Chapter Five #2
“Can you get her shoes off?” Sage asks, leaning heavily against the doorframe.
“Yeah.” I crouch down and carefully unlace Marley’s sneakers, slipping them off one at a time. She mumbles something incoherent, and I pull the quilt up over her, tucking it around her shoulders.
For a moment, I watch her. Her face is peaceful now, the worry lines smoothed away, and she looks so young. So vulnerable. Something fierce and protective roars to life in my chest, and I have to fist my hands to keep from reaching out and brushing the hair from her face.
She’s going to hate herself in the morning.
But I’ll make sure she’s okay.
I stand and turn to find Sage watching me with an unreadable expression.
“You really care about her,” she says.
“Yeah,” I admit. “I do.”
Sage nods slowly. “Good. Because she needs someone who won’t break her, even if you barely know her.”
“I might not know her that well… but I want to. I really want to. And I won’t break her. I’m not that kinda guy,” I promise, and I mean it with every fiber of my being.
Sage studies me for another moment, then waves a hand. “You can go. I’ve got her from here.”
I nod, but as I head for the door, something stops me. The thought of leaving Marley here, drunk and vulnerable, makes my skin crawl. What if she wakes up and needs something? What if she gets sick?
What if—
“Actually,” I say, turning back to Sage. “I think I’m going to stick around. Just to make sure she’s okay.”
Sage raises an eyebrow. “Stick around where? The couch?”
“My car.” I shrug. “I’ll park out front. That way if you need anything—”
“You’re gonna sleep in your car?” Sage looks at me as if I’ve lost my damn mind, and maybe I have.
“Won’t be the first time.”
She stares at me for a long moment, then shakes her head. “You’re insane. But also kind of sweet. Fine. Do what you want.” She points a finger at me. “But if you’re a creep, I’ll—”
“Tell everyone I’m crap at sex. I remember.” I give her a small smile. “I’m not a creep, Sage. I just… I need to know she’s safe.”
Sage softens slightly. “Okay. But seriously, the couch is available if you want it.”
“Thanks, but I’m good.” I head back outside, the cool night air hitting my face like a slap. I climb into the Honda, recline the seat as far as it’ll go, and settle in, sending off a quick text to Sin letting him know what’s going on so the club won’t worry about me not coming back tonight.
Sleep doesn’t come easily. Every time I close my eyes, I see Marley’s face. The way she looked was so broken when she talked about Derek. The way her voice cracked when she called herself worthless.
And the rage… Christ, the rage. It’s a living thing, coiling in my chest, begging to be let loose.
I want to find Derek.
I want to make him understand exactly what he’s done.
I want to go to Sin and ask to take care of the fucker—club style.
No, I tell myself.
Not like that.
Not now.
Marley doesn’t need me to be a vigilante. She needs me to be…
What?
A friend?
Something more?
I don’t know.
All I know is that I’m not leaving until I know Marley is okay.
Eventually, exhaustion wins, and I drift off into a restless sleep.
***
The sound of knocking on my window jolts me awake. My body jerks, and for a moment, I’m disoriented, my neck stiff from sleeping at an awkward angle. Morning sun glares at me through the windshield, temporarily blinding me, then movement to my left catches my attention.
Squinting, I peer out my driver’s side window, and then I see her.
Marley.
She’s standing outside my car in an oversized hoodie and pajama pants, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, holding two steaming cups of coffee. Her face is pale, her eyes hidden behind her glasses, and she looks mortified.
I roll down the window, and she immediately thrusts one of the cups at me. “Hi,” she says, her voice small. “So, um… Sage told me you slept in your car… all night… because of me.”
I take the coffee, my fingers brushing hers. “Morning, Small Town.”
“So,” she says, clearing her throat. “Do you want to come inside? Sage is making breakfast. Well, trying to. She’s still kind of drunk.”
I should say no.
The words are right there, already halfway formed on my tongue.
But then I look at her.
Hair is messy from sleep. Eyes still rimmed with the aftershock of tears. Coffee cradled in her hands as though it’s the only thing keeping her upright. That soft, uncertain smile that damn near undoes me.
“Yeah,” I say instead. “Yeah, I do.”
Her smile brightens, catching the morning light, and fuck me if it doesn’t hit me straight in the chest.
I grab my keys and step out of the car before I can overthink it.
Every instinct in me hums with warning.
This is a bad idea.
She’s just gotten out of a six-year relationship.
There’s a sizable age gap between us.
You’re a biker for fuck’s sake, Nitro. She’s going to run when she finds out that tidbit of information.
But I keep walking anyway.
Because the truth is… I want to.
And that scares the hell out of me.
I’m not supposed to want more. Not with her. Not with anyone.
But here I am, crossing the driveway like it’s some line I can’t uncross, about to eat breakfast with a woman I can’t stop thinking about and her chaos-drunk best friend.
And I know, deep down, I’m not just stepping into her house.
I’m stepping into something bigger.
Something that might wreck me.
Or save me.
And I’m not sure which one I’m more afraid of.