Page 71 of Bully's Darkness
“You always clean glasses that don’t need cleaning, or is that your way of pretending I’m not here?”
He glances up, blinking before forcing a tight smile. “Just keeping busy,” he mutters. “What can I get you?”
“Lemon gin.”
He hesitates. “Pres said no alcohol. Something to do with your sleep meds?”
I groan, rolling my eyes. “Fine. Get me a lemonade.”
I turn, scanning the room, and my eyes land on Poison. She’s perched on the edge of the pool table, and as if she senses me, we lock eyes.
And then, nothing. No smirk. No snide comment. No slow clap like she’s gonna tear me apart. She just picks up her drink and turns her back. I frown. Poisonhatesme. She never misses a chance to throw shade.
I take my lemonade and sit on the couch. It’s my usual spot, but this time, it feels different. Like I don’t belong. Like the club has moved around me, reshaping itself and forgetting my imprint.
The guys aren’t just giving me space. They’re afraid of what might happen if they don’t.
Bully steps out the office and spots me. He heads over, dropping down beside me. “Why do you look so . . . lost?” he asks. It’s been a week since we came back here, and it’s not the first time he’s found me sitting here alone.
“Bria’s gone for a run,” I say with a shrug, then I glance around. “Have you told everyone to avoid me?”
He laughs. “Why would I do that?”
“Because they are. Even Poison didn’t give me any shit.”
He laughs harder. “You’re upset because Poison didn’t run her mouth off?”
“I just want everything to go back to normal,” I mutter, picking at some imaginary lint on my shirt. “Nothing feels normal anymore.”
He smiles. “Well, luckily for you, I have something planned to take your mind off all of this.” He stands, pulling me with him.
The second we step outside, the air changes. It’s quieter, softer. Still with the faint smell of oil and cigarettes, but it’s better than inside, where every room feels like it’s holding its breath around me.
He leads me around the back of the clubhouse, and I know he’s taking me to the tree, the one I like to sit under to read or just think.
I spot the blanket already laid out underneath and smile. I never thought I’d see the day that Bully arranged a picnic. “Okay, where’s Liam and what have you done with him?”
“I know you love it out here,” he says, kicking off his heavy boots and stepping onto the blanket. “We can watch the sunset and relax, forget everything else for a while.”
I sink onto the frayed blanket. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
He grins, sitting next to me. “Is it working?”
I tuck my feet underneath me and release a sigh. For the first time all week, no one is watching me. There’s no awkward silences, no eyes darting away.
Just him and me.
“Thank you,” I say, barely a whisper. I feel him turn to look at me. “For this. For looking after me since . . . well, yah know.” My heart suddenly feels heavy with all the things I want to say but daren’t in case I ruin the truce we’ve found ourselves in.
His hand slides to mine, entwining our fingers together. “It’s not easy loving me,” he states, “I know that. And you keep lovingme, even when I fuck it all up. The least I owe you is to stand by you in your hours of need.”
I offer a weak smile, hating how even this moment has turned because of my heavy mood. I stare out to the sunset, its deep orange glow warming my heart. “So, what did you make to eat?”
He eagerly opens the basket and brings out two well-wrapped baguettes. Everything he creates in the kitchen, from a cheese sandwich to a medium rare steak, he’s proud of, and I can’t help but get swept up in his enthusiasm. “Ham and cheese with salad,” he announces, holding one out to me.
I smile gratefully. “My favourite,” I lie. He gives me a knowing stare until I laugh. “What?”
“We both know your favourite is peanut butter with a trail of Marmite.”
