Chapter Thirteen
I’ve been antsy all day, staring at the clock like I was waiting for bedtime on Christmas Eve so Santa would come.
By the time I push through the door of Andromeda with Jensen in tow, I’ve already gone through every possible scenario, weighed every outcome, and played devil’s advocate about a million times.
Still my decision remains.
I’m choosing Indy.
How could I not? My soul calls to her—it always has.
I love Dylan; he’s my brother in every sense of the word other than blood, but the love I have for his sister outweighs everything.
All my life I’ve chased perfection—grades, athletics, my career.
And I’ve been letting the perfect woman for me sit on the sidelines all because of fear. I’m not willing to do that anymore.
I can’t lose us.
Andromeda hums with energy. It’s packed.
High-top tables are full, the bar is wall-to-wall people, bodies pressed too closely together. The place smells like booze, an overwhelming mixture of perfumes and colognes, and surprisingly, the scent of lemon cleaner.
Immediately, my eyes settle on Indy.
She’s smiling, laughing as she pours drinks behind the bar. Her pink hair’s pulled up on top of her head, tendrils falling and framing her face.
Gorgeous. She’s absolutely, effortlessly gorgeous.
Leaning across the bar, she passes a patron his drink, laughing again as she plucks folded up money from his fingers.
I stop walking, frozen in my tracks as I watch her.
Not paying attention, Jensen crashes into my back. “Shit. Sorry, didn’t see you stop.” He looks around at all of the packed tables. “It’s busy as hell in here.”
“Yeah. Kind of crazy for a Thursday night.”
“So which one is she?” he asks, looking in the direction of the bar.
I’m grateful he was able to come with me tonight, not that I need a wingman, but having someone in my corner is nice.
“There.” I lift my chin in Indy’s direction.
“Who? The pink hair?” The surprise in Jensen’s voice is apparent, but I can’t be bothered to glance at him.
Not when Indy’s eyes meet mine.
A dozen emotions flicker across her face as she processes that I’m here in the flesh. Heat flares through me when she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip and drops her gaze, fighting a smile.
“Yeah,” I say, satisfaction settling deep in my chest. “That’s her.”
“You’ve been letting Dylan dictate your relationship with her? Are you out of your mind? She’s beautiful.”
If he only knew how full of regret I am for wasting so much time.
A high-top a few feet away clears out and we make our way over to it, claiming our seats before someone else can snag them. I don’t love that we’re now in the center of the bar, but I shrug off my jacket regardless, draping it over the back of my chair.
When I settle in, I go back to watching Indy, my new seat giving me the perfect view of her. She moves around behind the bar with ease, oozing confidence and authority as she barks orders and mixes drinks.
A few men sitting at the bar slide from their stools when two bikers walk up behind them and gesture for them to vacate. I’m surprised they listen, although just by looking at them, I probably would have too.
My jaw tightens as they immediately engage Indy in conversation, and she chats with them with a blinding smile.
Jensen follows my gaze over to the bar and scoffs. “So, at what point are you going to tell her you don’t give two shits about what her brother thinks anymore?”
“She’s working,” I reply flatly. “It’s not like I can just march up to the bar and say ‘to hell with your brother, let’s run away together.’”
“Why not?”
I give him a pointed ‘are you kidding’ look before realizing he’s not. “Well, first off, she still has a boyfriend.”
It’s a detail that’s been gnawing incessantly at the pit of my stomach for days. Just thinking about Zach makes me want to break something. My hands ball into fists in my lap just thinking about it now.
“Fuck the boyfriend,” Jensen says casually. “Obviously, she’s your girl.”
“If only it were that simple.” I watch as Indy helps a line of patrons crowding the bar. If I thought it was wall-to-wall people before, it’s nothing compared to how it is now. I don’t know how she keeps up, and for a second I’m awestruck, until I hear him grunt, “Isn’t it?”
It draws me out of the trance I fell into. I shake my head. “She needs to choose me like I am choosing her. We’ve been doing this for years. We need to be on the same page and finally not willing to let anyone come between us. The difference is I now have two people working against me.”
Zach poses the immediate problem. Dylan is an obstacle we’ll address together once he’s back in the country.
“Your own damn stubbornness is the only thing that’s been standing between you two.
At any point you could have said to hell with it and just gone after what you wanted.
” Jensen leans his elbows on the table. My face must reflect the utter mindfuck I’m feeling inside, because he laughs, then explains, “I’m still not convinced Dylan won’t be happy for you.
He seems laid back enough where he would have just shrugged it off.
I get the whole ‘don’t date my sister’ thing while you were in high school, but you’re not in high school anymore.
You’re adults—free to make your own choices. ”
I snort, wondering if he’s right, and glance back at the bar. Indy’s deep in conversation with the two bikers sitting in front of her. A flare of jealousy steamrolls through me at the smile she gives them. I want her smiles directed at me.
Turning my attention back to him, I shake my head again. “You didn’t hear him that day. I shouldn’t have heard him that day—it was a conversation between him and Indy—but I happened to come out of the locker room at the exact right time.”
“Or rather, the exact wrong time,” Jensen deadpans. “But again, high school.”
“Maybe you’re right,” I relent, playing devil's advocate in my head. “But I can’t force Indy to feel the same. There’s a chance I could lose both Indy and Dylan if this doesn’t work out. It isn’t a guarantee that Indy will be willing to put us first.”
“Nothing in life is guaranteed. You just have to decide what you’re willing to risk in the pursuit of getting what you want.
” Jensen folds his arms over his chest, and I study my friend, wondering if he’s ever had to fight for someone he loves.
I don’t have a doubt in my mind that he’d go after whoever caught his heart full force.
Running my tongue over my teeth, I think about what he’s said, then nod a couple times slowly. “True.”
“What can I get for you boys?” A smooth, feminine voice overtakes our conversation, and a warm hand slides across my shoulders. Looking up, a stunning brunette smiles down at me and winks. She’s covered in tattoos and has a confident air that surrounds her.
Based on Indy’s description, I know this is her boss and Andromeda’s owner, Rosie.
“Goddamn,” Jensen mutters under his breath, gaze roving over Rosie’s body.
She rolls her eyes, her fingernails drumming against my shoulder. “Drinks? Or are you just going to sit here and drool over my punk princess all night?”
“You two know each other?” There’s a sparkle of curiosity in Jensen’s eye, and he quirks a brow at me in question.
“No, we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet.” A smile pulls at Rosie’s lips as she juts her hand out between us. “Hi, I’m Rosie.”
“Hey, Rosie.” I shake her hand, then nod across the table. “I’m Gareth. This is Jensen.”
“Fellas. Great to meet you. Now, what are we drinking tonight?”
“What’s your beer situation look like?” Jensen asks, leaning back in his seat.
Rosie shifts closer to him, removing her hand from my back and moving her opposite hand to rest on his shoulder while she tells him what they have on tap.
But I stop listening when Zach walks up to the other bikers at the bar—to Indy.
He leans against the corner since there’s no open seats, and she immediately starts to pour him a glass.
Her smile is warm as she passes it to him.
Jealousy flares to life inside of me again, rage brewing beneath the surface.
This guy. This fucking guy is who’s standing between me and the love of my life.
Jensen must feel the energy shift because the conversation that was buzzing around me immediately dies.
“Is that the guy?” Jensen asks, and I don’t need to look at him to know where his line of vision has fallen.
The muscle in my jaw tightens. “Yeah. That’s Zach.”
Jensen nods, and Rosie’s laughter rings out beside me, reminding me we’re in mixed company—with Indy’s boss of all people.
I can’t look away from Indy chatting with the bikers and watch as she glances at Zach a couple of times. For a brief moment, her eyes flicker to mine, but then she pulls her gaze back to him.
“Think she calls him daddy?” Jensen laughs, obviously trying to make light of the situation, but I see red at the very idea of her calling some giant fucking biker dude daddy.
“Oh my God.” Rosie explodes with laughter, her palm hitting the high-top table, barely able to contain herself.
“She’s definitely not calling him daddy. He’s more like Andromeda’s father figure—the king of this castle.” She nudges me in the shoulder, forcing me to look at her. She tosses me a wink. “Plus, I’m the only one who gets to call him that.”
Our heads snap in her direction, and she shrugs, but doesn’t offer anything more.
Now I’m the one who’s confused.
Jensen and I look around at each other like one of us might know what the hell is going on, but we all wear the same puzzled expression.
“I’ll go grab your drinks, boys.” She waves her hand dismissively and saunters away, making a point to say hello to a couple neighboring tables as she passes.
“Usually I can get a good read on people when I meet them”—Jensen purses his lips—“but I can’t quite figure her out.” He stares off after Rosie.
I bark a laugh. “That’s Indy’s boss. She owns the place.”
“What did she mean by she’s the one who calls him daddy? Is she screwing Indy’s boyfriend?” Jensen wonders out loud. “Are they in an open relationship?”
Anger spikes through me again as I watch Rosie approach the bar, coming around on Zach’s right so she can walk around it, and as soon as she’s parallel with him, his hand reaches out and caresses the back of her thighs.
“No.”
She pauses for a second, smiling at him before talking to Indy and the other two bikers.
Clenching my teeth, I watch as Zach strokes the back of Rosie's legs, hand snaking around to the inside of her thighs, teasing her.
He’s openly disrespecting Indy, right under her goddamn nose, and she’s none the wiser.
Her gorgeous blue eyes flicker to mine, instantly lacing with confusion. She can see the turmoil I’m feeling—the rage I’m barely able to contain.
How fucking dare he.
He has the most amazing woman in his life and he’s fucking around on her—in front of her—with her boss.
Not on my watch.
“What are you—” Jensen follows my line of sight. “Oh, shit. Indy’s right there too.”
Standing, my chair screeches against the concrete floor, practically toppling over from how quickly I got up, but he’s quick to reach out and steady it.
My hands tighten into fists at my sides, my heart hammering as the tension tightens along the muscles in my neck—but I feel it everywhere. Shoulders ridged, breath coming in too fast despite my clenched jaw.
Behind me, another chair whines against the concrete, but Jensen doesn’t follow me—not yet.
But I know he will if I need him to.
Right now, Indy is the only thing keeping me grounded as I weave past the tables standing between us. I’m on the verge of snapping, and I refuse to pull my gaze from her to see if Zach is still touching Rosie.
I can’t fathom having the most perfect woman in my life and still wanting someone else. Touching someone else.
Right in fucking front of her.
They have to be in an open relationship. What other explanation could there be? But the Indy I know—my friend—wouldn’t be into that.
Would she? Do I not know her as well as I thought I did?
No. She’s just dating a piece of shit.
That ends now.
My pulse roars in my ears with every step forward. A primal need to protect her, to defend her even if I’m not hers, vibrates through me so intensely, I hardly recognize myself. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.
I lean into that feeling, drawing on nothing but confidence as I walk straight up to Indy’s boyfriend.
Indy must see the change in me because without breaking our stare, she practically runs from behind the bar, and just as I approach Zach, positions herself between us.
“Gareth,” she warns, looking at me in a way I can’t decipher—a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Zach and Rosie’s heads swivel in my direction, and I’m not surprised neither of them noticed she’d come out from behind the bar.
“Oh, hey baseball boy,” Rosie teases, but I don’t bother looking at her.
All of my focus is on the man who thought he could get away with disrespecting the woman I love.
“You don’t get to touch another woman right in front of her,” I seethe, my gaze cutting to Indy for a second. “She’s too fucking good for you, so I’d think twice before—”
“Are you threatening me?” Zach stands, rising to his full height. The two bikers next to him are on their feet before any of us can blink.
His eyes flick past me, and he laughs. I feel Jensen approach before I hear them.
“Apologize to her,” I demand through clenched teeth.
“Oh my God.” Rosie laughs. “He thinks—”
“Get him out of here,” Zach barks to the bikers standing next to me, nodding toward the door. “What a fucking idiot.”
I glance at Indy and immediately wish I hadn’t. She looks horrified.
Rosie can’t stop laughing.
Thick hands wrap around my biceps—one on each side—as the two bikers roughly lead me out of the bar’s doors.
They speak over each other, and cold air assaults me as they shove me through the threshold. “Get the fuck out of here, lover boy. You’re lucky we’re not kicking your ass for this.”
“No one speaks to the prez like that. You should be getting your ass beat.”
The door shuts behind me.
Anger and humiliation seize my chest. I drag my hand down my face.
“FUCK,” I roar, the word tearing out of me.
I start walking quickly along the side of the building. I just ruined something, I just don’t know what yet.
The door to the bar slams shut again, but I don’t turn around. I don’t slow down.
“Gareth!” Indy yells, her signature combat boots pounding on the gravel after me. “What the hell was that?”