Page 48 of Flint

I chuckle as Kitten explains it to her. “Um, Bailey, I don’t think he was talking about a lift home.”

“Of course he was. ’Cause he would have to be stupid to think that after what he did, I would ever think that doing the horizontal dance with him is something I want.” She’s looking at my girl and not once at the man who hasn’t left his spot beside her all night. Of course, she hasn’t really talked to him despite his close proximity.

“What did I do?” Gator looks to her, then the rest of us.

I just shrug. This one isn’t the girl I’m after, so I’m not even going to try to understand what’s going on in her brain.

“You butted your head where it didn’t belong. You really think your little stunt with Carolyn is going to work? You really expect her to listen and just do what you all say?”

“Most do,” Bass chimes in with a shrug. Yeah, we’re all listening. Not even going to pretend we ain’t.

“Ah, you’re all impossible. No, let me tell you how reality works. They stay out of your way, so you think that means they got smart. But guess what? They don’t. They just pester the rest of us who aren’t even on your radar. You didn’t do anything but make my life worse.”

Gator grabs her arm and turns her toward him. “Babe, if she becomes a problem, just call me. I’ll take care of it.”

Wrenching her arm away, she takes a full step back. “Why the hell would I call you? I’m a big girl. I can take care of her myself. Been dealing with skinny bitches all my life. Told you the first day, I’ve heard it all before. I’ve got tough skin. Being called fat and a cow isn’t going to have me crying in the corner, wishing upon a star to send a big man to save me. This is real life, not a fairy tale. You want a good life, you make it yourself. You don’t get it by singing in the forest and talking to animals.”

“Um, sweetie?” Jordan says. “Not to jump in and get my own head cut off here, but there is something to be said about someone having your back. Sure, you got to do some stuff on your own, but getting a partner has its benefits. Beyond the bedroom, even. I know that when life sucks, Meekail is there for me, even if it’s just to lean on or hold me while I fall apart.”

“And that’s great for you, Jordan. I’m happy for you. Really am. Especially with all the shit you went through, what you both went through, to get to where you are now. But that isn’t me. I learned a long time ago that, besides family, everyone’s got an agenda. For you all, we used each other to get away from the shit we dealt with in high school. We had one another’s backs then and do today. Our need for surviving hell brought us together, and I can appreciate that partnership. But we’re out of high school now. Nothing is given to anyone. We’ve all got to fight for what we want. We might see each other a few times a month, but it’s not the same, you know that. And I don’t begrudge anyone at this table for anything, I really don’t. I wouldn’t change our history or our future for anything. Just don’t expect me to change either. Life doesn’t, so there’s no reason to expect things to magically happen overnight.”

“Is talking to animals a legit thing? Like, can anyone do it, or do you have to learn a specific language like deer or rabbit?”

My lips twitch. Kitten is dead serious, and no one has the heart to laugh at her.

“Ahh, I hate you right now! How can anyone even try to compare a shitty life to another person when you don’t even remember like any Disney movie ever?” Bailey sighs. “That’s it. Clear your schedule. Tomorrow starts spring break for me, so I’m picking you up early. We’re going to practice and then a movie marathon. And no, you can’t get out of either.” And with that huff and puff, she walks out the door. With a certain prospect’s eyes glued to her ass.

He gives it half a beat before he also leaves, no doubt to trail her home. She might not want the attention, but she’s got it. Not sure how long he’s willing to stay interested if he keeps getting the door slammed in his face. But something I’ve learned about our current prospect, who’s soon to be voted in as a brother: the guy doesn’t give up. Trust me. We’ve tested him.

We try to break them in the first year they sign up. It ain’t easy, and we make it like that for a reason. We don’t just accept anyone. You’ve got to earn it. We have to know that you’ll jump when we say. Not because we’re jerks with a seniority complex, but because one day it could really matter. You’ve got to know the brother at your back will not only fight beside you but stand by and wait for your order. The brothers already in the club also learn if they can take an order from the new guys. If a prospect can make it a year after the hell we put him through, then he’s earned my respect enough to hear him out when shit goes down.

“That’s our cue, Kitten.” I grab her hand as she waves to the others. She rode over with Bailey, but she ain’t going home with her. And I’m not about to let tonight end just yet.

“Put this on,” I say, handing her a helmet.

Thankfully, she complies and doesn’t ask questions. After her helmet is on, I check the strap. Last thing I want is for it to come off halfway home.

“You got one for you?” she asks.

“You’re wearing it, Kitten.”

She frowns, and I just shake my head as I smile. Fucking adorable. I get on the bike and start it up. “Come on, Kitten.”

“But don’t you need one?”

“Sure, but I’m not the one who already has a brain injury.”

“Touché. Just drive slow so nothing happens to you, okay?”

I love that she can’t see my shit-eating grin as she puts her hand on one shoulder and lifts herself up to wrap her leg around the other side. No clue if she’s been on a bike before the amnesia ordeal, and I know no brother put her on the back of one while I was out, but the girl knows what she’s doing. Which is perfect ’cause I only go slow when I back out and start toward the road. After that, all bets are off.

Her squeal of glee has my dick hardening. She holds on to me, pressing her body so tight to mine I swear I can feel the outline of her nipples through my cut. She settles down, but only ’cause I take the long way back to her place. Okay, I go completely in the opposite direction for a bit before turning back. Yeah, I might have a hard cock that hates that I took the fucking scenic route, but I ain’t had a chick on the back of my bike in a long-ass time. I don’t take vamps. Sure as fuck not another man’s old lady. I had a few on before, but not for a while, and none who were on my mind for as long as Jules has been.

When we finally pull up to her place, I know she’s shivering. The jacket she had on was fine for a bit, but my ass just had to keep her out longer. Loved having my girl between my legs and another girl at my back. Fucking best feeling in the world. Okay, maybe not, but it’s pretty damn close.

She gets off, and before she can even attempt to unclip her helmet, I take it off her and grab her hand, leading us to her door. She’s quick to unlock it and rushes in. I only let her ’cause I got a nod from the prospect across the street who’d been keeping an eye on the house all night. Yeah, the club wasn’t about to just let it be unwatched, not after what happened. If we had, you could bet your ass I would have done a full sweep before I let her in.

“It’s fucking freezing out there. Is it always like this in March?” She unzips her boots, sexy-as-fuck black ones with buckles and zippers that go to her knees, and throws them across the room to land against the wall leading to her bedroom.

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