Page 43 of Biker's Baby

“You don’t know a thing about him?” Glenn asked.

“Only what she’s told me. I haven’t asked who his father is. I’m sure it’s that Joel guy, though,” I said. “And that’s probably why she doesn’t want to say. It would explain why he would come after her, too. Either that or he’s just some really big creep who can’t let a woman go.”

“Does one make it better than the other?” Glenn asked with a shake of his head. “I don’t think so. The fact is that this guy is after her, and he’s got to be stopped, especially since you don’t know what he’s going to do if he does catch up with her.”

“She seems to be pretty convinced it’s not going to end well if he does wind up coming for her.” I sighed. “So, I’ve had her at the house. And you know with the way Tad is that’s not going to go over well. Add to it the fact that we’ve got to keep an eye out for that other MC in the area, and you can see why I’ve been so distracted lately.”

There was silence between us for a few minutes. I knew Glenn was thinking about the things that I’d just told him, but I wished there was a way I could read his mind. I wanted to know what he was thinking, really, but I wasn’t going to press. It was hard for me to open up to him in the first place. The way he was just sitting in silence now was enough to drive me crazy.

Finally, he let out a low whistle and shook his head again.

“What?” I asked.

“I just can’t get over the fact that you’ve got nine brothers,” he said.

I stared at him for a moment. At first, I wasn’t sure if he was entirely serious. Then, I laughed. I couldn’t stop myself. It was the last thing I thought he would focus on, but he was completely blown away with the number of siblings I had in my family.

“I tell you all that shit, and you decide to focus on the family size?” I ask.

“Well! Most people grow up with one or two siblings, not nine of them!” he shot back. “I was an only child, so I can’t say that I relate to anything you’re talking about growing up, but I still feel for your situation.”

“Gee, thanks.” I rolled my eyes. “You really know how to make a guy feel better, you know that?”

“Hey, man, I don’t know what you want me to say. I know Tad’s not going to be happy about this if he finds out, but I’m not the guy who’s going to tell him,” he said.

“Are you sure about that?” I asked. “Because it’s hard for me to open up to anyone about anything, and I can’t believe that I told you all this shit about my life now. I really don’t want to be paranoid about this, but you know that Tad’s got a temper, and I would hate to think of what he’d say.”

“Relax. I told you I’m not saying a word. But you do have to figure out how you’re going to deal with this that’s not going to get me fucking killed working with you,” Glenn replied. “I’m not planning to die by forklift, and it seems like that’s your plan these days.”

“Sorry.” I shrugged. “I don’t know what to do.”

“I would say the first step is to get rid of the problem, and that guy is definitely the problem,” Glenn replied.

“He’s in town,” I said. “I’ve got his picture here.”

I showed him my phone, and he shook his head.

“I don’t recognize him, but if I see someone like that, I’ll strike up a conversation, see if I can figure out where he is,” Glenn offered.

“And then what?” I asked.

“I’d like to help you out any way I can,” he said. “You’re my best friend, and I would hate to see you lose your status or your mind or whatever because of this situation. Though, I am wondering what you’re going to do about this girl with or without this Joel guy.”

“I’m working on that,” I admitted. “I don’t know if she’s going to be willing to stay with me this time or not, and I’m not going to set myself up to be hurt again. I can tell you that much right now. I was hurt badly enough before, I don’t want to go through that again.”

“Understandable, but with her staying at your house and having a kid and those feelings that you had before, I just can’t imagine that she’s staying there without you having some sort of feelings growing for her,” Glenn replied.

“Sure, but I’m trying to keep them in check,” I said.

“Don’t lie to me,” he said.

“I’m not trying to lie,” I told him. “I really am doing my best not to fall in love with her again.”

“But you already are,” he said, calling out my bullshit.

I smiled. There were some things that were impossible to hide, even from those who didn’t know me best. Then again, perhaps I could let my guard down around Glenn and choose to acknowledge him as my best friend. He had been there for me through thick and thin, and he just said he would do what he could to help me with this situation.

“Alright, fair, you got me,” I said. “I fell for her already. I don’t know what to do about that, but I’m trying not to get too attached before I get destroyed.”

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