Chapter 8 #3
He arches a brow. “Oh, I remember.” He takes another pull from his bottle, and when he takes it away from his mouth, there’s a drop of beer on his lips that he swipes away with his tongue.
“Sami and I weren’t anything special. We were two kids who liked to party.
Neither of us was looking for anything more than a good time.
I was just some aimless kid who thought they would end up like their old man, working some shitty construction job and riding bikes on the weekend.
Honestly, we only hooked up a few times.
The rest of the time, we were hanging out with our friends and being general delinquents. ”
“What changed?” I ask, suddenly interested in how Barrett made his way to Massachusetts and into a motorcycle club. “How did you end up in Shine?”
A humorless laugh falls from his lips. “Your father, actually.” He blows out a huff of air.
“I was so fucking pissed when he showed up and demanded I leave. A little less so when he gave me a check, but I don’t know.
I didn’t have anything going on, so a buddy and I said fuck it.
We moved to Boston. His cousin had a bike shop, and I worked there for about a year.
I hated living in a city. I met a guy at a bar one night, and he had a bike and got a lot of work done at a shop in Shine.
Said they were looking for a new mechanic since the shop had expanded.
Figured I’d give it a shot. That’s when I met Trick and Tanya. ”
“And the rest is history?” I ask, a smile tilting the corner of my lips.
“Pretty much.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, wanting to ask my next question, but not entirely sure I want the answer to it. I steel my spine and decide fuck it, in for a penny, in for a pound. “What do you think would have happened had you known about Samantha being pregnant?”
Barrett considers my question a few moments before answering.
“I think I’d still be a loser living in Connecticut.
Probably working the same job as my old man.
Now, if you’re asking if Sami and I would have made a go of our ‘relationship,’ the answer is no.
There never was a relationship, and I wouldn’t have put a kid through what I went through.
For Sydney’s sake, I wish I would’ve known about her sooner, but that’s because I could have stepped in and taken care of her. And taken the load off you.”
“It wasn’t so bad,” I say, nearly choking on the lump in my throat.
“But it could have been better.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so I simply nod. “Yeah, it could have been.”
“Honestly, you amaze me, Cam. I don’t know many people who would do what you did for Sydney.
Staying in a job that I’m sure didn’t pay you a fraction of what you are worth to be able to stay close to a kid who wasn’t yours, then moving to a town where you don’t know anyone.
Hell, moving in with someone you can’t stand. ”
“I can stand you.” I smile as I bring the glass to my lips. “Most days,” I say before taking a sip of my wine.
Barrett lets out a surprised snort of laughter. “Glad to hear it.” Barrett watches me as I lean my head against the back of the little couch, tired from the day. Shit, tired from the last two weeks, if I’m being honest. “Seriously though, Camryn. Thank you.”
My brows knit together. “For what?”
“Taking care of Syd when Sami couldn’t. For helping me figure out all this dad shit. For being willing to put our differences aside for my daughter.”
“For not being the pain in the ass you thought I was when we were younger?”
“You definitely aren’t that anymore.” He sips his beer. “Most days.”
I throw my head back in laughter. This is nice. Teasing each other like we’re two people who weren’t thrown together in a shitstorm of anger and past hurts. Just being ourselves without pretense or misunderstandings getting in our way.
“That’s a good look on you,” Barrett says.
“What’s that?”
“The smiling thing. I like seeing it.”
My lips tip up in a grin as I sip my wine, heat flushing my cheeks.
It’s the wine. It’s not the compliment from the very sexy man who’s lying in bed a few feet from you.
I clear my throat and look around the room. Anything to avoid looking in his eyes. What am I thinking? Just because the man is naturally charming and hot as sin doesn’t mean I should be having this kind of reaction to him.
Finally, I take the last sip of my wine and set it on the small table next to the couch. “I should get back to my room. Get some sleep and all that.”
I look over at Barrett, who’s wearing that damn grin that I hate—or rather, used to hate—then he shakes his head a little and swipes a hand over his face.
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” He stands from the bed and holds out a hand, pulling me from the couch. “I had a good day with you today. I mean, minus finding your apartment broken into and you getting mad at me.”
“Hey,” I say, poking him in the chest. “You did that on purpose. You have no one to blame but yourself.”
“That’s fair. But the rest of it was pretty awesome.”
Barrett covers my hand with his and lowers it, but doesn’t drop it.
We stare at each other for a few beats, then I clear my throat and take a step back, gently pulling my hand from his. “It’s definitely time for bed. Good night, Barrett.”
He lets out a small cough and runs his hand through his messy hair. “Yeah. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I walk to the door and open it, but before closing it behind me, I give him one last small smile and shut the door between us.