Page 32 of Choosing My Happiness
“And Maisey?” Janie asked. I shook my head sadly.
“I don’t know. She never said, never took sides, just walked out of the room if the topic came up.”
“So no one told you it wasn’t right?”
I gave a snort. “Well, there was one day I heard an angry Club Member tell Blaze that he was lucky that I didn’t know how to divorce him because I deserved better than him.” I looked up at Janie. “It was Bull. Blaze stormed out, and Bull caught me listening. He gave me his number and told me to call if I ever needed help.”
“You never called,” Bull growled behind me. A tear ran down my cheek.
“I was pregnant by then…and a child deserves a father,” I replied, sadly.
Bull stalked around and grabbed Janie’s glass.
“You’re not pregnant anymore,” he said, pouring a shot and tossing it back. “And to answer your first question–Jim would cut his dick off with a rusty blade before stepping out on you.” He bent down and lifted Janie so he could slide his body under her. “And I do meanyou. He’s never even looked at another woman since that night. He came back, hands shaking mad at how you had been treated. Every woman since has been compared to you, and never measured up. His road name was almost going to be Monk until Blaze decided to be an ass.” He fixed both of us with a stern look. “And that goes no further. I’m not having my boys disparaged by gossip, even if it’s true.”
I looked at my glass and blinked at the Amber liquid. Bull drew in a breath. “Truth is, he fell in love with you long before I sent him to you. He met you once when you visited Tinker. He’s been gone for you for five years.”
20
Chapter 20: Daisy
I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next morning. That drink hadn’t affected me at all. Bull’s support had. And Janie’s confirmation that, even in the club world, it was reasonable to expect to be someone’s one and only. What Blaze had done to me really was cheating, and I didn’t deserve that. And Jim was waiting for me, really waiting without expectations. Those revelations had meant so much. They were empowering. I had two people on my side, three if I counted Jim.
Jim, the thought of him brought an immediate smile. I shouldn’t allow myself to feel anything for him, seeing as I’m still technically a married woman and an ol’lady, but damn, being around him felt good. My smile faded as I looked up at the ceiling. I had to clear this mess up with Blaze first before I didanything else with Jim. I owed him an honest start. I gritted my teeth and got up out of bed.
* * *
I pulled into the driveway of my old house. Blaze’s bike was outside the garage. I took a deep breath to prepare myself to see him, and got out of the car.
Blaze came around the corner.
“Daisy!” He grinned. He was wearing pants and boots. That was it. I looked over his bare chest as he strode towards me. There were some new tattoos there. One in particular hurt. Junior and a date. He didn’t deserve to wear that. It was just the word, not the full name or any indication of the significance, but it was still a sign of his entitlement. Blaze didn’t go to any of the appointments. He never heard the heartbeat, he never put his hands in my belly and felt the kicks. He just lived his life as he always had, and took the glory of impregnating me.
He was almost up to me as I put my arm out and stepped back to stop him from getting any closer. He still reached out as if he was going to hug me.
“Stop,” I told him. My hand actually landed on his chest before he did.
He gripped my shoulders instead, still grinning. “Daisy, you’re back. Do you want me to bring anything in for you?”
I looked into those yellow eyes and shook my head. “No, I’m heading home today.”
His face fell, confused. “What?”
I huffed in frustration. “I have work tomorrow. I’m heading to the hospital to say bye to Dad and Mom…and then I’m hitting the road.”
“But you just got here,” he whined.
I nodded. “I know, but we’re short-staffed. This is all I could get.” I looked down, forcing myself to say the next words. “Apparently, we need to talk.”
I heard his breathing hitch, then, “Yes, do you want to come inside?”
I walked around him to the door and found it locked. I frowned at him.
He looked embarrassed. “I don’t live here anymore, not without you. I just come to keep up the maintenance,” he admitted, reaching past me to unlock the door.
I walked into the room that was almost just as I had left it, except with a layer of dust.
There was an empty vase sitting on the kitchen table behind my old phone, and the jewelry he’d given me at BJs birth. There were a few other boxes that probably held jewelry pieces there, too.
