Chapter 20
APRIL
“He told you what again?” I demand, glaring at Torpedo, the prospect assigned to follow me around at school while Fool isn’t with me.
“That you’re not to be out of my sight,” he repeats, crossing his arms and looking massively scary as he does so.
“You don’t have to come to every one of my classes with me,” I mutter, letting my annoyance show. “You definitely don’t have to come inside.”
“I’m just doing what I was told, April. Not just by Fool, but by my Prez as well,” he grunts, walking next to me as we leave the coffee shop.
Fool left this morning to head to the clubhouse, only after Torpedo got there.
He texted me when he got there, telling me to listen to Torpedo.
My response to him was an eye-roll emoji.
All I’m doing is going to class. It’s not that big of a deal.
I don’t need a babysitter sitting next to me while I’m in class.
So now, Torpedo and I are walking onto campus from the coffee shop because, of course, I needed the extra caffeine if I’m going to get through all of this with him in tow. Granted, I get coffee several times throughout the day.
Neither of us speaks. I’m fuming, and he’s probably wishing he were anywhere else as we head into the first building.
With only a few weeks left until graduation, I have finals in a week.
The last week of school is mostly about turning in late assignments or retaking exams if needed.
It’s also dorm-clear-out week, and I’ll be busy packing up the apartment.
The same apartment I left Kayla in when I headed to class a little while ago.
Fool and I hung out with her last night after spending the day at his house, in each other’s arms. It’d been total heaven.
Even just the two of us spending time with Kayla had been great.
Though we kept it quiet, he’d shown me a whole new set of positions in my bed, something he said he wanted to try since our first kiss.
Torpedo follows me into my class and takes a seat right beside me.
“Hope you know you’re about to be bored out of your mind,” I warn him. This is one of my least favorite classes. The professor, as nice as she is, is completely boring in the way she speaks. There’s no enthusiasm in her voice at all. It’s completely monotone and bland.
“It’ll be all right,” he grunts, settling in.
I pull my notebook and recorder out of my bag in preparation for class to begin. As I settle in, I notice Samuel and two others enter. I try not to stiffen when they sit directly behind me, but I fail, given the way Torpedo twists and sneers at them.
“Don’t,” I tell him, giving him a slight shake of my head.
“Good morning,” Professor McDonald greets as she enters the room from her attached office, coffee in hand.
“I hope you all had a good weekend.” Her monotone voice fills the air as she scans the room, her eyes locking onto ours for a moment before her lips quirk upward.
“And it seems we have a visitor today. Ryker,” she calls in greeting, her monotone shifting completely.
“Mom,” Torpedo grunts, giving her a two-finger salute as his lip twitches ever so slightly.
I guess Professor McDonald isn’t always a monotone bore.
Throughout the next hour, I listen but wonder about the dynamic between the two of them. I don’t see any resemblance, yet Torpedo had called her ‘Mom’.
I want to ask, though I know it’s none of my business.
It doesn’t help that Samuel is behind me and my phone keeps going off in my lap.
I usually keep it put away, but I wanted to make sure I had it in case Fool texts me.
Only the vibration isn’t the distinct one I’d set for him, so I keep ignoring it.
Professor McDonald dismisses the class, and Torpedo looks at me. “I’ve got to go speak to her. If I don’t, she’ll never let me hear the end of it.”
“Okay, I’ll wait outside for you.”
“Nope, you’re coming too. I said you’re not out of my sight, and I meant it. Not until your ol’ man gets back here.”
I roll my eyes at his response and sigh. “Fine. Lead the way.”
I follow him down the steps to the bottom and hang back as he approaches his mom.
“Are you going to tell me why you’re sitting in one of my classes today?” she asks, glancing from her son to me. “And with one of my top students, at that.”
“I’m sorry about this.” I blush and nervously bite my bottom lip.
“She’s married to Fool and is Cannon’s cousin. Just following orders.” Torpedo shrugs.
“Hmm, interesting.” She nods. “Well, that’s good news for you. Getting married is exciting,” she says to me, then turns her attention back to her son. “You’ll be at family dinner tomorrow, correct?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” he confirms.
“Good. Your brother and sister are nut cases, and I need someone on my team who knows trivia like I do,” she announces, looking to me again. “Ryker’s father and I try to have family dinner weekly, with a game night as well. My son here and I always win when we team up.”
Torpedo lets out a grunt and rolls his eyes. “You say that because you love me more than the other two nut cases.”
“This is true,” she agrees. “Though I love them for being the nuts they are.”
“Right,” he snorts, hugging his mom. “We’ve got to head out. April’s got more classes to attend.”
“You can stay and chat with your mom. I can handle getting there myself.” I try, yet again, to avoid having him with me. I don’t feel like I need a babysitter.
“You’re not getting me in trouble with Cannon or Fool,” he says deadpan.
“Fine,” I huff, leading him out of the building. “Then let’s go. I need more coffee before heading to the next class.”
“Fool needs to cut your caffeine intake,” he mutters, more to himself than to me.
“Take that back,” I snap, whirling on him and pointing a finger at his chest. “I love my coffee, and no one is taking it from me. I’ll break your fingers if you even try.”
Okay, it’s a little extreme, but no one’s ever suggested cutting back on my caffeine. I love my coffee, though I do make sure to drink plenty of water as well.
Torpedo snorts and shakes his head. “Now, you sound like my sister. She’d be the first to nut check you if you take something from her.”
Seriously?
“Is that why she’s a nutcase? I completely get it when it comes to my coffee. But I’m curious why you and your mom call both your sister and your brother nutcases?” I ask as we walk back to the café. Stepping inside, I add, “You don’t have to share if you don’t want to.”
“Because they always have been. They’re good people, both of them.
They just like to fuck around with people through pranks and shit.
Similar to the story I heard about you and your friends, how you got Fool and Hazard.
” He grins and keeps going. “They’re twins, five years younger than me.
I came to live with them at four as a foster.
They adopted me before my fifth birthday, and then the twins were born,” he says like it’s no big deal, but it explains why they look nothing alike.
What also surprises me is how he opens up about it and doesn’t hide the truth.
“That’s cool that they adopted you. I take it you guys are all close.”
“Yeah, we are.” He nods.
I nod, thinking about how I wish I’d had that with my family, but I ended up with a psycho bitch for a mother, it seems. Now that I know what I know, I’m glad to have gotten out of her house and don’t really speak to her anymore. It’s not like she calls me to check in, though she has my number.
As we arrive at the café, Torpedo opens the door for me, and I step inside, spotting my favorite barista at the register.
“You want your usual pick-me-up?” she asks.
“You know it,” I confirm with a smirk. “Add an extra shot in there for me, if you will.”
“Got it.” She laughs as Torpedo chuckles. “I’ll have it ready in a sec.”
“You’re the best,” I shout as she walks away.
I pull my phone out of my pocket to check my messages while I wait for her to return so I can pay.
The first several messages have my stomach bottoming out.
Samuel: Engaging in promiscuous behavior with bikers further cements your status as a whore.
Samuel: How many other bikers are you spreading your legs for?
Samuel: Do you enjoy spending your time with them like this?
Beneath the message is a picture that I know isn’t real, but it’s one of me with five different guys.
Samuel: I can’t wait to have you beneath me. You know I’d be better than all of them put together.
I keep scrolling through all the messages, and by the time my coffee’s ready, I don’t even want it anymore, but I still pay for it. After reading them all, I don’t even want to go to the rest of my classes. It’s sickening. Why can’t they just leave me alone?
Needing a minute alone, I turn to face Torpedo. “Can you hold my stuff for a sec? I just need to use the restroom before we head out.”
“Sure,” he grunts, takes my stuff, but still follows me in that direction.
Once I lock myself in the bathroom, I lean against the door and take a deep breath. I need a moment to myself to regain my composure after reading all those messages.
Tears prick my eyes as I fight them back. Crying isn’t something I do. Crying over such matters, especially in public, isn’t something I do. It only draws more attention my way, and I don’t need that.
I give my head a shake and let out a shuddering breath.
“Come on, April, get it together. You haven’t let them win, and you’re not about to now,” I mutter to myself.
Jerking away from the door, I use the bathroom because I really need to, then finish by washing my hands.
As much as I want to splash my face, I don’t.
The last thing I need is for Torpedo to realize something’s wrong and report it to Fool.
I won’t hide this from my husband, but I don’t need others to tell him for me.
I take one more steadying breath, forcing my expression into something neutral before opening the bathroom door. Torpedo stands directly outside, arms crossed, looking as imposing as ever.
“You good?” he asks, eyeing me with suspicion.
“Yep, all good here,” I reply, reaching for my coffee and bag. “Let’s head to class.”
As we walk across campus, I try to push the disgusting messages from my mind.
The image of that fake photo keeps flashing behind my eyelids, making my skin crawl.
It’s not the first time they’ve sent me something like this, but it’s the first that truly makes me feel disgusted with myself.
I take a sip of my coffee, hoping the caffeine will help me focus on anything else.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it.
It buzzes again.
And again.
“Someone’s popular,” Torpedo says, nodding toward my pocket.
“Just spam,” I lie, knowing full well it’s Samuel or one of his friends continuing their harassment campaign.
As I reach my next class building, I steel myself before walking in. The last thing I need is for any of them to see how much they’re really getting to me.
Torpedo follows me into the lecture hall, his massive frame drawing curious glances from other students. I keep my gaze straight ahead, ignoring the whispers trailing us. The professor hasn’t arrived yet, giving me a moment to collect myself.
“You sure you’re good?” Torpedo asks again, lowering his voice as we sit down.
I nod, not trusting my voice. My phone vibrates again in my pocket, and I clench my fists under the desk. Part of me wants to block Samuel’s number, but I know I should preserve the evidence of his harassment. Besides, every time I do, he just gets another number.
The professor enters, and class begins. I force myself to focus on the lecture. Thankfully, it’s all about the upcoming final and what’s expected of us.
Halfway through class, Torpedo leans in and whispers, “Fool’s outside.”
I nod, both relieved and anxious. Fool will know something’s wrong the second he looks at me. He always does.
Class ends, and I gather my things slowly, trying to compose myself. As we exit the building, I spot Fool almost immediately, leaning against one of the pillars, arms crossed, looking delicious as always. My heart flutters despite my distress.
“Hey, sweets,” he says, grinning at me as I walk straight to him and into his arms. He doesn’t miss a beat, engulfing me in his warmth. “What’s wrong?”
God, why does it feel like instant safety whenever he’s near?
“Nothing,” I lie, but my voice wavers just enough for him to notice.
He tightens one arm around me, the other sliding up my spine into my loose hair, tangling in the strands, tilting my head back to meet his gaze. “Don’t lie to me, April. Something’s wrong. I can see it in your eyes.”
I sigh, knowing I can’t keep this from him. “Can we just get out of here? Go back to the apartment before I tell you.”
Fool’s jaw twitches as he takes me in. “What about the rest of your classes today?”
“I’m not feeling well. I’ll email my professors and get whatever I need from them.”
Nodding, Fool guides me quietly toward home. Torpedo is just as silent on the other side of my man.
Ten minutes later, we’re safely back at my place. Kayla looks up from the book she’s reading and frowns at me.
“What’s wrong?” she demands, closing the book and tossing it aside.
I drop my stuff in my usual spot, slip off my flip-flops, and head to the couch, where I plop down. I yank my phone out of my pocket and toss it to Fool as I draw my knees to my chest.
No need to speak when everything is right there for him to see.
“April?” Kayla calls.
Fool doesn’t speak as he stands across the room, eyes on me, my phone in his hand.
“Samuel’s been sending me nonstop messages,” I tell him.
“Who’s Samuel?” Kayla asks.
“A deadman,” Fool answers through gritted teeth, eyes flicking to my phone as he unlocks it.
I don’t care if he knows my phone’s code.
I have nothing to hide. To me, it’s a show of trust. Besides, I don’t want to see the rest of the messages, the ones that kept coming, the ones I didn’t read after leaving the café.
If I did, I might end up throwing up.