Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
INK
“ W hat’s been up your fucking ass lately?” Hash asks from his seat on the bar stool next to mine.
Always blunt and straight to the point. I think that’s partially why Hash had my respect from the moment I met him. He’s the biggest asshole I know, but you always know where you stand with him.
I’m pissed at myself for being such a pussy.
I should have checked in with her after I finished up with my last client, but instead I quickly cleaned up my station and snuck out the back. Hearing her laugh and giggle with Tommy and anyone else that came in was doing my head in.
And that’s another thing that’s beginning to drive me fucking crazy.
Why do I care?
She isn’t my type.
I’d bet my left nut that we don’t have anything in common, and that’s my favorite one.
I can’t seem to get the look on her face when I came back out front where I left her waiting out of my head. She looked like she was going to take it to her grave, and I’m not used to that. Everyone around me lets it roll off while they give it back as good as they got it.
Her big round eyes staring back at me like I killed her puppy. All the club girls and the girls that hang around hoping to be someone’s old lady have tough skin. You tell them they’re being a fucking bitch and it just rolls off the shoulder. Hell, it turns half of them on.
“Just a long day, brother,” I answer just before my lips part around the glass of the longneck bottle. I tip my head back, downing half of it.
Hash snorts. “You ain’t fooling anyone, brother. For the last month, you’ve been challenging me for the asshole title and I don’t fucking like it. You need to get whatever it is out of your ass. It’s not you.”
I know it’s not me.
He doesn’t need to tell me that.
“Why don’t you step off, yeah?”
Hash finishes the last of his beer and slams the bottle down on the bar. “I get you’re working through shit, but you either better hurry up and do it on your own or take the help that’s being offered. You’re about two more asshole remarks away from someone removing whatever is lodged up there.”
I don’t need Hash’s shit on top of the shit that happened today. I know she didn’t accept my apology. But again, when has that ever bothered me before?
God damnit.
Leaning to the side, I reach into my back pocket and pull out my phone. I scroll until I find Gage’s contact and shoot off a text.
Me: She leave okay?
Throwing my phone down on the rail, I drag my hand down my face, sighing roughly.
What am I doing ?
“I don’t think who you’re glaring at can see it through the phone,” Cyrus says as he moves to stand behind the bar.
My glare moves to a smirking Cyrus. “Funny.”
My phone buzzes against the bar.
Gage: Who?
Me: The girl.
Gage: Sutton?
I close my eyes as I take a couple of deep breaths in an effort to calm down slightly. Nothing seems to be working.
Me: Obviously fucking Sutton!
Gage: I see we’re still in a mood. She’s coming back tomorrow, no thanks to your ass.
Sliding my empty bottle across the bar toward Cyrus, I put my phone back in my pocket and slide off the stool. “Put that in the empties for me. I’m done for the night.”
“Don’t forget about the run tomorrow. Prez put only you and I on it.” Hash looks like he has more to say, but thank god for once he keeps his mouth shut. I’m not in the mood to fight with him, too.
“What time are we headin’ out?”
“I’m thinkin’ around eight or nine. It’s a three-hour ride,” Hash answers.
I nod my head. “Sounds good. Later.” I rap my knuckles on the bar before heading out the door of DD’s.
Maybe some video games will take my mind out of this fucked up head space.
The next morning, I meet Hash out front of the clubhouse. I’ve been itching to get out on a long ride, even if it is only for a run. There’s nothing like being out on the open road. It’s the one thing that has always made me feel so free when I feel so trapped.
Everyone talks about how much it sucks being locked up and stuck in a little box, which, yeah, I agree. It does fucking suck. But no one talks about how dangerous being stuck in your own mind is. Sometimes it’s your own worst enemy just waiting for an opening to strike you down.
“You ready for this?” Hash asks as he ties his damp hair back in the man bun he’s always sporting.
“Yeah, I need this ride.”
“This should be an easy run,” Prez says, coming up behind us with Hades on his tail. He seems to be his shadow nowadays. “Straightforward. We haven’t had any issues with these guys before and I’d like to keep it that way.” His hand slaps me on the shoulder. “You good?”
I can feel his assessing gaze on me. Prez doesn’t miss much, and that’s why he makes a kick ass president.
“Yeah, I’m good.” His eyes study me for a moment before shrugging a shoulder. “Alright. Have fun, ladies.”
Hash and I both snort.
“Let’s ride.” I nod at him as I grab my helmet and climb on.
The ride was supposed to clear my head, but all it did was slowly drive me insane.
I wanted to think about absolutely nothing and just enjoy the open road, but no.
Instead, it did the exact fuckin’ opposite.
My brain was on autopilot the minute I hit the throttle.
Any and every scenario on why Sutton wants a job at my place plays out in my head.
Never in my life have I needed a distraction from a ride.
Never in my life have I actually looked forward to reaching a drop location.
And that fucking pisses me off. All I could think about was if Sutton had an okay day at the shop.
I couldn’t stop thinking about how Tommy can make her smile like she actually means it, or the way she laughs at all of Gage’s jokes .
The part that’s eating me up is whenever her eyes land on me, the light goes out. And that’s not me. I give ladies the fucking light, not take it away.
I barely talked to her before I opened my mouth and said some stupid shit. In those first five minutes she may have been shy and nervous as hell, but I didn’t miss that little spark in her eyes as she took in the shop. Almost like she couldn’t believe it was real.
I’m kind of shocked she came back, to be honest.
She doesn’t seem like the type to take confrontation head on. I can’t see her even working with someone she has an issue with. At the first sign of a problem, I bet she runs and hides until it’s either ignored or forgotten about.
So why is she sticking around? Is she that desperate?
There are very few areas in my life that make my head go quiet. This is one of them. I don’t need her in my head tainting it.
Hash and I arrive before anyone else, giving me some relief. I don’t like walking into unknowns and as many times as someone says they’ll only come alone, you never believe that shit. Greed and jealousy are two things that will make you do anything to get on top, including fucking someone over.
Fuck it.
Pulling my phone out, I send a text to Gage.
Me: She show?
Gage: If by she you mean Sutton, then yes, Sutton is here.
The grip I have on my phone tightens. I don’t know whether to be relieved she actually came back or pissed she actually came back.
Me: What’s she wearin’?
What’s she wearing?
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Gage: The same mom clothes she’s been wearing, man. You want me to ask her bra color too?
A low growl escapes my throat before I can stop it, causing Hash to look around as he goes for his gun.
“You see somethin’?” Hash asks, eyes alert.
God damnit.
“No, sorry, brother. Just somethin’ Gage said.”
Hash relaxes but doesn’t let up. “This have somethin’ to do with the mood you’ve been in lately?”
“It wasn’t until it was.”
“Right.”
Me: Don’t be a fuckin’ dick.
Gage: Don’t be a fuckin’ creep.
I wonder if we’ll be back in time for me to stop by. I don’t have any clients today, but I’m the owner, so that won’t look weird if I drop in, right? Gage will for sure give me shit, but that’s just because he knows I’m being weird as fuck.
Hash and I both look towards the drive that we pulled off of as pipes rumble in the distance.
“Looks like they finally decided to show up.” Hash cracks his knuckles. “Let’s get this over with. I’ve got shit to do.”
Maybe I’ll be able to make it back in time after all.