Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
STEVIE
Twenty minutes earlier. . .
I know that going to see Valarie to see if I could talk some sense into her was a risky move, but I felt like I needed to try.
Her house looks like it is ready to fall down; a car sits in the garden so rusted from being in the sun, you can no longer tell what model it is. Trash litters the lawn along with a broken patio set, beer cans, and bottles, along with some car parts.
Climbing out of my burnt orange 2021 Bronco, that I saved my ass off to buy, I tuck my cell phone into the back pocket of my shorts. As I am walking up the path the front door swings open, and Valarie steps out.
Dressed in cotton shorts and a tiny camisole top, she glares at me.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice is full of distain for me.
It hurts my heart that we drifted apart, and for some godforsaken reason she hates me.
“I wanted to come and see you. Explain to me why you are selling drugs, especially after what happened to Vinnie. You could get caught, Val, and be in prison like he is or hurt someone,” I start.
She scoffs, folding her arms.
“Why do you care? We are not friends anymore. You left me when I needed you.”
Now it is my time to scoff.
“Left you? Are you for real? It was you who pulled back from our friendship the second Logan started winning races. Once you got money in your pocket, and the attention of people you did not know, I was an afterthought. You only called or texted when you needed something.”
“Oh, bullshit. You hated that I got Logan. That he picked me.”
I roll my eyes to hide some of the truth to her words, but I never let it get in the way of our friendship like she did.
“This is not about Logan, it never was. You and Vinnie did something to make him leave, and I still do not know what that was, because you became all about the MC and the crew. Drugs and money was all you cared about. Then, Vinnie got busted and you dug yourself deeper instead of running away and doing something good with your life.”
“Oh, look at you, miss all high and mighty. You had your life planned out; all I had was my brother and look where he is. Logan left us, when he could have stuck around to help.”
My anger builds, my fists clench at my sides, as I am trying not to lash out as she steps down onto the grass to meet me. She is so close I can see the hate radiating through her narrowed eyes.
"Blaming Logan is bullshit. You and Vinnie made the choices that got you both mixed up with drug dealers and him locked up. That is all on you. You made your bed, and I hope that one day, you will face the consequences for what you are doing.”
“You self-righteous cunt.” She lunges for me and we fight.
I have never had a fight before in my life but I am not going to let her hit me without defending myself. My fist connects with her ribs, and she cries out, a growl ripping from her throat. She actually freaking growled at me like some wild animal.
She goes all bitchy mean girl, sinking her fingers into my hair, pulling, and swinging me around, and fuck that hurt. My scalps stings, so I need to get her off me. Pushing her to the ground, I get on top of her, dragging my nails along her arms.
We both pant and cry out with each hit. Her foot connects with my thigh and she flips us, trying to punch me in the face but I block her; thank you for the lessons, Aunt Cass.
“You bitch.”
“No, you are the bitch,” I snap back.
A hear the rumble of motorcycles but neither of us relent. We keep fighting. Someone shouts but I cannot make out what he is saying. Then I am swiftly lifted off her.
My arms flay, trying to kick her as I am dragged away.
“You fucking bitch. Always thinking you are better than me,” Val screams.
Is she for real? Then I snap, letting go of all the frustration.
“I am fucking better than you, you bitch. I earn my money the right way, not the way that could kill someone. I do not know who you are anymore,” I fire back.
My body feels heavy after my rant, added to the hits she got in. I feel the blood on my lip, but leave it, sighing as the fight leaves me.
“Cool it, baby.” I hear Logan as he holds her to his body.
Just like he used to.
So he is back with her.
My body goes stiff seeing it, but also hearing the familiar way he used to talk to her.
My chest goes tight the second I see them. My nose stings, and my throat thickens with everything I don’t want to feel. We are nothing, so it is stupid that I am feeling like this. She told me this would happen, and she was right—he came back for her.
That coffee date wasn’t real. It was just a need to him, or a chance to pry into Val for his club.
Men suck.
“Oh, fuck off, Logan.” Val struggles against Logan’s hold.
“Are you going to attack her again?” he asks her, and she shakes her head.
“Let me go,” she snaps.
“Someone had better tell me what the fuck is going on here?” The older guy’s voice is sharp, leaving no room for argument. I see the president patch on his cut, and sigh again.
“I do not answer to you. You can all leave my property and take this cunt with you.” I wince hearing someone I once considered a sister calling me that word.
My heart hurts for what we once were, and now we are done, complete strangers.
A large, tattooed arm slides around my shoulders, and the weight of it settles me. I lean into him without thinking. He seems safe, not that I am a good judge of character if my recent actions speak for me
All I want now is to go home and sink into a hot bath.
“Why were you here, Stevie? You said you and Val were done. Or was that just a lie?”
I can’t even form a response. I just stare at him, disbelief hollowing me out. He’s accusing me—me—when he’s the one who played me for information.
Fine. Screw him.
His brow creases, his mouth flattening with something that looks like regret, but it’s too late. My shoulders drop. She can have him. Whatever hold she has on him clearly never broke.
“Ohh, this is good. Is my ex-bestie trying to get my sloppy seconds? You do know that she pined after you in high school, right? She hated that I got to have you first.”
My hurt turns to anger and humiliation at hearing her out my crush on him.
“Shut up,” I scream, my body shaking with anger, which makes her laugh harder.
Pulling from the guy holding me, I mutter a thanks, and walk toward my car, leaving them to all do what they want to do; this does not involve me. My cheeks burn with humiliation, and my steps quicken out of anger.
“Stevie.” I hear Logan calling my name, mixed with Val’s laughter.
The sound makes me want to puke, but I breathe in deep and rush my steps. Reaching my car, I unlock it and climb in, but he stops me from closing the door.
“Let it go,” I growl deep in my throat.
“Talk to me? Why were you here?” His voice is softer now but it does nothing to ease my hurt.
“It doesn’t matter. Now, let the door go.” I try again but he holds firm.
I can sense the agitation coming off him. Well, he can join the freaking club because I am pissed and ready to blow this place and get home to lock myself away and forget this day ever happened.
“It doesn’t matter? Fucking hell, Stevie, you told me that you two never talk anymore and here you are— at her home, fighting with her.”
“Yeah, like you lied to me. You told me that you were single, yet you are back with her.” It slips out before I can stop it.
Shaking my head, I pull the door again, and fail to close it.
“I am not with her.”
“Yeah. Whatever; thanks for clearing that up. Can I go now?” I try to sound indifferent but he sees through it.
“I am not with her.” His voice is sturdy and firm. “Why were you fighting with her?”
“Why does it matter?” He gives me a look that says he still wants an answer. “I came to talk to her, things got heated, she attacked me. Now can I go? You got what you wanted, Crash.” I see a flinch when I use his club name, but right now I do not care.
His hand drops from my car door with a sigh, so I take the opportunity to pull it closed, and then start the engine.
With one more look out the window, I see Logan standing there with his hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans, something he used to do in high school. His shoulders are hunched up as he watches me.
My teeth sink into my bottom lip to fight off the tears that want to run free, so I drive off, not letting him see how upset I really am.
On my drive home I blink away the images of Logan holding Val again, of him calling her ‘baby’ like he used to. He says that are not together but fuck, it sure looked like it.
Arriving home, I park in the drive next to my aunt’s Volkswagen Beetle, her pride and joy. Climbing out, I wince as my body twinges in pain from the fight. As far as my first fight goes, I think I got a few good hits in.
Pushing through the front door, I hear the familiar clacking of Glory’s claws as she runs to me.
“Oh, my sweet baby. I missed you.” I run my fingers through her fur, her tongue lapping at my face, making me giggle, but she whines knowing that something is wrong.
She makes everything feel better. Glory came to me when she was ten weeks old. She was taken by a family who did not know how big she was going to get, so I offered to take her instead. My aunt loved that I got her.
My aunt calls out as I stand up.
“Stevie, is that you?”
“Yeah. Coming.” I drop my purse on the chair as I pass, and go to the kitchen where I know I will find my aunt. No doubt baking or stirring some herbal concoction.
The house smells heavenly, and it intensifies as I step into the kitchen.
“Now, that smells good.” Glory walks over to her chair at the kitchen table and jumps up. She is spoiled.
She must hear the little wobble in my voice, as she spins around, the smile dropping from her face.
“What happened? Who do I need to chase down and poison?” A laugh mixed with a sob breaks free.
She wipes her hands as she comes toward me, then pulls me into her arms. She smells of lavender and it makes me feel safe and loved. While she holds me, I tell her everything, letting all the words escape me so they do not fester.
If there’s one thing we’ve always lived by, it’s not letting emotions fester, because they rot and make things ugly. “I am sorry, my girl. It is sad what has happened to Valarie, but that is not on you, it was her choices that led her down this path.” All I do is nod.
“Do you need any help?” I ask, gesturing at the bubbling pans on the stove .
“You could open my jars for me, they have finished sterilizing.” I offer her a smile.
I have always loved helping her with her home business. Breathing in the herbs was soothing, and thanks to Cass, my skin cleared up. I used to struggle with dry skin, but not anymore—her creams fixed that.
We would go to garden centers and buy flowers and plants, and I hated the way people would look at her, like she was some freak or a witch. Then her online business blew up, and then they showed her respect.
In true Aunt Cassandra style, she never let their looks or comments get to her.
I wish I were more like her: a strong, independent woman.
For the last three years she has been dating this guy, Cale, and he is just as amazing as my aunt is; we get along just fine.
He is the coach over at the high school.
“So, Logan, huh?” She nudged my shoulders with her.
“Yeah, Logan.”
“My girl, I know how you felt about him, and I think that you still feel something. You are forgetting, I saw you when he walked into the coffee shop.”
I sigh. “He is back for her. So there is no need to get my hopes up when it comes to him. Men suck.” I sulk, making her laugh.
“Any man would be lucky to have you, baby. He chose her over you back then, and if he does it again, then he is not the man I want for you.”
Her words sink in and I understand. My last two boyfriends were crappy men— one cheated on me with the girl who makes his slushies for him at the gas station.
The latest one, well, let’s say that he thought I could do better with my life and tried to get me to quit my job.
He even went as far as emailing my boss and telling him that I wanted to quit, but did not have the balls to do it myself.
Dumped his ass quick, sharp. Cleaning my hands, I kiss my aunt’s cheek.
“I think I am going to have a hot bath and have a date night with Optimus and Ironhide.” That makes her smile.
“Go, and do you, my girl. Maybe flick the bean; that will help you relax.”
“Ohmygod,” I mumble as I rush from the room.
“Nothing wrong with masturbation, Stevie,” she calls after me.
Dear lord, that woman has zero filter. She is all about freedom of speech and love. I remember when we had the birds and the bees talk; that was one awkward conversation, and she did not dumb it down for me. Told me straight about sex and babies.
Glory jumps onto my bed as we enter my room, and I head into the bathroom.
Running my hot bath when I get into my bathroom, adding some muscle salts and bubble bath, I strip from my clothes and take in the bruises that are left on my body from the fight. Licking my lip, I wince when the cut stings. I had forgotten about that.
There is a line of blood dried on my chin. Tears flood my eyes thinking over how hateful Val was toward me.
Once my bath is ready, the room is filled with sweet smelling steam from the salts and bubbles, and I drop into the water. Sinking in, I groan, letting the heat of the water soak in and do its job.
Pushing away any thoughts of what happened today, I wash the day off. Refusing to feel down or let anything add any negativity to my energy.
My hands smooth over my body, rubbing in the soap. My hand slips between my legs, and the heat from the water and my frustration make my clit tingle.
Maybe my aunt is right and an orgasm will help.