Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
GOOSE
Keeping my distance, I watch as Lainey and Cidney leave the room. Cidney is in a wheelchair, being pushed by a nurse of some kind. She looks tired and bruised but beautiful, nonetheless.
Seeing her after being away from her is like a balm to my soul. I shouldn’t be thinking like that. It’s selfish, I know it is, but I never said I was a selfless person. Very opposite, actually.
Her head swivels from side to side, no doubt looking for me. George Edwards likely told her I was here, and I don’t give a fuck if he did. I’ve got a bone to pick with his ass anyway, so he’s more than welcome to come have a chat with me.
Once they’re loaded onto the elevator, I push off the wall around the corner where I’ve been hiding and make my way toward the staircase.
I already know where Cidney and Lainey are going, and I know that Piggy had Lainey’s place outfitted years ago, with every fucking square inch of the perimeter having cameras.
There isn’t a single blind spot, not even one.
Same goes with the bakery. The only time Lainey can’t be seen is in her car or inside her own apartment. Although at this point, I’m not sure it would be a bad idea if the interior of her place were under surveillance, too.
I hear my name being called as I reach for the door handle that leads to the staircase. Turning my head, I watch as George moves toward me. He stops in front of me, and I slowly shift completely around to face him.
We stare at one another for a long moment, then he shakes his head once, clearing his throat as he breaks the silence and stare.
“I wanted to let you know to be gentle with her. She’s been through a lot.”
I almost laugh, but this isn’t funny. Actually, nothing about this situation is funny. Not the way she was treated, and not the fact that they fucked. I know they did. I’m not sure if he realizes I know, but I’m not going to hold it against either of them. Not unless he makes me.
“I know exactly what she went through, Edwards. I had cameras in her place just in case she was in danger, and she was.”
His eyes widen, and his face turns ashen. Yeah, he may have seen the evidence of what happened to Cidney, but I watched that shit play out. Every fucking second of it. And I can’t get it to stop playing on repeat inside my head. Over and fucking over, no matter how hard I try to forget.
“There was a thing, a fling, really,” he murmurs.
“I know,” I grind out, trying not to get pissed, but he’s bringing it up.
He clears his throat again. “I care about her, but it wasn’t more than that. I just… I wanted you to know.”
I release all of my anger because, really, I can’t be mad at him. I need to be angry at myself for not claiming her. For not telling Ivy to go to hell and just suffering whatever consequence Bullet divvied out to me.
“I got her, George. Thank you for taking care of her here.”
He dips his chin in a single nod, then clears his throat before he flicks his gaze back to meet mine. “She still has the receptionist job with me if she wants it. But I respect you, Trent, and there won’t be anything funny. I just wanted to put that out there.”
Fuck. Why the fuck is he so goddamn nice? If the tables were turned, or if he wanted to fight me for Cidney, I would be goddamn ruthless. I would fight dirty. Down and goddamn dirty. But not George Edwards.
“You know there’s always a place for you at the club. You’ll always be one of ours.”
He gives me a small smile, then shakes his head a couple of times. “The life isn’t for me,” he murmurs.
I almost laugh in his face, because I know it is.
It’s simmering just beneath the surface, and one day, he’s going to come to terms with it.
One day. Not sure when, but it’ll happen, and even though I could beat the shit out of him right now for having fucked Cidney, I know it’s not on him.
It’s on me. And I would always welcome George Edwards with open fucking arms.
“Call me if you need anything with Cidney. You got my number?” he asks.
“I do.”
Leaving him standing at the door to the stairs, I tug it open and head down. It doesn’t take me long to descend the stairs. When I walk outside, I look to the circular drive, where patients are released to their rides home, and watch as Lainey’s car moves forward.
Jogging toward my bike, I climb on, straddling the seat before the engine roars to life, then I head straight for my woman. Following at a distance behind Lainey, I stop when I’m at her apartment building.
I don’t pull into the parking garage, knowing that if I do, the sound of my bike will be too loud and unmistakable to hide. Instead, I ride down the street, turn around, and park across from the building.
By the time I pull up to the sidewalk and focus my attention across the street, they are out of the car, and I watch as the two of them slowly make their way toward the entrance to the building.
Lainey turns her head, her eyes finding mine.
She holds my gaze for a moment, but she’s too far away for me to be able to read her.
When they slip inside, I stay where I am for a little longer.
I don’t know what I’m waiting for, but when my phone buzzes in my pocket, I take it out, glancing at the screen to see that it’s Bullet.
“Bullet,” I greet.
“Change of plans. Can you get down here now?”
“On my way.”
Without another word, I end the call and head straight for the clubhouse. I probably should have asked him why he wants me down there immediately, but I don’t care. The sooner all this shit is dealt with, the fucking better.
And that includes Ivy. I am ready to deal with him fully and completely.
It’s his fault any of this happened, and I’m going to make damn sure he knows that.
Feels it deep in his fucking marrow. And then I’m going to tell him that I’m claiming Cidney and he can’t stop me, no matter how he feels about it.
CIDNEY
“I feel like I’m taking advantage,” I say as I sink down on the sofa cushion.
Lainey’s couch is the most comfortable piece of furniture I have ever sat on in my life. Closing my eyes, I let out a moan. It’s almost like it envelopes me, like a warm hug without anyone having to touch me.
“That couch is heaven, right?” Lainey asks from across the room.
I can’t even open my eyes to look at her. I am just that ensconced in this damn couch. Pressing my lips together, I force my eyes open. Lainey is smiling, then she clears her throat and moves toward the chair that’s to the side of the couch.
“It’s one of those couches in a box. A cloud sofa thing. And it’s all memory foam. I seriously was influenced by some social media ads, and thank God for it, because I love it.”
My lips curve up into a smile. “It’s the best sofa I’ve sat on, and I say that in all seriousness, not just because I’ve spent days in a hospital bed.”
Lainey laughs softly, then leans forward slightly.
Her gaze searches mine, and I can tell that she’s going to be serious.
She’s got something to say, and I don’t know if I’m going to like it, but I decide that whatever it is, I know it’s going to come from a place of love, of care, and I’m going to take it as that and nothing negative.
“You’re not taking advantage, Cidney. You can stay here forever if you want, or just a night. It doesn’t matter. I just want you to heal, inside and out. And if you need to have someone with you, if you want to stay here and do that, I’m good with it.”
I almost ask her why she’s being so nice to me, but then I don’t because I realize that I would do the exact same thing if the tables were reversed. I would let Lainey stay with me for as long as she needed. She’s being the friend I know and love. The friend I need.
“I appreciate that so much,” I whisper. “More than you could ever know.”
“And when you want to talk, when you’re ready, I’m here for that, too.”
Reaching out, I hold my hand out, palm facing up. She places her hand in mine, and together, we squeeze. We stay that way for a moment, then my hand falls away as she stands to her feet.
“That’s it,” Lainey calls out. “We’re ordering delivery and watching girlie movies. What do you want to eat?”
I grin because that sounds amazing, but also, it’s not like many places deliver, mainly because there aren’t many places to even eat here. So, the only one I know of is pizza. And that sounds amazing.
“Pizza?” I ask.
Lainey returns my grin. “Pizza, garlic cheesy bread, salad, and I have some brownies I made for us.”
Yes.
“I really should be offering you soup or something more comforting, and maybe we can do that tomorrow, but today, we’ll have pizza.”
I snort. “Pizza is just as comforting as soup, maybe more so. Pizza and movies. I think I just fell in love with you, Lainey Rose.”
She laughs as she pulls her phone out to place the order.
A few moments later, we’ve ordered enough food to feed a whole family.
But there’s something comforting in that, too, having the scents of delicious food, and having plenty of it, too.
I know it shouldn’t matter, but there were many times when I was sick or just feeling down as a kid, and nothing was comforting, not even a hot meal.
It doesn’t take us long to find a good show. Instead of something we’ve both seen, we decide to start a show that neither of us has ever watched before. It’s a period drama, and I remember everyone going crazy for it, but I didn’t watch it when it came out.
I’m not even sure why.
Now there are three seasons to get lost in, and so we start watching a show about Queen Charlotte and King George, which has some amazing freaking music.