at all.
The only thing missing is Aspen. God, I wish she were here.
