Page 13 of Loch
Was I aggravated? A little. Was I mad? Yes, only because it was their obvious intention to rub that shit in my face. But above all of that, the big question rang out. Was I hurt? I would be lying if I said no.
“Yeah, he’s been coming to me. But you know how he can get. Goes crazy for a few days, fucks my brains out, then takes a break for a week or so. Last week he came into my room and went all alpha male on my mouth.” Tammy’s voice rang out like nails on a chalkboard.
This was good, I tried to convince myself. I needed to know who he really was and this was a big help to remind me to keep my walls built.
“I know what you mean. Bocca came back to the clubhouse two nights ago, crazy in a mood,” Tweedle Dee said. “Caught me walking down the hall, pushed me up against the wall, then plowed into me like there was no tomorrow.”
I snapped myself out of it and turned around, beers in hand. I set them down on the bar top and gave a tight smile. Tammy threw me a knowing smug smile.
“Anything else?” I asked, not politely.
“We’re good,” Tammy said shooing me away with her long talon nails. Painted bright red, of course. I turned around and headed to the other end of the bar. Brandon had slipped back in without me noticing. His eyebrow rose as soon as he saw me. I shook my head like I didn’t want to talk about it. I turned around needed to give myself a moment before I looked at anyone. I was irritated and a little hurt, though I had no reason to be.
“Don’t let them get to you,” Chris said, coming up beside me. “They’re just here to stir up shit. I really can’t stand them. Well except for Jessica. She has sense enough to keep her mouth shut. But she’s not here tonight. She also has this on again off again thing with one of the guys, Axe.” He slung his arm around my shoulders in a friendly comforting way.
“No I get it, they’re just staking claim to their boys,” I said, doing my best to brush it off.
“That’s just the thing, they don’t have any claim. They just keep waiting around. Hoping one of those boys will pick them up and put their skanky asses on the back of his bike and make her their old lady. Ain’t gonna happen,” Chris said, giving me a pointed look.
“It’s not like it matters…” I did my best to shrug it off.
“Keep tellin’ yourself that.” He chuckled and turned around. It seemed that I was more transparent than I meant to be.
“So…” I said, turning my attention to Brandon. His head shot up like he wasn’t listening in on our conversation. But I was smarter than that. Chris and I walked the measly three steps over to his corner together. “You really want to brand me with your art?” I chuckled. “Brand, that’s what I’m going to call you from now on. Get it? Ha Ha.” I threw in a couple of super cheesy winks.
This warranted me an eye roll from Chris and a snort from Brandon, but I could tell deep down he liked it. I was going to make it stick!
“Cute.” Was all I got out of Brandon. My phone rang under the bar. The only person that I knew that had my number was Nan. “You should get that.” I narrowed my eyes at him then shuffled over to my phone. I looked down to see that my phone was flashing Nate’s name. I wondered how he not only got my number but also programmed himself into my phone.
“Yeah?” I answered while narrowing my eyes at Brandon again.
“The fuck I say?” Nate’s tone was gruff and slightly pissed off. Okay, more than slightly. I actually flinched a bit, but I was glad he wasn’t around to see it.
“What?” I asked. The confusion that echoed in my voice was genuine.
“Truck. Use it, babe. I’m not asking.” There was something in his tone that caught me off guard. It wasn’t the bark but the underlying softness of concern mixed in there.
“What? How?” I pointed my finger at Brandon. I started putting the pieces together in my head. That phone call he made not too long ago was to Nate. Brandon was going to pay. “Oh, so you’ve got your dog here to spy on me, huh.”
“Lookin’ out for you.” He paused for a moment.
“Send your whores in here to set me in my place, too?” I hissed through gritted teeth. Okay, I may have snapped a bit. “I get it. No need to tell me.” I almost hung up on him before he could say anything back. I was pissed. Sure some part of me melted a little that he was looking out for me. But it felt like he was doing it behind my back. I could feel the tears stinging my eyes and it pissed me off even more. He sighed and it echoed through the phone.
“Rea,” That was the first time he called me that. His tone was softer than before. And right there I turned into a pile of goo. Every muscle in my body twitched as I tried my hardest to hold back a huge smile. “I’m sorry they’re there. When I get back shit is goin’ to be dealt with. Please, just use the damn truck.”
“Yes, sir!” I said mockingly. His deep growl came through the phone and shot down to my lower regions, leaving a fiery trail. Then he was gone. I pulled the phone away, a little stunned that he hung up on me.
I was a little ashamed of lashing out at him. I knew I had no claim on him. I hadn’t even let him know I was interested. I spent so much time and energy telling myself that I wasn’t and trying not to let it show through that I was.
“I’m not talking to you,” I said to Brandon, like a five-year-old throwing a fit. “We’re not friends anymore.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Yes, we are. You will forgive me.” He smiled, knowing it was true. He flashed me his dimples and all the anger melted away. Damn fucking dimples.
The next day before I went to work, I hopped into Nate’s truck. I didn’t want to anger him any more than I already had. The thing was a freakin’ monster. I was really nervous about driving it and I counted my lucky stars I didn’t have far to go. I took a selfie of myself behind the wheel. Super cheesy. Then I sent it to Nate.
Me: Seriously, it’s huge! What am I supposed to do with it?!
It wasn’t lost on me how it sounded.
