Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Kolter
The last few weeks, I’ve spent every free moment I’ve had with Naomi.
She’s busy finishing up with classes, preparing for senior year and planning what she wants to do with her life after college.
She’s still set on being an investigative journalist, but in this day and age, that could really look like anything.
I won’t lie: I’m more than against the summer internships she’s been offered.
Mainly because one is in San Francisco and the other is in Miami.
Both are fucking far—away from home, away from Mom, away from me.
I’d never stop her chasing her dreams but…
fuck, if she sets her heart on it, I’m gonna have to figure something out because no fucking way is my girl moving down the coast or all the way across the fucking country. Even for a summer. It’s not happening.
Most nights, she’s been staying at my apartment. She’s settled in quickly and has even suggested ways to warm the place up, make it feel more lived-in. I handed her a stack of cash from my safe and told her to go nuts. Whatever she wants to do, this place… it feels more like ours than mine.
With all the time I’ve been spending with Naomi, there’s been little to none left for the club, hence why I’m in a meeting with my dad and Bones right now.
“The fuck is going on with you, huh? You’re never at the club; I can never get you on your goddamn cell.”
“I’ve been busy,” I answer stiffly, regretting it instantly.
My father’s eyes flash with danger, and his jaw tightens. “Alright, you’ve been busy. Doing what, exactly?”
I look down at the table beneath my clenched fist; I don’t have an answer for him.
He reaches across in a flash, grabbing a fistful of my hair then smashing my face down into the table. Pain ricochets inside my skull, blood spurting from my nose as he releases his hold on me.
“Little fucking punk. When I ask you a goddamn question, you answer me. Now, what the fuck has got your head so far up your own ass that you aren’t prioritizing the club?”
“I haven’t missed church, or a drop. Does it matter if I don’t spend every moment here?”
He smashes my face into the table again, and I blink blearily up at him as he leans over the table and glowers at me.
“Yeah, it fucking matters. You’ll be staying at the club until further notice. Bones is gonna make sure of that. I’m heading over east for a few days, but when I get back, I think we’ll assign you some more duties. Clearly, you don’t have enough to do.”
With that, my dad turns and heads out the door. Bones rises to his feet, giving me a disappointed headshake before following him out.
I sit in the meeting hall for another moment or two before pushing up from my seat and heading to the bathroom.
Once inside, I kick the door shut behind me then stare at myself in the mirror. Christ. I’ve definitely looked better, that’s for sure.
I rummage around in the medicine cabinet, pull out a first aid kit and begin cleaning myself up. Some gauze, warm water and an ice pack later, I… still look like fucking hell. But I’m already running late for dinner.
When I step out of the bathroom, I run straight into Ace. He studies my face, his brows dipping in concern.
“The fuck happened to you?”
“Got in a fight with the table and lost,” I scoff, pushing past him and making my way out of the clubhouse.
He follows right behind me, keeping his words to himself until we’re outside, out of earshot.
“Where are you off to? Need some company?”
“Dinner,” I answer shortly.
“With her?”
I don’t respond; I just fire up my bike, but he moves closer, until his hands are resting on my bike and he’s looking me straight in the eye.
“Look, man, I get it. I mean, she’s beautiful and seems like a sweet girl.”
“Careful,” I grit through clenched teeth.
He lifts his hands in defense and shakes his head. “But you’re playing a dangerous game. You keep giving your old man a reason to watch you close, and you’re putting her directly in his path. I know you don’t want that.”
He’s got a point, and it fucking irritates the shit out of me.
What am I supposed to do, though? I can’t be in two places at once, and if I have to choose where and how I spend my time, it’s with her.
Always. I’ve lost too much time with her already; I’m not willing to lose another second.
Ace isn’t wrong, though. My dad is suspicious, and my reaction in there didn’t help.
Raking a hand through my hair, I let out an irritated sigh. “I hear you. I’ll… I’ll figure something out.”
Ace watches me for a second, like he doesn’t quite believe me, then nods. “Alright, man. Tell her I said hi.”
I scoff at that, then back the bike up before taking off down the road. Life feels like a house of cards—one wrong move and everything will come tumbling down. Maybe it doesn’t even require a wrong move, though. In this life, my life, it’s simply inevitable.
Pushing the bike faster and faster, as if I can outrun any threat to us, I head for home, my real home.
The one that’s always been my safe space.
I used to think that was because of Mom, because of our makeshift family, but now I know that comfort I felt, that safety, had way more to do with Naomi than even I understood.
Because being with her… seeing her? It’s like coming up for air after drowning. As if she only exists for my joy.
I turn into their quiet neighborhood and spot her in the front yard, pulling weeds from a flower bed. Slowing down, I pull into the driveway beside Nick’s car. I didn’t know he’d be here tonight.
It takes everything in me not to hold out my arms so Naomi can run to me.
My fingers twitch and tingle, begging to feel her skin beneath them.
But when she sees me, she jumps up and runs towards me anyway—before thinking better of it and slowing her steps.
She looks around to ensure no one is watching then starts hurrying over to me once more.
I swing myself off my bike and pull her in for a hug. I release her faster than I want to and resist the desperate urge to taste her lips . Despite us waking up together and spending hours between the sheets this morning, it’s never enough. She’s more than just a drug—she’s addiction embodied.
“Hi.” She smiles shyly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
“Hey, Peaches,” I say with a barely there smile.
Her smile slowly falls as she studies me, concern stealing over her face. “What happened? Are you okay?”
I do my best to smile and wave away her worries. “I’m good.”
The front door opens, and I hear Nick’s loping footsteps before I see him.
“What’s up fucker?” He grins as he closes the distance between us, pulling me in for a quick hug.
“Hey, man. I didn’t know you were gonna make it.”
“Me? What about you? Gone for six years and now you’re coming over for regular dinners? That piece-of-shit dad kick rocks so you can actually live your life or what?”
“Nick,” Naomi chastises.
Nick just rolls his eyes and playfully shoves her shoulder. “I’m teasing, kinda. Come on. Mom is making alfredo-stuffed shells,” he says, biting his fist dramatically, like he can’t wait to eat, though I’m pretty sure that’s all the guy does.
I walk with him, glancing over my shoulder to watch Naomi gathering up her gardening tools before following us into the house. My feet pause as I debate turning round to help her then think better of it.
“Do I even want to know who fucked up your face?” Nick asks.
“Couldn’t tell you if I wanted to,” I say cryptically.
He nods like he understands. Even if it isn’t necessarily a secret, no good comes from me talking about anything to do with the club. He gets that and, thankfully, he drops it.
The smell of garlic bread and pasta hits me as soon as I step through the door.
“Are all my boys here now?” Mom calls from the kitchen.
“I got the last one,” Nick shouts triumphantly as we enter the kitchen and find Anthony helping dice something.
“Hey, brother,” he says with a smile.
“Good to see you,” I reply as Mom walks over and kisses me on the cheek.
“I’m glad you could make it, baby. Dinner is ready so grab a plate and dish up.”
Anthony scrapes the vegetables on his cutting board into the salad bowl then heads over to wash his hands as Naomi steps into the kitchen.
Conversation comes easily, and we chat about our weeks—them more than me—as we dish up our plates.
When we move to take our seats, I hang back for a moment to see where Naomi sits before casually dropping into the seat beside her.
She gives me a small but knowing smile that has my heart tightening inside my chest. As much as I wish we didn’t have to hide, I can’t deny that sneaking around with her is the thrill of a fucking lifetime.
I scoot my chair all the way in so my legs are fully concealed, and Naomi does the same, so I’m able to easily rest my left hand on her inner thigh while we eat, and no one is any the wiser.
“So, I got tickets to next week’s game. You in for some baseball and Seattle dogs?” Nick asks.
“The baseball part doesn’t sound too bad. Hot dogs covered in cream cheese and grilled onions is where I draw the line,” I reply, shaking my head.
Nick rolls his eyes. Our age-long debate of whether they’re disgusting or delicious is alive and well, I see.
“Whatever, you can have your lame-ass mustard and relish while I have my delicious savory treat. You in?”
I laugh, but then my smile fades. My father’s words ring in the back of my head, and suddenly my appetite is gone.
“Not sure I’ll be able to get the time off. It’s pretty busy right now.”
Nick’s disappointment is evident, but he nods. “No worries. I had a co-worker who was dying to go anyway.”
“Or you could take me, your other brother?” Anthony interjects, easing the tension in the room.
Everyone chuckles—Anthony is the furthest thing from a sports fan.
“You’re so whiney,” Nick retorts before the conversation moves on.