Chapter 3 Push and Pull
THREE
PUSH AND PULL
Milly
After my shift at the hospital, I pull into the shed beside the club truck.
I get out and look at the rows of Harley-Davidsons.
A handful are missing, making me wonder where the guys are.
I’ve gotten used to living here. I like the club’s family vibe and the company of the members’ partners.
I enjoy coming home to people and feeling like I belong rather than returning to an empty house.
I shouldn’t be enjoying it as much as I am, because at some point I’ll have to go home.
A motorcycle pulls in behind me. It’s Ivy and Demon. She must have just finished her shift too. Once she takes her helmet off and swings her leg over the bike, she smiles at me. “How was work?”
“I don’t want to jinx my next shift, but it was relatively quiet. What about you?” I ask.
“Mine was busy,” she says with a yawn.
The three of us walk toward the clubhouse. My shoulders are still tense. “I could do a wine and bed.”
Ivy sighs. “Bed sounds fabulous right about now.”
When we walk inside, it’s quiet. As I walk farther into the clubhouse, I see Cash at the bar. In the lounge, a few of the sweet butts are asleep on the couch.
“Where is everyone?”
“Managing the fights. Rage will be on later tonight,” Cash replies. The club manages illegal bare-knuckle fights and the gambling that comes with them.
I’m exhausted, but I should stay up to check on Rage after his fight.
I go into the kitchen to grab something quick to eat and hear a wrapper rustling in the pantry. As I walk closer, I see Twitch, who’s leaning over. What is he doing? I step over to him and tap him on the shoulder. His body stills.
I clear my throat. “And what are you doing, hmm?” He looks suspicious.
He leisurely pivots. In his hand is half a block of chocolate, and there’s a smudge of it beside his lip, which makes me laugh. I wipe the chocolate off with my thumb. His eyes briefly close at the touch.
I clear my throat again and put my hand out with an expectant eyebrow raise. “Share time.” I could do with some sugar.
He actually hesitates and gives me a sour expression, as if sharing his chocolate is a crime, but he slowly puts one row in my hand. I scoff. “More than that, you stingy ass.”
He places another two rows in my hand, though you’d think I was asking for his soul judging by his displeased expression.
“Thank you,” I say with a smile, knowing how hard he found it to part with his precious chocolate.
I shove a piece into my mouth, enjoying the sweet, rich flavor. “I’m surprised there’s any chocolate left.” Everyone here has a sweet tooth.
“I hide it. Only Elena and Ava know where it is.” He purses his lips. “But they know it’s mine and not to touch it.”
I press my lips together as I try to hold in a laugh. “Why don’t you keep it in your room where it’s safe?”
“I have no self-control, so I keep it in here.”
“Ha! You have no self-control . . . funny, that. I would never have guessed.” Sarcasm drips off my tone. I get a devastating smile showing all his white teeth in return. God, he’s sexy.
“Come for a drink?” he asks, tilting his head toward the bar.
“I’m going to have a piece of fruit, and then I’ll be over.
” I finish the chocolate, grab an apple, and take a bite as I watch him swagger out of the kitchen.
He looks great in his light baggy denim jeans, fitted shirt, and club vest. Attraction to a motorcycle club member was never something I anticipated.
I always liked professional, career-orientated men, but there’s something about Twitch that makes me drool.
I breathe deeply before I go to the bar. I sit on the stool beside Twitch. “What are you two drinking?” I ask as I see the caramel-colored liquid in Cash’s and Twitch’s glasses.
“Whiskey,” Cash answers. “Want one?”
My eyes dart between the two of them. I hesitate. What the hell . . . Cash is here, so we are safe and won’t try anything. “Sure.”
The mischievous glint in Twitch’s eyes makes a familiar flutter start in my chest.
Cash goes around to the other side of the bar, pulls out a tumbler, and pours a shot of Crown Village whiskey. The distillery is owned by Sophie’s brother.
Demon and Ivy saunter over. Ivy peers over my shoulder. “You’re having whiskey neat?” She chuckles.
“Would you two like one as well?” Cash asks, glancing between Demon and Ivy.
Ivy waves him away. “Oh, no thank you. My pillow is calling my name.”
“No, thanks,” Demon answers. “We’re off to bed. Have a good night.” Demon’s lip twitches at the corners like he’s trying not to smirk as he glances between me and Twitch, making my cheeks heat. They turn and head for the stairs.
Cash puts the glass in front of me. The aroma of whiskey hits me. It’s pleasant but distinct, with fruity, spicy, and earthy undertones. I swirl the liquid around in the glass before taking a sip and feeling the rich burn.
“I didn’t realize you were a whiskey girl,” Twitch says.
“I drink most alcoholic beverages. I’m not too picky.
” I look at Cash. “So, are you and Trixie a thing?” Since I live here, I’m curious about what’s going on with everyone and what their arrangements are.
Trixie is a sweet butt. She’s always been kind to me and willing to help out around the clubhouse.
Cash shakes his head. “Nice girl and all, but it’s not serious.”
“I’ve noticed the last three single men in the club have that in common,” I point out smugly.
Twitch chokes on his drink and gives me the side-eye.
Cash walks around the bar and pats a coughing Twitch’s back. “You all right, man? Don’t die on us.”
Twitch coughs again, then clears his throat. “Yeah, I’m all right.”
I hide my smile behind my glass and take another sip of my drink.
“Well, I’m off to the fights,” says Cash. “If I don’t see you when I get back, night, you two.”
Damn it! He was supposed to be the buffer. “Good night,” I reply while chastising myself.
I peer at Twitch, and his eyes are soft as he stares back at me. “How was your day?” I ask. Just keep talking, I remind myself, and then go to bed.
“Good. Spent most of the day on the computer.”
“So no time cuddling up with your girlfriend?”
Twitch scrunches his nose. “I have no girlfriend.” He leans in so close I can feel his breath on my face. “Why, do you want to be it?” he asks jokingly.
I gently push him away and laugh. “You are trouble!”
He pulls at his leather vest, a gigantic smirk on his face. “Certainly am.”
Knowing I need to change lanes, as it’s getting a little flirty, I ask, “So you never told me, why do they call you Twitch?” Such a strange name.
The smirk is wiped off his face. “I have epilepsy.”
My eyes bulge. “And how do I not know that?” I’m the club doctor after all. “How long have you had it?”
“I was in the army for two years, and one day at training I had a seizure. It was random. Sometimes my hand would jerk when I just woke up, and I’d lose a bit of muscle function, but I thought it was nothing and would just go away by itself.
I went to the hospital after the seizure, and they did all types of scans and tests, and the doctor confirmed I had epilepsy. ”
My heart constricts as I frown. “Were you okay after the fall?”
“Yes. It was a grand mal seizure, so I don’t remember too much of that day. I remember falling and talking to the hospital doctor afterward, but everything else is hazy.”
I trail my hand along his arm, giving him a sad smile, offering comfort. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
He focuses on my hand. “It’s fine. It was a while ago now. It sucked that I didn’t get to finish my training or serve my country, but it is what it is.”
“How are you managing your epilepsy? Are you on medication now?” I’m concerned. I haven’t seen any notable signs he has epilepsy.
He clips his head in a nod. “I’ve been on medication since the incident and have had no issues. The medication has been doing its job.”
“So no seizures since you’ve been on it?” I ask for clarification.
“That’s right.”
“Have you had an updated scan lately to determine if you still have epilepsy? Some people don’t have it forever.”
He looks away as if in thought. “No, I haven’t. I might look into that.”
“Earl, our neurologist at Crown Village Hospital, is amazing. I’ll give you his details, and you can book an appointment with him. I’ll tell him you’re a close friend, see if he can get you in sooner.”
He gives me a warm smile. “Thanks for that.”
“Of course.” I’d do anything for Twitch. I pause and decide to ask him a question I’ve wanted to know the answer to for a long time. “While we’re on the topic of names, what’s your real name?”
“Reece O’Connah.”
My eyes wander around his gorgeous face to his thick head of wavy hair, those mesmerizing green eyes, and those piercings. “You look like a Reece.”
He chuckles, then brings the glass to his mouth and takes a sip. The movement makes his Adam’s apple bob. I don’t have a clue how, but even him drinking is sexy. I have issues!
“After you were diagnosed, then what happened?”
His lips curve down. “I got medically discharged and went home to my family.”
His voice is soft, and I regret asking, so I take a large drink, and it burns all the way down. I lean closer. “How did you join the War Brothers MC?” I’m invested in his life story now.
“I was lost after they medically discharged me.”
My throat tightens at the lingering sadness in his tone.