12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
I peer out the door. It’s early, and the clubhouse is quiet.
The hallways are empty. I glance back to where Gray snores in his bed.
I’d meant to leave once the party died down, but at some point, we both fell asleep.
I don’t know where my panties disappeared to, and I can only find one of my shoes.
I don’t want to turn on the light and wake him up.
I slip my shorts on sans underwear and make my way down the hall to the community closet in search of socks or flip-flops.
Anything that will take the place of my boots.
Gray can get them to me later. I want to get home before Grannie Mags realizes I never made it home last night.
Not because she cares if I stay out on a Friday night, but the woman is nosy and can sense a lie before you even think it up.
I find a pair of cheapies that came from a dollar store, but they will last long enough to get me home. I drop them on the floor and slide my feet into them and spin around and nearly jump out of my skin when I bump into Madz.
She laughs at the yelp that leaves my throat.
“You scared the shit out of me.”
“That’s the same clothes you were wearing last night.”
“So what if they are?”
“Gray took you to his room.” It’s a statement, not a question. She understands the gravity of him letting me sleep in his room. I don’t tell her that I’ve spent the night with him at his dad’s. No need to rub salt in the wound. “It’s good to know he has feelings in there somewhere.”
“He’s a complicated guy.”
“That’s for sure.”
“Are you doing okay? I know Smoke and Ember got back together.”
“I wasn’t really interested in him. We both only wanted a good time. You don’t have to worry about me with Gray. I get it. You’re the one he wants, and I’m happy for you. I mean that. I’m nearly over him.”
We both know it’s a lie. You don’t just simply get over a guy like Braxton Gray.
“Well, if you ever want to talk, I’ll be around.”
“I’ll remember that.”
I peek back in at Gray before I leave. I want to trust him, but I also know his track record. And I want to believe that Madz is really cool with me, but we aren’t at the rally anymore and we’re back to real life.
She doesn’t have the distraction of Smoke anymore, and if there’s one thing I know from growing up around the club, girls like her are really never your friend. It was nice to pretend in California.
“What are you during lurking in my doorway,” Gray mutters, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
“Making sure the coast is clear.” It isn’t a complete lie.
“What time is it?”
“Early. Go back to sleep.”
“Well, I’m awake now.” He grins a sleepy grin at me. “Let me treat you to breakfast.”
“If you offer your dick as sausage, I’m going to cut it off.”
“You’d miss it too much.”
I roll my eyes.
“Give me ten and I’ll meet you at Big Stacks.”
After Gray and I just happened to bump into each other for pancakes, I went home and took the world’s longest shower.
Grannie Mag left me a note that she drove to Fayetteville with one of her friends to go to the Yarn Barn for quilting supplies.
Gray had some stuff to do for the club, but I’m sure I’ll run into him if I go by the clubhouse later.
I normally don’t go on Saturday nights because it’s more of a members-only type night where more of the hangarounds show up for a good time.
I made the mistake of walking in on an orgy once. Thankfully, none of my brothers were in attendance, and if Gray was there, I didn’t see him. I’ve never asked. I don’t want to know. Seeing him with Kaylene was hard enough.
I don’t think there’s been anyone I’ve hated more than her. Not even Faye. Only because she’s never fucked Gray. She’s probably tried, but he wouldn’t have her cunt ass.
The way things look between my brother and Jessika Faye is well on her way out. With any luck, she will go back home to California. I can’t wait to say good riddance.
I spend most of my day catching up on my laundry and doing odd chores to help out around the house.
There’s been times I’ve thought about renting an apartment in town, but I hate the thought of leaving Grannie Mags to live on her own.
She’s always had one of us living at home.
She’s not getting any younger, even though she is in better shape than some of the ol’ ladies that are half her age.
She’s all the time doing something or going somewhere.
The woman can’t sit still. She loves to have a project.
She’s all the time volunteering to do things around the community.
Whether it’s organizing a bake sale or hosting her quilting club.
Not to mention she’s always cooking or baking. I don’t know how she does it all.
I’m exhausted thinking about the way the woman is always doing so much.
She probably wouldn’t miss me if I did get a place.
I’ve always dreamed of marrying Gray and us building a place of our own near Woods on the family property.
So we could raise our kids together. That is if either of us ever has any.
My brothers loved to pick on me. To be fair, I was always bugging the shit out of them.
But I want my kids to have that. To grow up with family. I want them to have everything I had and more. I want to make it happen while I still have my Grannie Mags. I can’t imagine bringing a kid into this world without her. I want Gray to claim me. To make me his in every way that matters.
My cell goes off with a call from Fletcher. He rarely calls me.
“Hello brother.”
“This isn’t a social call. I’m calling on official business.”
“Okay.” I roll my eyes. “What can I do for you, Sherrif?”
“I’m at the hospital.”
My heart sinks. “It’s not Grannie Mags, is it?” I check the time.
“No, she’s fine. I saw her at the diner in town about an hour ago. She was having supper with Mr. Sullivan.”
“Oh. Good. Did Dirty do something to revoke his parole already?”
“I’d tell you why I’m calling if you’d stop asking questions.”
“Right. Sorry.”
“I need you to come to the hospital. There’s a woman from California here who claims she’s a friend of yours.”
“Jessika,” I mutter, confused. “I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks for coming.”
“Of course. Is she okay? What’s going on?”
“I was hoping you could answer that.”
“She was found near the lake. Says she had an argument with a friend named Gabbie. Do you know this Gabbie?”
“She hangs around the clubhouse sometimes. You know the type.”
“Do you have a phone number for her or a last name?”
“Is Jessika in trouble?”
“No. I’m just trying to corroborate her story.”
“I’ll talk to her and find out what’s going on.”
“Right,” he mutters. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Sure. Whatever you need, Sherrif.” I grin at him, and he sighs.
The second he’s gone, I call Woods.
“So, hey I’m at the hospital with Jessika. She gave Fletcher some story about Gabbie taking off and leaving her stranded out by the lake.”
“I’m on my way,” he grumbles.
“Girl, what the hell happened to you? You look like you got into a fight with a tree and got smacked by every branch.”
“Long story.”
“Woods will be here soon. What were you doing with Gabbie of all people?”
“We were supposed to go shopping and ended up at some hunting cabin to buy weed.”
“I mean that sounds like something stupid Gabbie would do,” I tell her, but there’s a lot of gaps in her story that don’t make sense.
After she talks to Woods, I get the real story.
Faye had Gabbie lure Jessika out to the woods, where she attacked her and left her for dead, basically.
That’s low even for trash like Faye.
I know my brother will handle it. Maybe this will be the final straw, and he’ll get rid of her for good. He took off to find Faye the second he knew Jessika was okay and going to be released. He sent Gray to follow us back to the clubhouse.
He’s not said much since he showed up, but when I’m about to get into my truck, he pulls me off to the side. “Are you going to stay with me again tonight?”
“Do you want me to?”
“I asked, didn’t I?”
“Shut up.” I push at his chest, and he draws me in for a kiss.
“You’re such a brat.”
“You seem to like it.”
He slaps my ass as I walk away. When I get into the driver’s side, Jessika smirks at me.
“How long have you and Gray been a couple?”
Heat floods my cheeks. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You’re not fooling anyone. Especially not me. I see the way you two look at each other. How you trade smiles and touches when you think no one is watching.”
“I’ll tell you about Gray when you are honest with me about your relationship with my brother.”
“Things with him are complicated. I doubt there will be an us to discuss. Not after tonight. There’s too much standing between us.” She looks out the passenger window, appearing sad.
“If it’s Faye that you’re worried about, you shouldn’t be. He doesn’t love her. He’s tried, but he married for club politics. We were all surprised when he put a ring on her finger. Everyone hates her. And after today, I doubt she will be in the picture at all.”
“It doesn’t matter. I just found out I’m pregnant.”
My mouth drops. “Holy shit. Congrats. I think.”
“I’m pregnant by my husband who wants me dead. Even if Faye wasn’t in the picture, he’s not going to want me. Why should he? I’m more trouble than he needs. I come with a lot of baggage. Too much trouble. Between Thad and now, this baby. That’s a lot for anyone.”
“Those few days on the road... I’d never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. It was like watching love at first sight happen. I can tell he cares a lot about you. Your situation isn’t ideal, I’ll give you that, but Woods takes care of the people he cares about. He’s loyal to them.”
“You don’t have to sing his praises to me.”
“I know.”
“So, about you and Gray...”
“Don’t tell my brother.”
“Why?”
“Gray is ten years older than me and his best friend. My brother doesn’t think anyone is good enough for me.”
“I’m sure if you talked to him, he’d understand.”
“It’s not just Woods. Gray has his own hangups.”
“Men.”
“Exactly. Can’t live with them. Can’t live without them.”
I sigh and park at the clubhouse.
Jessika goes in and I lurk on the front porch waiting for Gray to park.
“Hey.” He shoves his hands into his front pockets, digging around for something.
“Hey yourself.”
He pulls out his lighter and cigarettes. “Tough day, huh?” He lights one up.
“Strange day. I can’t believe Faye. I mean, I can, but...”
“No shit.”
“Did you know about my brother and Jessika?”
“Babe, I don’t think he’s been trying to keep it a secret.”
Unlike us. I leave that fact unspoken, but I can tell he picks up on it. I almost tell him about Jessika’s baby, but I don’t want to spread her business around. Not even to Gray. She’s going through enough as it is.
“You coming in with me?”
I let out a yawn. “I think we should call it a night while we're ahead. Woods is here.”
“So what?”
“What if he sees me going to your room?”
“I’m going to talk to him.”
“Really?” My belly goes all warm and melty.
“Not right now or anything, but soon.”
“I’ve waited this long for you, Braxton Gray.”
“I know,” he flicks his cigarette into the grass.
I want to tell him to just do it now. I don’t want to wait, but my brother is probably finding out the chick he’s leaving his wife for is having another man’s baby. And on top of that, his wife kidnapped her today.
He’s had enough.
“Maybe give it a few days.”
“What do you know that I don’t?”
I chew on my thumbnail. “It’s not my information to share.”
He licks his bottom lip. “Bet I can tease it out of you.”
“You can try.”