Chapter 18
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Julie
“What do you mean you have it handled?” Liz snaps, making me sigh.
I rub my brow as I try to pick my words carefully. “I’ll handle Ray. You don’t need to worry about it.”
Liz paces. “But I do worry, and I am worried. That wasn’t right! He just barged in here, Julie, and if I didn’t know better, I would think that you don’t see his issues as a problem.”
“What he did was wrong, I’m not denying that or trying to downplay it. What I’m asking you to do is trust me,” I plead.
“Yeah, well, I don’t really trust you right now. You aren’t making the best choices,” she snaps.
Her words hit me so hard, I can’t help but gasp.
Regret crosses her face, and she squeezes her eyes shut. “Jules, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“But I think you did,” I say quietly.
“Look, I’m worried, okay? So much has changed recently.
Something happened the night you met Yak that you haven’t told me about, don’t even try to deny it.
All of a sudden, you’re dating a biker and marked as his old lady, which is basically a marriage.
Now when a cop busts into your place looking for something, you don’t think it’s a big deal and don’t want to call your dad?
I don’t like it,” she rants. “I’m the one who acts like this, so the fact that you are has me scared to death. ”
I step forward and grab onto her hands. “I know you love me and you’re just looking out for me.
Trust me, I get it. I’ve worried about you for years, and now roles are reversed.
It’s jarring, I know, but I need you to trust me.
I know what I’m doing. I just need you to believe me when I say things are handled. Now, I need you to go.”
“Go? Why do I need to leave? See, this just proves you are hiding shit,” she snaps.
“I need you to go because Yak is coming and he’s going to want to talk.”
She scoffs. “So what? I’m being kicked out because your man is coming over? Do you not realize how fucked up that is?”
“It’s not that,” I groan.
“Besides, how do you know he’s on the way? Did you text him when I wasn’t looking or something?”
I want to tell her about the cameras but keep my mouth shut.
This is too much. It’s all becoming too much.
How in the hell did things get so twisted?
“Jules…”
Before she can finish her sentence, there’s a knock on the door. One I recognize as Yak’s.
Stepping away from her, I move and answer the door.
“Hey, Angel, you okay?” he asks as he pulls me into a hug as soon as he steps inside.
“Better now,” I murmur into his chest, for only him to hear.
“What the hell is going on? What did you do? Why are the cops barging in here?” Liz snaps, peppering him with questions.
“First of all, I need you to lower your goddamn voice and chill the fuck out. Second, I didn’t do shit,” he growls.
“Language,” I scold, but they both ignore me.
“Yeah? Are you sure about that? Because before you, cops didn’t just waltz in here like they had a cause for concern,” Liz quips.
“Are you sure about that? Because this isn’t the first time I’ve seen one walking around here when they shouldn’t be,” he retorts.
“Enough!” I yell, making both of them look my way. “I will not have two people I deeply care about going at each other’s throats. You two need to stop pointing fingers at each other and talk like reasonable adults. If you can’t do that, there’s the door.” I point to it.
I watch as the wind leaves both of their sails at the same time, and their tempers drop.
“Thank you. Now let’s sit and talk,” I say, waving toward the couch.
Liz flops down into the spot she was occupying earlier. Yak walks over to the chair and pulls me into his lap.
“How disgustingly sweet,” Liz mutters under her breath.
“Tell me about the cop,” Yak demands.
Turning, I look at him, raising an eyebrow.
“Please,” he mutters after a moment.
“Thank you. I appreciate the manners. As for the cop, his name is Ray Overstreet. He’s my dad’s right-hand man. He’s been around for a few years,” I tell him.
Liz makes a noise, and Yak looks at her. “And you don’t like him.”
Liz shakes her head. “Never have. There’s something about him that I don’t like. I know he’s a snake. I just can’t prove it, and the way he looks at Julie isn’t right. It’s downright creepy.”
I roll my eyes. “He doesn’t look at me.”
“She doesn’t realize it,” Yak says, referring to me.
Liz shakes her head. “No, she’s oblivious to his interest. Always has been.”
“Sure, talk about me like I’m not in the room,” I mutter, tossing my hands up.
“She always this dramatic?” Yak asks.
“Always,” Liz sighs.
“Pot meet kettle,” I toss back at my best friend.
“Do you remember how we met?” Yak asks, rubbing my lower back.
I look over my shoulder and share a moment.
Somehow I know he’s asking me if I remember the events that lead to us meeting, not the meeting itself. He’s asking if I remember not realizing I was in trouble until it was too late.
Does he think that this is the same type of situation?
That I’m oblivious to others’ interest in me until it turns dangerous?
The thought has my stomach rolling.
“Uh, I don’t know how you met. In fact, I know key details have been left out that I’m dying to know about,” Liz cuts in.
“That’s between Yak and I,” I tell her, not looking away from Yak. “I don’t think Ray is dangerous, though. Sure, he might be a little eager to please my dad where I’m concerned, but I think it ends there. I think you both are seeing it wrong.”
“You’re wrong, Jules. So fucking wrong,” Liz says.
“I’m going to have to agree with your best friend here. Sometimes we don’t see what’s in front of us until it’s too late.” He raises a brow, once again, reminding me of the past.
Maybe they are right.
Just the thought makes me queasy. And here I thought Aragon was our only problem.
Yak
After changing topics, the atmosphere changed. Liz became less hostile, which put me more at ease.
I get it. She just wants what’s best for her best friend, but at the same time, she needs to learn that Julie isn’t going to share everything with her anymore. At least not when it comes to me. She can’t.
I hate that my girl is going to have to keep secrets, but it’s just the way it is.
But if Liz gets with a member of our club instead of the one she’s currently tied to, things would be different.
“Well, as riveting as tonight has been, I think it’s time I head out,” Liz sighs as she stands.
“Are you going home?” Jules asks.
Liz shakes her head. “No, Steve texted me and told me to come over, so I’m going to head there.”
I feel Jules’s breath catch and watch her face. I can tell she wants to say something, but she keeps her mouth shut.
“Get there safe,” Jules tells her.
“I will. Make sure you lock up.” Liz makes a move toward the door but pauses. “Oh, and you might want to put someone’s truck somewhere else so no one sees it if they drive by.”
“I parked in the neighbor’s drive,” I tell her.
Liz nods. “Smart. Later.”
As soon as she slips out the door, Julie leans into me and sighs.
“You okay, baby?” I ask as I rub her arms.
“I’m fine. I just hate fighting with her,” she mutters.
“I get that. I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” she says, shaking her head.
“Maybe not directly, but things with me aren’t helping the situation.”
“Things are changing. It will take some getting used to, but it is what it is. Things aren’t always going to stay the same. Anyway, enough about me. How was your day?” she asks, changing the subject.
“Good. Made some calls. Got to talk to my buddy down in Colorado for a minute.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, he was checking in. Wanted to make sure I’m good.”
She looks down and starts playing with the sleeve of my shirt. “I bet they miss you.”
“I’d like to think so, but they need to get used to it. I’m here for good,” I say without thinking.
I don’t even know if I realized that it was how I felt. Somehow my view has changed. I’m starting to think of this place as home, and I know it has nothing to do with the club.
It has to do with the girl in front of me.
I must say the right thing, though, because Julie leans farther into me.
“I’m glad you like it here.”
“Did you ever think about leaving?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “This is home. My dad and Liz are here. I love my job even though it drives me crazy. I like my house. I have no reason to leave.”
The longest I’ve ever stayed in one place was a decade in Colorado, but even when I was there, I fought the itch to move. Here, though, that restlessness has settled into something else. Something more permanent. It’s weird how fast things can change and when you least expect them to.
“Then I guess we are staying,” I say, squeezing her tight.
“Now if we could just get that guy from your club off my back, things would be perfect,” she says quietly.
“I’m working on it.”
She nods. “I know. I trust you.”
My eyes close. I don’t know if I will ever get tired of hearing her say she trusts me.
It’s a heady feeling.
She yawns, making my eyes go to the clock.
“You should get to bed.”
“Are you going to stay?” she asks hesitantly.
“Do you want me to?”
Her hand squeezes my arm. “Yeah, I do.”
“Then I’ll stay.” I tap her leg, and she sits up. “How about you go get ready for bed, and I’ll join you shortly?”
“Are you sure? If you’re not tired, I can wait. I’m sure we can find something to watch…” She trails off.
I shake my head. “Nah, I’m tired too. I just need to call my brother and let him know that I’m not going to be back tonight and fill him in on a few things.”
Julie opens her mouth but stops herself from asking and nods. “Sounds good.”
Wrapping my hand around her neck, I pull her into me and kiss her. “Night, Angel,” I murmur when I pull away.
She stands, looking dazed. “Night.” She takes a few steps and looks over her shoulder as she bites her lip. “Hey, Yak? Feel free to wake me up like you did this morning.”
My blood heats at the insinuation. She wants to wake up with me balls deep inside of her.
Fuck yes.
“I might just do that.” I smirk, making her blush.
She shakes her head and heads down the hall to her room. Standing, I readjust my dick.
Soon, bud. Soon.
I walk to her back door and quietly slip outside before pulling out my phone. My brother answers on the first ring.
“Everything okay?” Yooper asks.
“Yeah, sorry I went MIA. There was a slight problem I had to take care of.”
Yooper pauses. “What kind of problem?”
“Just a cop snooping around my girl. Nothing you need to worry about.”
Yooper sighs. “Jesus fuck. Did you really have to find the most complicated girl in all of Oakheart?”
“Apparently,” I laugh.
“Everything’s good, though?”
“I got it under control. I just wanted to call and give you an update because I’m not going to make it back to the clubhouse tonight.”
“Tell me.”
“I put it out there. Hoping to get a bite soon. It was a good fishing spot,” I say in code.
“Knew it would be. Found some real good bass there last time I headed that way.”
I chuckle. “Felt like the fish knew I was there before I even placed the line. Picked up the bait as if he was waiting on me.”
He snorts. “Sounds like the fish in that area. They are good. You’ll get good shit from it.”
“I hope so. I’m tired of coming up empty.”
I hear someone knock on his door and tense, even though I’m not there.
“I’ve got to let you go. I’ll see you in the morning.” Yooper hangs up before I can respond.
Sighing, I shove my phone into my pocket and push thoughts of my brother and his club out of my mind.
My girl’s warm, wet, and waiting for me to slide into her, and nothing is going to stop me from doing just that.