Chapter Sixteen
My phone vibrates on the island, and I pick it up.
“Hey, are you on your way?” I ask as I answer.
Walker sighs. “No, not yet. My bike has a flat tire. I’m waiting on a buddy to pick me up and take me back to my place. I’ll grab the truck the guys and I share, and then I’ll be on my way.”
“Do you need me to come get you?”
“No, but thank you for the offer.”
“Do you still want to get together or do you want to get your bike figured out?” I ask as I chew on my lip.
I hate the idea of us canceling plans but if there was ever a time that it would be okay, it would be now.
“No, we aren’t canceling. Clay will be here in about twenty minutes, and I’m only fifteen minutes from my place. Give me an hour.”
“Okay, I can do that. Actually, how do you feel about meeting me down on Main Street? I could go to the bookstore while I wait for you.”
“Are you sure? I’m okay with taking you to the bookstore once I pick you up,” he offers, making me smile.
If only the man knew.
“Trust me when I tell you I don’t mind and that you would probably hate waiting on me to find what I want. Trust me, we are better off this way. I’ll just walk down there, and then you can drive me home.”
“I would prefer it if you drove, it would be safer.”
I roll my eyes.
What’s up with these guys and safety? If I didn’t know better, I would think they know something about this town that I don’t.
“I’ll be fine. I do it all the time,” I tell him gently.
“Okay, fine, but will you let me know when you get there?”
“I can do that. Bye.”
Smiling, I shake my head as I hang up.
It feels weird having people in my life who care. I used to think that Amber, Kimberly, and Troy did, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Just another thing that these three have woken me up to.
I grab my bag off the island and head toward the door. I grab my leather jacket and slip it on before I head outside. After locking my door, I head down the street.
The sidewalks are covered in leaves, and they crunch under my boots. Something about it just makes me happy. Before I know it, I’m at the bookstore, and I head inside.
Jamie looks up and smiles. “Hey, Esme! I was starting to get worried. I haven’t seen you in a minute.”
“I bet you say that to all your customers,” I tease, making her laugh.
“Only my most loyal ones.” She winks.
“How have you been?” I ask her.
“Fantastic. You?”
“Same, actually,” I admit.
“You do have that new lover glow. Are you seeing someone?”
While Jamie and I don’t know each other well, I do consider her more of a friend than an acquaintance these days. I don’t have anyone in my personal life to talk to about all of this, and I find that I want to. I just don’t know how or what to say.
“Hey, no pressure. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot,” she says softly.
“No, you’re good. I actually am. It’s just crazy, but in a good way.”
“I hope he treats you well.”
“He does,” I say, not bothering to correct her.
“Good. Can’t have one of my favorite clients start hating love.” She winks. “By the way, a new book came in that I think you might like. It’s a motorcycle club romance.”
“Oh, tell me about it.”
Jamie proceeds to tell me about this book where there is a female mechanic, and she goes to work for a shop that’s owned by an MC. She’s totally sassy and a pain in her boss’s ass, which happens to be her love interest.
“Thank you so much for these. You always have the best recommendations.” I tell her as she rings me out.
“It’s no problem.”
My phone vibrates, and I pull it out of my bag.
Walker: I’m two minutes out. I’ll be there soon.
Me: I’ll meet you outside.
“Thanks, Jamie, I’ll see you soon,” I tell her as I put my phone back in my bag and grab my bag of goodies.
“Bye!” she says as she heads off to help someone else.
I exit the store and look up and down the street.
“Esme,” a familiar voice says, sending shivers down my back.
Just my fucking luck. I should have waited at home for Walker like he recommended.
I try to ignore him, only that doesn’t work.
“Come on, Es, I know you can hear me,” Troy says.
Sighing, I turn around and face him. “What?”
He jerks back like I hit him. “Seriously, is that any way to greet your boyfriend?”
“Ex. You are my ex-boyfriend and have been for a while,” I quickly correct him.
“Come on, muffin, we both know you can’t do better than me. Give me another chance.”
“I thought I made myself clear. I’m not interested.”
I don’t get it. He left me alone after we split, and now, now when I’m happy and moved on, he starts trying to worm his way back in? Fuck him.
His eyes narrow. “Esme.”
“I’m pretty sure my girlfriend told you she wasn’t available,” a gruff voice behind me says.
As soon as he speaks, relief fills me.
Walker.
I shut my eyes as he comes up behind me, kissing the top of my head.
“Sorry I’m late, Pixie. Did you get all the books you wanted?” Walker rasps.
“I did.”
“Good.”
“Wait, so this is a thing? Like that wasn’t just for show?” Troy asks, bringing the attention back to him.
Like always.
“Do I look like the kind of guy women just randomly approach, sit on, and make out with for funsies?” Walker deadpans, making me smile.
Yes, yes, you do. How do I know? Because I did it.
“Whatever, Esme. When you’re ready to ditch this reject, you know where to find me.”
Troy stomps off, heading the opposite way down the street.
“I’m sorry he approached you,” Walker whispers to me.
“It’s fine.”
Walker turns me in his arms and tips my chin up so I’m forced to look him in the eye.
“You know we need to tell the others,” he tells me.
I frown. “They will go all overprotective on me.”
He chuckles. “Of course they will. It’s our job. We are to put you above all else, even if that means making a certain ex disappear.”
“No. Don’t do anything to him,” I say, thinking about who his father is. “Maybe he finally got the message.”
He doesn’t look convinced but nods.
“Let’s go tell the guys then. I won’t compromise on that.”
I give in. It’s not like there’s anything bad about three men caring about your safety.
This wasn’t how our night was supposed to go.
I had planned to take her out, make her laugh, then bring her back here, where she would maybe let me make out with her for a while.
Instead, her ex ruined it.
After bundling her into the truck, I texted the guys with an SOS and headed back here, where she’s been an anxiety-ridden mess ever since.
I hate the way her leg bounces, restlessly, as we wait for Levi and Hudson. In fact, I almost wish one of them were here instead of me. They are better when it comes to comforting someone. Instead I’m here, and I don’t know what to do.
What would Levi do…
The thought rolls through my mind, and as soon as I stop overthinking it, it becomes obvious.
“Come here.”
Her head whips toward me so fast her bun flops back.
“Huh?”
“Come here,” I say, holding out my arms.
Esme scrambles toward me, falling into my arms. I rearrange her so she’s lying across my lap, her head on my chest, with my arms wrapped around her. As soon as I do, she sighs, relaxing into me.
“This is nice. Thank you,” she says quietly.
“You’re welcome.” Leaning down, I kiss the top of her head.
We sit in silence as we wait for the guys, who show up a few minutes later.
A concerned Levi walks in first, followed by an even more worried Hudson.
“What’s going on?” Levi asks gently.
If she were anyone else, he would be making demands, but even he can tell she needs him to be a little softer. At least right now.
“You okay, darlin’?” Hudson asks as he takes a seat next to us.
He pulls her foot into his lap and starts to rub it.
She sinks further into me. “You’re too good at that.”
“If you think this is good, just wait and see what else I can do,” he quips.
“Not now,” Levi tells him before looking back at her. “Tell me what’s wrong. I don’t think this is what you two had planned for your date night.”
I look down at her. “Do you want me to tell them what I know?”
Wordlessly she nods.
I look back at my brothers and start at the beginning.
I tell them how I was late because my bike got a flat and how she went to the bookstore.
Then I explain how I found her on the sidewalk with Troy and how he was harassing her.
I tell them how she all but told him to fuck off, and he wouldn’t take the hint.
Pride shines in their eyes and I’m sure my own. I’m proud of my girl for defending herself. At the same time, though, she shouldn’t have had to.
No means no. Point blank, period. Something Troy doesn’t seem to understand.
“It’s not that big of a town, we’re bound to run into each other occasionally,” she says lightly.
Levi narrows his eyes. “Esme, how often has this happened?”
“Does it matter?”
“I think it does,” Levi tells her.
“I agree,” I tell her.
“Same,” Hudson agrees.
She sighs. “The bar, my job when I texted, and today.”
“And…” Levi says.
She starts to chew on her bottom lip, but I quickly free it with my thumb.
“Just tell us.” I say gently.
“He’s shown up at my job a couple of times, but they know to tell him that I’m not available or that I’m not in.”
“How many times has he shown up here?” Hudson asks.
For a moment she tenses in my arms, letting me know that I’m not going to like her answer.
“A couple, but like I said, it’s not that big of a deal. It was all in the past. I hadn’t seen him in a minute until the bar when I met you guys.”
The guys and I share a look, and without saying anything, I know we are all on the same page.
We don’t like it.
It’s clear her ex isn’t over her despite the fact that he cheated on her. He still wants her.
He can’t have her, though.
She’s ours, and we protect what’s ours.
“Darlin’, I hate to tell you this, but I don’t like it. Something about this whole situation with him isn’t normal,” Hudson says gently.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
Hudson and Levi narrow their eyes at her while I squeeze her tight.
“What exactly are you apologizing for, Pixie?” I ask carefully.
“You guys didn’t sign up for this. I’m just causing problems in your life.”
Levi leans forward and levels her with a look. “Let’s get one thing clear: you are not causing problems in our life. At all.”
“If only you knew,” Hudson mutters.
Levi continues on, ignoring Hudson. “You’ve done nothing wrong at all. Honestly, I don’t know if you have it in you to do anything that would really make our lives difficult.”
“All we want is to keep you safe, and to do that, we need to know when he bothers you,” I cut in before Levi can go too far off track.
Esme looks up at me, wide-eyed. “You really don’t think this is nothing?”
“Not at all. Could I be wrong? Sure, but I rarely am when it comes to these kinds of things.”
“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Hudson tells her.
She nods. “You’re right.”
“Thank you for telling us,” Levi tells her.
“Thank you for listening.”
“Do you guys want to get back to your date?” Hudson offers.
I look down at her in my arms and shake my head. My girl looks half asleep.
“Nah, how about we spend the rest of the night in and together?”
“I’d like that,” she says.
“I got food,” Hudson says as he jumps up.
“I have to place a call, then I’ll be yours for the rest of the night,” Levi says as he gets up.
As they walk out of the room, she cups the side of my face. She doesn’t speak until I look down at her.
“Thank you,” she says quietly.
“For what?”
“For caring.”
“Always, Pixie. No matter what. I’ll always care about you.”