Chapter 11
ELEVEN
CHLOE
We’re at Smokey’s Diner, tucked into the corner booth like always. The place smells like grease and coffee, and the sound of clattering plates fills the air. Sophie’s arguing with Carlie about pineapple on pizza—loudly. Jenny’s laughing, egging them on, and I’m trying to act like I’m part of the conversation.
I’m not.
My burger sits in front of me, barely touched, and I’ve been stabbing my fries with my fork more than eating them. My head’s not here, it hasn’t been all day. I keep thinking about seeing Dagger at Perdition. It’s been almost a week and I haven’t seen him since. Did he leave again?
Carlie notices first. She always does. “Alright, Chloe,” she says, leaning forward and resting her arms on the table. “What’s going on with you? You’ve barely said two words since we got here.”
“Nothing,” I say, shrugging it off. “I’m fine.”
Sophie glances at me, and I can feel her gaze lingering. She knows I’m not fine, but she stays quiet.
“You’re lying,” Jenny says bluntly, crossing her arms. “You look like you just found out your dog’s been cheating on you with the neighbor.”
Carlie cracks a smile, but her tone stays serious. “Come on, Chlo. What’s up? Is it the baby’s father? Did he do something?”
The question lands like a punch to the gut. My stomach twists, and my heart starts racing. Sophie’s eyes snap to mine, her expression tight. “No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “It’s not him.”
“Are you sure?” Carlie presses. “Because if it is, just say the word, and we’ll get some of the guys to pay him a visit. Knock some sense into him, you know?”
Her tone is so earnest that it makes Sophie snort. I glare at both of them. “Seriously? That’s your solution? Violence?”
Carlie shrugs, not the least bit apologetic. “It’s effective.”
“Okay, what the hell is going on with you two?” Jenny asks, narrowing her eyes and looking between me and Sophie. “You’re acting weird. Spill.”
Sophie leans back in her seat, her arms crossed, and gives me that look. The one that says, It’s time.
My heart sinks, and I drop my fork, letting it clatter onto my plate. “You really wanna know?” I say, my voice sharper than I mean it to be.
“Yes,” Jenny says firmly, her eyes boring into mine.
Carlie nods, leaning in. “Obviously.”
I take a deep breath, my stomach twisting into tighter knots. “Fine,” I mutter. “The baby’s father... it's Dagger.”
The words hang in the air like a bomb just went off.
Jenny freezes, her fork halfway to her mouth. Carlie’s jaw drops, and she blinks at me like I’ve just confessed to robbing a bank. “Wait,” she says slowly. “Dagger? As in our Dagger?”
“Yeah,” I say quietly, glancing down at my plate.
Jenny finally sets her fork down, her face pale. “When?” she asks, her voice tight.
I hesitate, my throat dry. “The night of Tank and Sophie’s wedding.”
Carlie lets out a low whistle and leans back in her seat. “Holy shit,” she mutters, running a hand through her hair. “I mean, I knew you two had a vibe, but... damn.”
“It wasn’t planned,” I say quickly, my voice defensive. “We were both drunk. It just... happened.”
Jenny’s expression changes then, “Wait,” she says slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. “The next day... that’s when he left.”
“Oh shit,” Carlie murmurs, her eyes wide as she looks up at me. “That’s why he left.”
I nod, the weight of it all pressing on my chest. “Yeah,” I say softly. “I don’t know what I did. If it was me that made him leave. Hell, I don’t know. But now he’s back and I don’t know what to do.”
Jenny breaks the silence, her voice cautious but direct. “Are you going to tell Dagger about the baby?”
I hesitate, my fingers nervously tugging at the edge of my napkin. “I think he already knows,” I admit quietly.
Jenny’s eyebrows shoot up. “He knows? How?”
I glance at Sophie, who gives me an encouraging nod. “He saw me last week when I walked in for my shift,” I say, my voice shaky.
“What happened?” Carlie asks, leaning in with wide eyes.
I let out a breath, trying to gather my thoughts. “I was with Hawk. You know how we’ve gotten close lately. It’s not like that, though. We’re just friends—he’s protective, like a big brother.”
Carlie smirks. “Uh-huh. Sure.”
“I’m serious,” I say firmly, glaring at her. “Anyway, Dagger saw us together, and... I think he thought Hawk and I were a thing.”
Jenny’s eyes narrow. “And how did he handle that?”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Not well. He looked ready to fight Hawk right there in the bar. Like, fists clenched, breathing fire, the whole thing.”
“What stopped him?” Sophie asks, already knowing the answer but prompting me anyway.
“Mason,” I say simply. “He walked in and shut it down before it could turn into a full-blown fight. But after that? Dagger just disappeared again. I haven’t seen him since.”
The table falls quiet for a moment, everyone processing what I just said.
Finally, Carlie breaks the silence, holding up a hand like she needs to stop everything. “Hold up. Let me get this straight. Dagger’s in love with you, sleeps with you, leaves the next day, and when he comes back, he thinks you hooked up with one of his club brothers who got you pregnant?”
“I wouldn’t say he’s in love with me. Pretty sure it was just sex for him.”
Carlie raises an eyebrow. “Really? Then why did he look ready to rip Hawk’s head off?”
“I don’t know,” I mutter, my voice trailing off.
Sophie clears her throat, breaking the awkward tension. “Come on, Chlo. You don’t really believe it was just sex for him, do you? The guy left town the next day and is now practically breathing fire over the idea of you being with someone else. That’s not nothing.”
“I don’t know what to believe,” I admit softly, feeling the familiar ache in my chest. “All I know is he left. He made his choice.”
Jenny, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet, finally speaks, her voice measured but tense. “That doesn’t sound like the Dagger I knew.” She looks up at me, her expression conflicted. “But I guess a lot’s changed since then.”
Carlie leans back in her seat, shaking her head in disbelief. “Man, this is... a lot. Like, soap-opera levels of drama. I don’t even know where to start with this.”
Sophie reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You’re doing the best you can, Chloe. That’s all that matters.”
Carlie nods. “Yeah, Chlo. You’ve got us, no matter how messy this gets.”
Jenny’s quiet for a long moment, then she nods too, though her expression is still tight. “We’ve got your back,” she says softly. “But you need to figure out what you want—whether that means Dagger or not.”
I glance between them, my chest tight with a mix of emotions. “Thanks,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
When we get back to Sophie and Tank’s, Sophie lingers at the front door, glancing at me as I step up onto the porch.
“You okay?” she asks, her voice soft but firm, like she’s not letting me brush her off.
I shrug, trying to play it off. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
She gives me a look, the kind that says she knows I’m full of it. “Chlo, come on. You’ve been weird all day. Is this about what the girls said at lunch?”
I hesitate, looking down at my feet. “It’s just... a lot. Everything with Dagger, the baby, Hawk...”
“Hawk?” Sophie repeats, raising an eyebrow. “What about him?”
I fidget with the strap of my bag, still not meeting her eyes. “The girls think there’s something going on between us. And honestly? Now that they’ve said it, I can’t stop thinking about it.”
She leans against the doorframe, crossing her arms. “And? Is there?”
“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “We’re just friends. He’s been around a lot, you know, checking in, helping out. But that’s it. At least... I think that’s it.”
Sophie tilts her head, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “You think that’s it?”
I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Don’t start. I don’t need this from you too.”
I groan, rubbing my temples. “Don’t start. I don’t need this from you too.”
She chuckles but then softens. “I’m not starting anything. I’m just saying... Hawk’s a good guy. And let’s be real, Dagger hasn’t exactly stepped up to the plate. But,” she pauses, her tone turning more serious, “if you decide you don’t want either of them—if you just want to do this on your own—that’s fine too. You’ll always have me and Tank to lean on. You’re not doing this alone, Chlo.”
Her words make my chest tighten, and I blink back the sting of tears. “Thanks, Soph,” I whisper.
She steps closer and pulls me into a hug, holding me tightly. “You’ve got this, okay? Whatever you decide—whether it’s Dagger, Hawk, or just you—you’ll be okay. You’ve got people who care about you, who’ve got your back.”
I nod against her shoulder, my voice shaky when I finally speak. “I know. I just need to figure it out.”
She pulls back, giving me a reassuring smile. “And you will. I know you will.”
“Thanks,” I murmur again, the lump in my throat making it hard to say much else.
She gives my hand a quick squeeze. “Alright. Get some rest. I’ll see you later,” she says before heading inside.
I linger on the porch for a moment, letting her words sink in. Then I take a deep breath and head around the house toward the she-shed, my mind still a jumble but feeling just a little less alone.
The she-shed comes into view, small and cozy, but today it feels suffocating. As I step inside, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I sink onto the loveseat and pull it out, glancing at the notification—a new rental listing.
I open it and start scrolling, my thumb flicking across the screen. My chest sinks as I read the details. Too much space and way out of my budget.
I groan and swipe to the next one, but it’s more of the same—too far, too small, or too pricey. Still, I keep scrolling, hoping I’ll stumble across something that actually works. Something that feels like a real home for me and the baby.
Another buzz. It’s a text from Hawk.
Hawk: What are you up to?
I hesitate for a second, then type back.
Chloe: Just looking at rentals.
It takes him all of ten seconds to reply.
Hawk: Why? What’s wrong with the she-shed?
I sigh, leaning back against the cushions.
Chloe: I need more space. For me and the baby. This place isn’t gonna cut it.
Hawk: Be there in 15.
I stare at the screen, rolling my eyes. Typical Hawk, I think, not even waiting for me to respond before deciding he’s coming over. I toss my phone onto the cushion and lean back, groaning.
By the time I hear his bike pull up, my thoughts are a mess. The girls’ comments about him keep swirling in my head. I’ve never thought about Hawk like that before. Sure, he’s good- looking—like, seriously good-looking—but he’s always just been Hawk. A friend. Protective, yes. A little too much sometimes, but still just a friend. Right?
Hawk knocks once before pushing the door open, his broad frame filling the doorway. “You’re really looking at rentals?” he asks, stepping inside.
I shrug. “Yeah. I need more space. This place isn’t going to work with a baby.”
He looks around, his eyes scanning the cramped space. “Okay, fair,” he mutters. Then he straightens, like an idea just hit him. “You should just move in with me.”
I blink, caught off guard. “What?”
“I’m serious,” Hawk says, stepping closer, his voice steady but insistent. “I’ve got the space. Big house. It’s just me rattling around in it. Why not?”
My chest tightens, and I shake my head, my voice barely audible. “Because people will talk.”
He straightens, his jaw tightening. “People like who? The club? Chloe, who cares what they think? You’re having a baby, and you need the space. That’s all that matters.”
I don’t answer, shrugging instead, but I know he’s not buying it.
Hawk steps closer, his voice softening, but there’s still a firmness to it. “You’ve got nothing to prove to anyone. You don’t owe anybody an explanation for what you do. Why does it matter what they think?”
I glance at him, my chest aching with all the questions swirling in my head. “It’s not that simple,” I murmur, looking away.
“It is that simple,” he presses gently, his tone both calming and firm. “This isn’t about them. It’s about you and the baby. You need a place where you can breathe, where you don’t have to worry about fitting a crib into a corner. You’ve got enough to deal with without worrying about whispers.”
I bite my lip, unable to find the words to respond.
Hawk exhales, taking another step closer. “I’m here, Chloe. I’ve been here, and I’ll keep being here, no matter what you decide. But don’t let other people’s opinions stop you from doing what’s right for you and your kid.”
The sincerity in his voice makes my chest ache even more. I look up at him, my voice shaky. “I just… I don’t know, Hawk. It’s a lot to think about.”
He moves in closer, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. The warmth of his palm is startling, and it makes my breath hitch. “Chloe,” he says softly, his voice steady and sure. “Look at me.”
I do, my heart pounding as his dark eyes stare into mine. He leans in slightly, his face so close I can feel his breath against my skin.
For a moment, I think he’s going to kiss me, and part of me wants him to. Before his lips touch mine, I turn my head, my stomach twisting with uncertainty.
Hawk pauses, his forehead resting gently against the side of mine. His voice is low, filled with emotion. “I care about you, Chloe. More than I probably should. I know you’ve got a lot to figure out, and I’m not trying to rush you. But I’m here, okay? I’ll wait as long as you need me to.”
My chest tightens, a lump forming in my throat as his words sink in.
“And if you’ll let me,” he continues, his voice barely above a whisper, “I’ll be there for you and the baby. I’ll raise him like he’s my own. You won’t have to do this alone.”
I close my eyes, overwhelmed by the weight of his words and the sincerity in his voice. For a moment, all I can do is breathe, feeling the steady warmth of him so close.
“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he murmurs, pulling back just enough to look at me. “Just think about it,” he says before kissing my cheek.
I nod, my thoughts too tangled to form a coherent response. He stays close for a moment longer before stepping back, giving me the space I suddenly feel desperate for.
“Take your time, Chloe,” he says, his tone softer now. “I mean it.”
And with that, he leaves, the sound of his bike fading into the distance as I stand there, staring at the door, my head a whirlwind of emotions.