17. Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Esmerelda
I frown at Damian, who, if I didn’t know any better, looks ready to blow up. His cheeks have gone red, his hands are fisted at his sides, and anger radiates from him.
Five months in a relationship, you pick up these traits, and right now, I don’t think he has any right to feel angry, not that I even know what he’s angry about.
He’s part of the Black Angel’s and he never told me.
Is it a lie or an omission of the truth?
You know what? I don’t care. She’s his mom, Honey, who is also with a biker. Damian, her son, is a biker, which explains the angel wings on the tank of his bike and he kept that part of his life from me when he knows me inside and out.
He did not bring it up once, and I haven’t met his parents. Never did he bring them up, for five months, not once.
Is this why?
“How do you two know each other?” Honey asks with confusion, looking between us, clearly noticing something off, and Damian’s jaw locks while I narrow my eyes at him and his weird behavior.
“She’s my girl mama, has been for five months,” he admits, which looks like reluctantly and hurt hits me.
Ouch Damian.
I look towards Honey as she squeals and bounces on her feet, and I can’t help but smile at her reaction despite the hurt my boyfriend has just caused me. She says, “Oh my god, that is amazing!”
I chuckle and grab the three boxes of baked goods I’ve just boxed, ranging from cakes to cookies and danishes, before placing them on the counter and saying, “I’ve put an extra two cinnamon rolls in for Acid and Slick, Honey.”
She nods, her eyes sparkling with happiness, and I have to admit it feels good to know she approves of me. I was starting to worry Damian was embarrassed by me, though considering he’s just told her about us, I’m kind of thinking maybe he is…
“You know Acid and Slick?!” Damian demands, and I raise a brow at his tone. His demeanor doesn’t change, so I say, “Not personally. They come in from time to time. This is a bakery, Damian.”
His jaw ticks again at my snarky tone before he asks, “How long have you and Mama known each other?”
I furrow my brows at his coldness, something I’ve never received from him before, and I don’t like it. If anything, it makes me want to smack his face until he lightens up again to that fun, kind, and loving person I’ve come to fall in love with.
Honey answers him, “I think you were sixteen when we first met, wasn’t it?”
I hum, not taking my eyes off my boyfriend, and state, “It was the day I got accepted on the summer course in Europe before Mom found out she was pregnant with Aiden.”
Damian softens a little, showing me my boyfriend again, knowing how much I regret going on that course, missing out on precious time with my mom, but he soon reverts into the jackass and tenses when his mom says, “She was so proud that you got in that course sweetheart, don’t regret it, embrace all that you’ve learned for her legacy in this shop,” and I nod as she looks at her son, “I’ve been popping in to check on Esmerelda a couple of times a year since she lost her mom. I definitely approve son,” and I know my cheeks are heating with a blush while my boyfriend scowls…
What the hell is his problem?
Last I checked, he’s lied to me about his background, about who he really is.
Was any of it even true?
I need to get away from him before I explode in front of his mama.
Shaking my head, I look at Honey and say, “I’ve got to go clean a few tables before closing, it was good to see you.”
She smiles and returns, “It was good to see you too, sweetheart, and hopefully, I’ll see you more now.”
I chuckle, trying to hide my hurt. Without a word to Damian, I grab my rag, spray, and bucket and walk over to the back table first, leaving them to it.
Thankfully, the bakery is now empty, Honey being the last customer. Meaning I can go home and take a nice hot bubble bath while ignoring the news I found out this morning and the ass speaking to his mother, who is part of the club.
The fricking club, and yet he’s acting like I lied to him!
“Jackass,” I mumble, my anger suddenly taking hold, and I throw the cloth on the table as I begin to loudly drop the dirty plates in the bucket, not caring if they smash.
All day, I have managed to stay calm and keep my feelings bottled up, knowing he’ll make everything right, that he’ll center me and tell me we’ll be okay. But now, I want to hit him.
“You’ve known my mother since you were sixteen?” Damian snaps, making me jump in shock and press my hand against my chest, dropping a plate on the table, smashing it.
“Dammit ,Damian!” I snap as I turn to him, “Or should I call you your road name?”
He scoffs, “Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you?”
I give him a funny look because he has completely lost me, and I ask, “What on earth are you talking about?”
His face reddens, and he sneers, “I’m talking about you only wanting me for the patch I was going to have, like a patch chaser you apparently are!”
I blink, then blink again.
A patch chaser, as in a woman who wants to be kept and have all the benefits of the club, is he fricking serious right now?!
I didn’t even know him when we first met. All I saw was a grumpy man who needed an attitude check. Now, suddenly, because his mother, who I didn’t even know was his mother, was in my bakery, he thinks I used him!?
“You did not just accuse me of being a patch chaser,” I say coldly, as fire burns deep inside me.
Not seeing his error, he scoffs, “Oh, so you know what one is? Shocker.”
Fury builds deep in my chest as I slam the spray bottle on the table making the dishes clatter and glare at my soon-to-be-dead boyfriend because, let’s face it, that is the only way I’d end things with him, especially now.
His eyes widen as I take a menacing step toward him, and his throat bobs seeing my fury. Finally, he is getting out of his clouded mind and seeing the error he has just made, but unfortunately for him, it is a little too late.
I may like what is between his legs, but I’m about to tear the thing off and shove it up his ass!
“Of course, I know what one is because I read MC romances, jackass!” I snap, and he winces, knowing they are my guilty pleasure. I take another step forward and poke his chest hard and growl, “You are the one who pursued me, using those sweet kids,” I poke again, making him flinch, “You are the one who wanted to try,” another poke. I shout, “And you are the one who conveniently left out half of your fucking persona when you know me inside fucking out, the good, the bad, and the ugly, you lying piece of shit!”
“Ah shit,” he mumbles, knowing he’s just messed up, especially if I’m cursing, something I don’t like to do much.
The last thing I need is for Aiden to pick up a curse and say it at daycare.
“I had no idea who you were, so the fact you’re basically calling me a woman who just wants your money is disgusting, and you should be ashamed of yourself!” I state, making him wince though I see pride in his eyes. I ignore it and growl, “You’ve never spoken about your family, never introduced me to any except, Scar, Ace, and the kids, and yet you’re accusing me of what exactly? Using your mom to get to you when I didn’t even know she was your mother?” I shake my head and demand, “Get out,” needing him to leave before I do or say something both of us will regret, and our relationship will end.
Damian’s brows shoot high before he smirks and confirms, “You’re kicking me out?”
I raise my brow and state, “Yeah, I am because you’re being a jackass!”
He chuckles, “I’m sorry, angel, my mind just–”
I cut him off, shocking him as I snap, “No, you just tried accusing me of using your mother to get to you like I knew you when we met, heck you never even told me about the club, never told me you were a part of it. You kept a whole identity from me when you know every little detail of my life,” he winces and my anger boils over as I say sarcastically, “Yeah imagine finding out your boyfriend’s mother, the man you have fallen madly in love with, is an old lady and that he’s most likely slept with several women within said club and suddenly don’t feel good enough for him.” I shake my head and shove past him, and he sighs, “Essy,” but allowing my hormones to take over, I snap, “Don’t let the door hit you on your way out, liar!” before I round the counter and storm into the kitchen and slam the door behind me but forgetting it’s a swing door.
Quickly, I jump out of the way as it flies back so it doesn’t smack me in the back. Instead, it hits the wall, and I curse as Damian chuckles but quickly clears his throat and calls, “I’m only leaving because I know I messed up, and you need time to cool down especially when you realize you’ve finally said those three little words to me but more out of anger,” my mouth parts as I freeze and he continues, “For what it’s worth, angel, I love you too, and I’m sorry I came to the wrong conclusion.”
I hear his footsteps before the door opens and closes, and my tears fall as my breathing escalates.
Great. I wanted the first time we declared our love to be special, but it was ruined because he made assumptions despite knowing me well.
I was willing to let go about not knowing his past. He doesn’t wear those leather cuts, disappear throughout the night, or leave the room to answer calls. Even his best friend, who I now realize is part of the club, doesn’t wear his cut and calls him brother.
His son even calls my boyfriend Joke-Joke, which I’m guessing was his road name.
He’s obviously decided to break ties with his old life, and I could respect him not telling me until he was ready, but to accuse me of being someone I’m not…
I sniffle and walk to the staff bathroom before placing my palms on the counter as my eyes go to the stick with two lines from this morning, and sobs wrack my body.
When Damian walked into the bakery, I was so scared, but everything in me relaxed because I knew he’d make everything better. He didn’t, though. Instead, I was accused of using him, and now I feel lost.
I think I need a break…
Sniffling, I grab my phone out of my apron. I ignore the photo of Damian and Aiden and bring up my dad’s number before calling.
“Hey, sweetheart,” my dad answers, and I sob, “Daddy…”