Chapter Eight #2
I exchanged a worried glance with Caroline, who was wringing her hands together, and then started that damn picking at her thumb. I wanted to swat her hand away, but I also knew she wasn’t fond of being touched by anyone but Harley these days.
“No. It’s… Jesus, I said the wrong thing and he stormed out. It’s on me, man, it’s not him.” Harley glanced at us, and I could see the guilt all over his face, “I’ve never seen him like this. He’s… I think I hurt him, and you know me, that’s never my intention.”
My god, what did we miss? I didn’t know Rocket all that well, but I was starting to know him better than I knew Harley, and I knew he had a sensitive side he tried really hard to hide from his club brothers.
What the hell did Harley say to him? I thought he was a nice guy, because of how Caroline adored him, and admittedly, he was really good with her, but I found myself just as worried about Rocket as I would have been for someone I’d known far longer than a few days.
He’d forgotten half of Nixie’s stuff in his haste too.
“Yeah, just tell him I’m sorry, yeah? I’ll keep my nose out of his business in future, but I hate the fact that he left here like that.”
As soon as he ended the call, and hauled Caroline back into his arms, stopping her worrying at her thumb more effectively than I could have, I marched up to him with my arms folded. I was absolutely in defensive mode on Rocket’s behalf right now, and completely unwilling to ask myself why that was.
“What. Did. You. Do?”
Harley groaned, kissing the top of Caroline’s head.
“I spoke out of turn, and I hurt his feelings, V. It wasn’t my intention, of course it wasn’t. That’s not me.”
I raised my eyebrows at him, hoping he could see how unimpressed I was feeling at his words.
“Doesn’t take away the hurt though, does it? Doesn’t undo the way you made him feel. Intent means absolutely fuck all if you cause harm, Harley.”
“V!”
He shook his head at my cousin. “It’s okay, she’s right. I know she’s right. I’m really fucking pissed at myself, but I was just trying to do the right thing. I went about it all wrong, but I had to say it.”
He kept hinting at what it was, without actually saying it, so I decided to push him, and he groaned, seeing it on my face before I even asked.
“Had to say what?”
He dragged a hand over his face, and did he just move so Caroline was firmly between us? What the fuck was he about to say?
“Harley,” I warned, already considering that he’d need a slap after whatever he was about to say. It couldn’t be good, could it?
“Jesus. It was about you. I was… I asked him not to hurt you. I know I shouldn’t-”
“You did what?! How dare you? How dare you think you have to speak for me! I don’t need you or anyone else protecting me, do you get that? I don’t need a fucking man to be my saviour, because I can save my own damn self!”
Did I advance on him as I snarled those words? And did he back up warily, no longer using Caroline as a shield, because he really wasn’t the kind of man to do such things. Maybe for a laugh, but not for reality.
“V, I’m sorry, okay? He was there and we were talking, and I just…
I guess I just wanted to remind him what you’ve been through, because I didn’t want him toying with you or something.
Of course he’s been through hell too, so he took it as me taking your side over his, and yeah…
I fucked up. I know it. We all know it. I’m sorry.
I’ll apologise to him too, even though I know it’s not going to fix what I said. ”
I unfolded my arms, but my fists were clenched, because I was so fed up with men thinking women needed their protection.
Maybe Caroline needed that, because so much of life was a struggle for her, but I sure didn’t.
I’d just left a man who didn’t protect me though, so was it rebellion, or was it just a sense of unfamiliarity with such things?
“I get that your heart was probably in the right place, Harley, but you don’t speak for me. You never get to speak for me, and you need to be nicer to him. He’s a good person. He’s… he’s got a real heart, and he hides it well, I know, but that’s because of people treating him like shit!”
“A little help here, baby?”
Caroline shook her head, folding her own arms, but for some reason it just looked cute on her. She was so petite that, with folded arms and a frown, she looked the absolute opposite of threatening. Harley’s face fell though.
“You made this bed for yourself, Harley. I love how you protect me, I really do, and I love that you wanted to extend that protection to my loved ones, but V’s right.
She’s strong enough to navigate life and fight for herself.
And for the record,” she smiled a little, avoiding my eye, “I know she liked kissing him, so-”
“Dammit, cuz! You’re supposed to have my back!”
She shook her head again. “I’m literally caught between a rock and hard place here. I can’t back either of you, not because either of you are right or wrong, but because it isn’t my place to get involved.”
I shot Harley a triumphant look as he groaned in anticipation.
“Just like it wasn’t yours.”
He lifted his hands. “I’m sorry. I’m a prick, I get it. I’m staying out of things involving you, I swear. I’ll make it up to Rocket at the clubhouse or here tomorrow. Assuming he comes back.” He glanced at Rocket’s setup, which had been left in disarray since he left in such a hurry.
“I’ll sort his stuff out,” I said firmly, even though I had no idea what to do.
I just really didn’t think he’d want Harley back there messing with it all.
I picked up the discarded mask and took it behind the counter, and then I checked that things weren’t left powered up, but beyond that I had no idea what to do.
“I need to go and see him. He needs this stuff of Nixie’s for tonight,” I said as I gathered up the bits he’d left without.
“He’s left the clubhouse apparently. Micro just sent me an update. Said he spoke to him, and it got a bit heated, but he’s going to meet a friend for a drink. Probably Has. They’re close.”
I shrugged. “Don’t care. Text me the address of where he’s gone, and I’ll take these to him.”
Harley nodded, gesturing to the bags. “Or I could take them to the clubhouse for him?”
“No. I need to see he’s okay.”
I waited while Harley sent a text to someone to find out where Rocket was, and then he pinged me the address of a classy pub on the edge of town. Not the kind of place I’d imagined he’d go to, but who’s misjudging who now?