Chapter 23
Elizabeth
I’m waking up alone again; I used to be fine with it, but I’m not anymore.
I hate how ingrained in my life Angel had become in such a short space of time.
I go through the motions of getting ready for college, but I can’t stop myself from thinking about the differences between when we were together and now.
Sitting in bed drinking coffee; we both take it black, but I add a spoon of sugar in mine.
Enjoying a shower together, cuddling and getting all sudsy, sometimes more if we’d gotten out of bed early enough.
Getting dressed, which was always a battle because he’d be trying to take my clothes off faster than I could put them on, but it always ended with us laughing.
Fuck, I miss him. I know giving him the ultimatum was the right thing to do, but shit, this really sucks. I’m grabbing my backpack when I hear Slim behind me, I’d assumed he’d left for the garage already.
“I’ll drop you off at college,” he says, like it’s a normal thing for him to do.
“It’s completely out of your way, don’t worry about it, I can take the bus. ”
“You’ll get me in trouble if you do.”
I pause, turning to look at him.
“What do you mean… in trouble?”
“With Diablo,” he says, “I’ve been left with strict instructions; I need to take you and pick you up from college and then take you and pick you up from work.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
“He just wants you to be safe.”
I scoff. “He’s the most possessive asshole I’ve ever met; he said we’re over, which means he has no right to dictate how I do anything.”
“I know, but this is just temporary, right? You’ll be back together soon,” he says.
“Oh yeah, and what makes you think this is temporary?” I ask, remembering the look in Angel’s eyes when I saw him at the clubhouse.
Slim shrugs. “I’ve never seen him happy before, but the last couple of months, he has been.”
I can’t let myself think too much on those words because it immediately makes me want to cry…
“Look, I don’t want to put you out. You’re going to be driving here, there, and everywhere for me at stupid times, he can’t expect you to do it all.”
“It’s just tonight and tomorrow, after that we’re gonna take it in shifts.
” The look on my face clearly tells him that I’m not any more inclined to agree to this, so he adds, “But if you wanna make it easier on me, I’ll bring you back to the clubhouse after college so I can work, then I’ll take you to the diner. ”
“Of course I want to make it easier on you, but… I don’t think I can see him yet. ”
“He won’t be there, they’ve all gone to visit Diablos Rojos; it’s too far there and back in a day, so they’ll be staying the night.”
Again, I don’t really want to focus too much on that, knowing what I do about Diablos Rojos… and honestly, taking a bus to the diner will really suck.
“Then yeah, if it’s easier I’ll come back to the clubhouse with you. Wait there, I’ll pack my uniform.”
Once I’ve got everything I need in my backpack, we head out to his bike. My usual helmet is there; Angel must have given it to him.
“Thanks, Slim,” I say, hoping he knows that I’m thanking him for everything.
The clubhouse feels strangely empty with the guys gone and Slim working in the garage, but it gives me the chance to get some writing done.
One good thing about heartbreak, it definitely gets the creative muse going, needing somewhere to funnel the emotion.
I pick a particularly sad scene I’m planning to write for class and let it all come out.
Most of it will be bullshit, it probably won’t even make sense.
But the creative muse is funny like that, there’ll be little nuggets of gold in there that turn into something beautiful.
I don’t know how long I write for, when I’m in the zone, in a flow state, time ceases to exist, but I’m roused by voices as the main door opens. Imogen and Destiny walk in, bags of groceries in their arms, both laughing at something funny.
“Oh, Beth,” Imogen says, “I wasn’t expecting to see you around here ever again. ”
I don’t know her well enough to know if there are layers to what she’s saying, her tone could mean it in a sad way, or a sarcastic way, or honestly any other way. So I figure it’s best to keep my answer simple.
“Slim’s dropping me off at work later, I’m just here to make it easier for him.”
“Ah, well it’s nice to see you,” Destiny says, her smile seems genuine so it’s safe to assume she means that.
I go back to writing while they take the groceries out to the kitchen area, assuming that will be all they say to me, they’re never very chatty when Ana isn’t here.
I’m surprised when Destiny comes back in with two beers in her hands, offering me one.
I shouldn’t, I’ve got work… but fuck it, I want a drink… so I accept it with a smile, “Thanks.”
“I’m sorry to hear about you and Diablo,” she says.
“Oh, you know about that?” I ask.
I don’t want to be talking about this with them, it’s weird knowing that they’ve both been with him. There’s no chance of changing the subject though when Imogen joins us at the table.
“I don’t know what shocked me more,” she says, “the fact that you got him to settle down in the first place, or the fact that you broke him so much he ended up getting his face smashed in at the Pit.”
Destiny winces at her words before saying, “That’s not fair.”
“What?” Imogen says, “I’m just saying what we’ve all been thinking. He spends a few minutes in a supply closet with her and suddenly we’re not good enough for him anymore.”
My brain is overwhelmed with the last few things she said, but I manage to ask, “Sorry, did you say his face was smashed in? ”
My chest is tight with the thought of him being hurt or doing something stupid because of me.
Destiny takes my hand. “He’s okay. Way before he even met you, he’d sometimes go to this place called the Pit, they do underground fights and stuff. He used to go because he was always so angry, it was where he could vent. I think this is just him falling back into a bad habit.”
“What?” I ask, “He’s pissed at me, so he purposefully went and got his face smashed in?”
“Well,” Imogen says, “it might not have been so bad, but your other boyfriend was there.”
I’m usually all for women supporting women, but the smug expression on her face is making me really want to punch her.
“Who are you talking about? I don’t have another boyfriend.”
“We know,” Destiny says, “Imogen’s just letting her jealousy out because not only did Diablo choose you, but Alejandro did too.”
“Wait, he fought Alejandro?”
I feel sick. Alejandro is both taller and bigger than Angel, definitely not a fair fight.
“Diablo won,” Destiny says, “and there’s no permanent damage, but… he did take a pretty good beating.”
“Shit,” I say, “but if they fought, why are they going to see them tonight? What if Alejandro wants to take revenge?”
“It’s okay,” Destiny says, “it’s all arranged; it’s a friendly visit so that they can patch things up.”
“Yeah,” Imogen says with a smile, but it’s definitely not kind. “Diablos Rojos are known for their hospitality. They’re just going to drink with the guys and fuck all the girls… until they’re friends again. ”
The tightness in my chest turns to stone, I know what goes on when clubs visit other clubs, the hospitality from the girls is all part of it.
But the thought of Angel being with someone else is too much.
We’re not together anymore, he doesn’t owe me anything, he has no reason to say no.
There’s no hiding it on my face, tears are already forming in my eyes.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Imogen says, the sweetness in her voice so fake it makes even Destiny’s features flash with anger. “I shouldn’t have even mentioned it; I’m sure Diablo will just say no.”
Destiny doesn’t meet my eyes, we both know that’s not likely, and that Imogen is just rubbing salt in my already sore wounds.
Diablo
The ride to see Diablos Rojos is just what I needed; after the fight last night, and with the open road ahead of me, I’m already starting to feel more like myself. Well, the self I used to be, before Elizabeth.
Their clubhouse is far enough away that we’ll either stay the night there or get a motel. Slim and Walrus stayed behind to look after the clubhouse and garage… and Elizabeth. So at least I don’t have to worry about her, wondering if she’s safe, and how she’s doing without me…
I mean, I already know how she’s doing without me; Imogen messaged and told me she’s doing just fine, she was even studying at the clubhouse like she did before all this happened.
It sounds like the last couple of months haven’t meant anywhere near as much to her as they did to me.
Fuck. I’m thinking about her again; it’s like I need to install an alarm in my brain that goes off every time she enters my thoughts, try to train myself out of it.
When we arrive at the Diablos Rojos clubhouse, we’re met by the entire club, which is huge compared to ours.
They’re based in a city bar so it’s easy for people to get there, and members from smaller factions often spend time there too.
I know I need to be on my best behavior; El Jefe has told me what’s expected of me; I need to swallow my pride and deal with it. And for the club, I’ll do that.
Alejandro is their Vice President, so he’s sitting at a table with their President, Pedro, and a couple of other guys, who Pedro waves off as we arrive. El Jefe and I take their seats.
“Thank you for having us,” El Jefe says, shaking both of their hands.
I take a moment to look over Alejandro; he looks like shit, but then so do I, we really did a number on each other.
“I appreciate the chance to come here and resolve things,” I say, also shaking their hands.