Chapter 4
Chapter Four
As I round the corner, I’m stopped in my tracks by whiskey eyes waltzing toward me. His brows are furrowed, and tension ripples off him in waves.
I would almost swear the hallways was getting smaller if I didn’t know better. But suddenly he’s filled the entire space.
“Can we talk for a minute,” Tucker murmurs.
Gabe flicks a brow at me over his shoulder before passing Tucker and continuing down the hall.
I nod.
He tilts his head down to look at me. “Are you okay? You’ve been weird all night.”
“Yeah. I’m fine.” I force a smile, my voice coming out squeaky.
The idea of breaking up with him makes me want to cry.
That’s probably a sign not to do it, right?
Maybe I should take Shane’s advice and just tell him I need to slow down.
It’s not like I don’t care about him. I do.
I just don’t want to jump in with both feet yet.
But how long until I do? Eventually, he’s going to want to move forward—how long am I expecting him to wait?
Those are probably questions I needed the answers to before this conversation.
He eyes me suspiciously and huffs a laugh. “I don’t know what’s going on here. We were fine when you left my place last night, and now it’s like you can’t wait to get away from me.”
I sigh before opening and closing my mouth like a fish as I try and fail to find the right words.
“Lily! What’s up with you?” he barks, but it doesn’t come out mean, just… concerned?
“I… I mean you—” I run a hand over my forehead before deciding to just spit it out. “You told me you love me.”
His brows pinch. “What?”
“Last night.”
He shakes his head, a crease still settled between his brows. “Okay?”
“Well, that’s kind of a big deal, don’t you think?”
“Why would it be?” His posture shifts, and he crosses his arms over his chest.
I cock my head, my mouth popping open, but words escape me all over again.
“I do love you, Lily. I don’t get why that’s a problem.”
“We haven’t even been dating that long. It just seems a little fast, don’t you think?”
“We’ve been together for months.”
I scoff. “Okay? Well, that’s not really that long.”
“I mean, I guess. Look, I didn’t realize it was that big of a deal.” He puts his hands up, but there’s a bite in his tone when he says, “I won’t say it again until you’re ready.”
I groan. Out loud. As soon as the noise leaves my lips, I slap a hand over my mouth.
He stares at me puzzled.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to sound like that. It’s not—It’s just… uh… well… I don’t ever want you to say it.” I wince.
He rears back. “What?”
My shoulders slump. This is probably the worst way to have this talk. Good job, Lil.
“I mean, not for a long time at least.” God, why’s it so hot in here? “I really like you. It’s not that. I just… I love my life in Ravens Ridge.”
He nods and takes a step back to lean against the wall, his jaw clenching.
“This is all just moving a little too fast for me. I’m still young. I don’t want to settle down yet. Maybe one day, but not yet.”
He scowls, his chest rising a little faster and his fists balling at his sides. “You know, the guys warned me about you. They said you’d do this, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt because I genuinely liked you.”
The change in his voice catches me off guard.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Don’t insult me by pretending I’m moving too fast. You just don’t want to give up your fuck buddy.”
My jaw drops, and I half-laugh. “Excuse me?”
“This is about Gabe, right?” He runs a hand over his mouth and lifts his face to the ceiling.
“Of course, it is. It’s always about him.
” When he returns his attention to me, he’s glaring.
“You know, you two could just fucking be together and save the rest of us the trouble of dealing with your bullshit.”
I stand there, stunned for a moment before my thoughts finally come all the way back around into my head.
Blinking a few times, I smile as I say, “I’m really glad we had this talk. Now, I can leave this with no regrets.”
He scoffs. “I’m sure you are. Now you can go back to being a pathetic club bunny.”
I reel back. I’m no stranger to that insult. Usually, I let it roll off my back because I know better.
Also, most of the guys sleep around way more than I do, but no one calls them out on it. The only reason I’m looked down on is because I’m a woman. I don’t accept that. If there’s nothing wrong with what they do, then there’s nothing wrong with me doing it either.
But hearing him say it stings a little more than I wish it did.
Before I can say a word, a dark presence appears behind me. The hair on the back of my neck stands as a deep timbre booms, “What the fuck did you just call her?”
I didn’t realize Gabe was still here, listening. My heart rate skyrockets because this is about to get ugly.
Tucker scowls. “Don’t puff your goddamn chest at me. She’s all yours.”
He tries to brush past, heading back the way he came, but Gabe grabs his arm. His fingers dig into my now-ex-boyfriend’s arm and his top lip twitches.
Tucker grits his teeth.
The corner of Gabe’s mouth tips up in that smirk he does so well. “You seem to be confused about who Lily is.”
“The only thing I was confused about was our relationship. I thought she was my girlfriend, but she actually never stopped being your whore.”
Gabe slams him into the wall as the poison leaves his lips.
“You’re skating on very fucking thin ice.”
Shane comes out of the bathroom down the hall and stops when he sees the scene playing out before me.
Tucker bares his teeth. “And you’re a piece of shit. You couldn’t find someone else? Or you just get off on fucking around with someone else’s girl?”
“And that’s where you’re wrong.” Gabe’s grin twists into something that looks like the Chesire cat. “She was never your girl.”
Tucker laughs. “What is it they say? Can’t turn a hoe—”
He cuts off as Gabe’s forehead slams into his nose.
“Goddamn it,” Shane mutters, rushing them.
Tucker shoves Gabe back and swings, but Gabe dodges it. He grabs Tucker around the legs, taking them both to the ground.
Curses and fists fly as Shane attempts to pull Gabe off of him. The commotion must be loud enough to be heard from the clubhouse because people file into the hall to see what’s going on.
JT pushes through the crowd and yanks Gabe back, shoving him into the wall.
Tucker’s vice president, Jack, finally makes his way to the center where Tucker’s still on the ground. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Gabe presses his lips into a tight line, sucks in a breath, and spits on the ground. “You should warn your guys about insulting our girls.”
Jack shoots a glare at Tucker, who’s just getting to his feet, wiping blood from his lip.
Before he can say anything, Jack says, “This is done.” Then, he gestures for his guys to pack it up.
Gabe steps in front of him, placing a hand on the mans arm. “It’ll be done when I say it’s done, and that motherfucker owes Lily an apology.”
Tucker laughs like it’s absurd.
“It’s fine,” I say placing a hand on Gabe’s biceps.
He shakes his head, jerking out of my grip. “He apologizes, or I talk to your president about both of your patches.”
My eyes widen. That’s dramatic.
It’s not a threat that any of them take lightly. But the Ravens Ridge Riders are the biggest club in the state, and Gabe’s the president of the first chapter. He’s not someone people fuck with.
Jack sighs before turning back to Tucker.
Tucker gapes at him. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Gabe crosses his arms over his chest and lifts his chin.
Jack nods. “You hit a fucking president, dipshit. You’re gonna be lucky if you keep your patch at all.”
Tucker rolls his eyes, his lip curling as he stares at them for a moment. His nostrils flair with every breath.
When he finally speaks, his teeth don’t part, and the words sound like they’re bitter on his tongue. “I’m sorry, Lily.”
Then, he storms away down the hall and out of sight.
Gabe’s jaw ticks, but he nods before stomping back to his office and slamming the door behind him.
Jack and the rest of their guys file out, none of them glancing in my direction.
I roll my lips under and a sharp breath leaves me as I fall back into the wall and close my eyes. What a nightmare.
“You good?”
My eyes pop open to find JT and Shane standing beside me.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
JT sighs, pats my arm, and heads back to the club without another word. Shane winks as he follows.
It’s not lost on me that had I just dealt with it earlier, things probably wouldn’t have ended like this.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m more hassle for the boys than anything.
I know they always have my back, and they never once complain, but tonight would have been better for all of them if I hadn’t been involved.
My eyes sting, but I suck it back.
Once I collect myself, I can hear the bar calling my name.
By the time I make it down the hall, my shoulders are square and my back’s straight.
The party in the clubhouse hasn’t slowed despite Tucker’s club leaving.
I push through the crowd and slide onto a stool at the bar, Colette leans next to me.
“You alright?”
And that’s how quickly word travels in this place. No doubt in the ten minutes since Tucker left, everyone has heard about the fight in the hallway.
I nod, waving a hand in the air. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cause a fuss.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” She laughs, rubbing my back. “That wasn’t your fault. Plus, you have no idea how many times I’ve raised a little hell around here.”
I smile, taking my drink from one of the bartenders.
She pats between my shoulders. “Don’t you ever let anyone make you feel like you’re less than you are; us girls are the heart of this place. You’re important for many reasons, none of which have anything to do with who’s bed you’re in at night.”
A lump forms in my throat, but I manage to choke out, “Thank you.”
She winks before catching a glimpse of Gabe as he enters the room. Her eyes glitter. “Jon would be so proud of him.”
I look at him over my shoulder. “I think so, too.”
“Are you sure you two can’t…” She raises her eyebrows. “I do want grandbabies one day.”
“I’m sure.” I laugh. “He’ll find someone. He’s too good not to.”
“He’s not ready,” she says, but it sounds more like a question.
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
Taking my drink, I head toward the boys.
Katie bumps my hip and smiles when I move to stand beside her but doesn’t actually say anything.
I can almost feel the weight lifting off my chest.
Nik pulls out her phone and holds it up in front of her and Shane, squealing, “Happy New Year!”
As she talks excitedly to the other woman on the phone, Gabe’s jaw ticks, and he turns away from them, focusing his attention on setting up the game of pool he previously had no intention of playing.
His chest rises and falls in sharp burst. I run my hand down his back and smile.
“You good?” he asks.
I nod. “You?”
His brows pinch. “Yeah?”
I give him a knowing look, and he rolls his eyes.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re full of shit, but alright.” I take a deep breath. “Thanks for… you know.”
His mouth tips up. “Always. No one talks shit about you but me.”
I shove his shoulder. “Shut up.”
His arm wraps around me, and he pulls me to him. “Who knows where you’d be without me here to scare off all the losers you drag in.”
I laugh, letting my head fall back.
“You might be married with a half-a-dozen tiny losers by now.”
I swat him. “Fuck right off!”
“I’m serious! You really owe me one.”
My brows shoot up. “No, sir. You owe me. Who would you call if you didn’t have me to pretend to be your girlfriend and shoo away all the clingers?”
“Oh, I’ve been dealing with that since long before you came along, babe. I’d figure it out.”
I wrap my arms around his middle and breathe in his crisp woody scent. He barricades me into his chest with his arms around me and presses his mouth to the top of my head.
Someone starts counting down before everyone else joins in. Letting him go, I turn to look out at my chosen family.
JT stands with his arms slung around Katie with the biggest grin on his face before picking her up and wrapping her legs around his waist. Nik sits on Shane’s lap, staring down at him. Theo’s at the bar next to his parents and Colette with a smile painted on his face.
“3…”
This is where I belong.
“2…”
This is my home.
“1…”
I’m startled when Gabe pulls me to him with a big palm on the back of my head before crashing his lips into mine.
It’s soft, and he tastes like nicotine, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
He pulls back with a grin. “Happy New Year, Lil.”
I rest my head on his chest and hug him tightly. “Happy New Year, asshole.”