Chapter 2
Two
Dani
I watch the taillight of Devil's motorcycle until I can't see it any longer. Now that he's gone, the house feels quiet and alone. I wish he were here all the time, but I know he's got his own life. The part of his life that isn't mine is dedicated to the Saint's Outlaws MC, Laurel Springs Chapter.
Which I'm used to, considering my dad was the president before Devil took the position. I've spent much of my life being surrounded by members of a club, and everything that goes with it. I head back inside, and right as I put my phone on the granite countertop, I see a FaceTime request coming through from my best friend Allison.
Thankful that I'll have someone to keep me company while Devil is gone, I answer it, a smile on my face. "Hey! How's it going?"
She sighs, blowing out a raspberry. Her hair is up and her face free of makeup, but there's a tiredness in her eyes. "Teaching teenagers is not for the weak. I got talked back to so many times today I wanted to smack someone, and a fifteen-year-old boy with acne hurt my feelings. How's your day?"
I never feel more blessed with my line of work than I do when I talk to Allison. "That sounds fucking awful. Why don't you come over and have dinner with me? Devil's at church and then has an errand to run. I'm going to eat and then start on these wedding flowers for Saturday. At least we can keep each other company."
"I don't knowwww..." she whines. "I kind of just want to take a bath, but I know I'm going to think about what that asshole kid said to me."
Tilting my head to the side, I
"I live two miles down the road. Don't act like you have to make a special trip." I roll my eyes. "Come on. I have leftover chicken."
"Is it the fried chicken your mama made?" She sighs heavily.
"Yes, yes it is, and the mac and cheese. Homemade."
I know I've got her when she groans and throws her head back. "Okay, okay, I'll be there in a few minutes. You don't play fair. You know I can't say no to any of that."
"I'll be here. I'll be ready to hear you bitch about your class, too." I assure her.
"You better be."
We disconnect, and I take a second to look around. Most of the time our house is close to spotless, but I've got a big flower order and stuff is everywhere right now. I'd be freaking out if it were anyone but Allison. Glancing out onto the sunporch, I can't help but smile with pride. Back when Devil and I met four years ago, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life. I was living off my parents and was nothing more than a spoiled brat. My dad gave me everything I wanted, and I took complete advantage of being a MC Prez's daughter.
Devil made me question it all. He immediately started asking questions, wanting to know why I was okay sleeping my days away. He wanted to know if I had dreams. That'd been a hard question to answer, because I never thought of it before. Didn't realize that was what I should think about, and I wanted to impress him. Devil Peterson was the hottest man I'd ever laid eyes on. Every time I saw him straddling his bike, all I could think about was if I were the one straddling him. But he wasn't interested in a girl who didn't know what her future was.
Meeting him matured me in a way I don't think anything else could have. Within six months, I'd decided what I wanted to do with my life, and I'd started a small, albeit successful, flower truck. I couldn't afford a shop. So I did what everyone trying to start a restaurant did - got a truck and sold out of it until I could make enough money for a storefront.
Allison comes through the front door, breaking my thoughts. "Hey girl, hey. I'm just here for the fried chicken." She says as she walks toward the kitchen. "Oh my gosh, those are gorgeous. Did you grow them?" She points to the flowers on the counter.
"Yeah." I smile. "I've finally figured out the right ratio of nutrients for the ground. These are so much better than I can get anywhere else. I was even getting stuff flown in from Atlanta. You should've seen the price of that."
She whistles between her teeth. "Oh, I can imagine. It's insane to me that brides were paying those prices for their flowers."
"It was typically the parents, but either way, I felt bad having to charge them." I grimace, thinking of the one bride who broke down in tears when I told her the price, because they were going to have to be flown in. I'd felt guilty for weeks afterward. I was covering the cost more than I should have. "But it's a business and I have to make a profit."
The oven beeps, letting us know that the chicken is done. "My god, that smells so good," Allison moans. "I didn't have time to eat lunch today. I had to spend the afternoon in the principal's office."
We fix our plates, and I pour us two glasses of wine, sitting them down in front of us. We sink into our seats and dig in. "Why were you in the office? You look like you're ready to kill someone."
She sighs heavily, shaking her head. "I'm so annoyed. I've tried to implement a few changes this year, and there's one parent who hates all of it. She thinks her daughter can't be a pain. I mean, was she or was she not a teenage girl at one point? This girl..." she plays with her fork, before taking another bite. "Is purposely argumentative and when the attention isn't on her, she disrupts the c;lass to get it. I lost my temper and told her that her need for that attention isn't going to get her very far once she realizes it's not always good."
She's my best friend for a reason. "Oh, my goodness. What did the principal say?"
"Nothing, because he really wants me to go on a date with him. He knows this girl is a terror, and halfway agreed with me, but when the mom came in, he had to do something. The daughter texted her after class and complained about what I said." Allison shrugs. "I expect more out of her because she's smart. She shouldn't be using the need to have all eyes on her to get recognition."
I smile, thinking back to our days in high school. "We were the same way. We wanted everyone around us to know who we were."
"We were." She agrees. "But we didn't disrupt other people to make that happen."
"No, you're right. We weren't obnoxious."
She takes a drink of her wine. "I caught her last week exposing part of her breast to another student. It was a boy who was speechless. Pretty sure it was the first pair he'd seen, and he was uncomfortable or excited, not sure what to call it. I mean, how in the world am I supposed to deal with that? I had no idea what to do. I was pissed at her for putting me in that situation."
"I can't imagine. I see women doing it to the guys a lot. They'll glance at them while they're on their bikes, and then pull their shirts lower. Even when I'm riding with Devil. They put me in a situation I don't want to be in. It's obvious I'm with him, like why make me stake my claim?" I'm annoyed thinking about it even now. He's my husband, and there's no reason I should have to watch other women come on to him." I grumble before taking a drink of my wine.
"At least you know yours won't cheat."
My heart aches for my friend. Divorce was never the plan for her, but what was she supposed to do when she found out her husband was talking to other women online in a way he shouldn't have been? Since then, she hasn't started dating again.
"I know he won't cheat, and you know that Dime won't either."
Her cheeks get pinker and she plays with the rim of her wine glass. "I don't know if I'll ever say yes to him or not."
I've been trying to push them together for more than a year, but she's been resistant, which I can understand. However, I want her to be happy. She's my best friend in this world, besides Devil. I just know that Dime would be the person who could do that. "Maybe one day you will." If there's anything I've learned, it's not to push her too hard. As soon as I do that, she'll completely pull back.
"You keep hoping." She grins.
That, I definitely do.