Page 12 of Anarchy
I walk into the main room and grab the keys to one of the trucks. I'd take my bike, but I can't have her on the back of it.
Watching her do a jump just to get in the truck has me laughing.
"You know it's rude to laugh at short people. Totally beyond my control." She gives me a dirty look, but it only makes me laugh more.
I flip on the radio and head toward town. “So it’s part of my job to explain to you how the club works. Do you have any questions before I start?”
She pauses for a moment, “Why does everyone call each other by different names?”
“They’re called road names. You get assigned one soon after you become a brother.” She nods although the look on her face tells me that she doesn’t totally get it. “There are a lot of things that come with being a part of the club. Lucy and the other girls you met last night. They’re all called old ladies, it’s a term that comes after a brother claims you.”
“What do you mean claim?” her body turns toward me and I feel like all of a sudden she’s tensed up.
“It sounds worse than it is. It basically means that we are making it known that you are with us. No one else can touch you, and it earns you a certain level of respect in the club." We pull into the parking lot in the shopping district. "Just know the most important thing is that club business is club business, it's something that only the brothers are allowed to be involved in. You'll always be kept safe, but sometimes that means that you get left in the dark."
"I guess it will all take getting used to. This is so different than anything I've ever known." Her hands fidgeted in her lap.
Placing my hand on her knee, I try to give her some comfort. I don't know her story, but I've heard a little of Lucy's from different people, so I know it probably isn't great. "Let's go get you some stuff."
She offers me a smile, and I get out of the truck, making my way over to her side just as she opens the door. I offer her my hand to help her jump down, taking it she moves and falls into my arms. I catch her my hands wrapping around her tiny waist. "You okay?"
“Yea…remember my feet just tend to trip over themselves.” She smiles her hands resting on my shoulder.
She's so close that the strawberry scent of her hair fills my senses. Realizing I'm a second away from kissing her I place her down on the ground. As much as I don't want to, I let her go. I place my hand on her lower back guiding her out toward the street.
We walk into the first store, and I take a few steps back to let her explore. Watching her, I'm completely confused. She holds up a piece of clothing looks at it like it's the best thing she's ever seen then puts it back. Do all girls do this? Is it a thing? She walks toward me with what seems like disappointment on her face.
“Want to try a different store?” she nods in response to my question and wordlessly lets me lead her next door.
I watch her go through the same motions as she did in the other store. Walking up to me she doesn’t even meet my eyes, “next store?” She walks out before I even have a chance to answer.
I find her sitting on the bench outside. “Are there any goodwill or thrift stores around?”
I look at her in confusion. “Not sure, why?”
Shrugging her shoulders, she still won’t meet my eyes. “These stores are nice, but they're all so expensive. Everything I actually liked was way too much."
Jesus. Now I get it.
"Emma," I wait for her to look at me but she doesn't. I grasp her chin between my fingers. "For today I want you to completely ignore the price tag. Trust me when I say that I have more than enough money to buy out every single store on this block. Whatever went on with you in the past, whatever you're used to leave it behind." My hand cups her cheek. "Today, I want you to have a good day. You get to be happy."
Her face breaks out in a huge smile. “I’ve never met anyone like you before.”
I'm not a bad guy, but I am absolutely not the good guy. I've done shit and been through shit most people haven't. Hearing her say that to me actually makes me feel like I'm doing something right. "Let's get back in there and fill up a dresser for you."
She stands up, and I follow her in, when she pauses at the door I lean in to whisper in her ear. "Start grabbing stuff you like, or I'll just throw a bunch of crap on the counter."
Her arms wrap around my neck. “Thank you.” She places a kiss on my cheek before walking over to a table of jeans.
I’m frozen in place.
My cheek burns from the heat of her lips on it.
I’m so fucking screwed.
