Chapter 31
CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE
JULIETTE
Standing in the middle of my new living room, I spin around and close my eyes. I can’t believe that this is mine—that this is real. This is probably the nicest place I’ve lived in, ever.
I’ve always picked the cheapest place on what would be considered the not-so-desirable side of town, and while this isn’t bougie by any means, it’s really nice.
And a pool. It’s got a pool. I won’t be saving much money by living here, but I hope I won’t have to run off in the middle of the night, either.
A one-year lease has been signed, I’ve forked over the cash, and now it’s mine. I couldn’t believe it when he said it was mine and there were no background checks or anything crazy. I have a feeling that was more because of Elodie than anyone else.
She’s now in the corner talking to the showing agent, or landlord, whoever he is.
“She’s trying to get a job cleaning the pool house and common area,” Alex murmurs from beside me.
“She’s trying to shift away from residential cleaning to commercial and have a larger staff so she doesn’t have to work as many hours herself. ”
“She’s really smart, and you guys are both seriously amazing for being so young and having this business. I haven’t done shit, and I’m the same age.”
Alex snorts. “It’s all Elodie. I’ve always just been along for the ride. Plus, circumstances are absolutely not the same. You’re here, and you’re going to do big things… and a big guy, so it’s gonna be great.”
I snort because he’s right. Slade is big. And being with him is absolutely great. I want to do it again and again and then again. I want to try it in a million different positions. I want to taste him, all of him, every single inch.
“Stop thinking about that good dick,” Alex calls out.
“Okay, are you guys ready?” Elodie asks as she joins our little group of two.
“Juliette is ready… ready for a dick date, that is.”
Elodie’s eyes widen at the same time her lips curve up into a grin. “Well, let’s go pick up your car and head to the clubhouse. The guys should be filing in from whatever the hell they do during the day.”
I don’t protest because I want to see Slade. I just hope that he wants to see me, too. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I look down at the screen and flinch when I see no new notifications.
“You getting rid of that thing?” Alex asks.
“I’m getting rid of it,” I whisper.
“Before we go to the clubhouse, I’ll come with you and get you set up on a pay-as-you-go phone. We’ll go to Walmart.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I say.
He reaches out and wraps his fingers around my bicep, squeezing gently. “I know I don’t have to do it, Juliette. I want to, because if he’s tracking you through your phone, I don’t want him to come here and get you.”
“Alex,” I whisper.
He shakes his head once, his hand falling from my bicep. “Let’s go,” he calls out.
The three of us leave the apartment, me with a new set of keys. I can’t believe that this is real. And now all I have to do is figure out how I’m going to furnish it. I don’t know how, but I’m going to make it happen, because this is my new future—my new life.
A life without Victor… hopefully.
Alex and I grab a new phone and snacks because he says the clubhouse has no decent food. As we walk out of Walmart, he snatches my old phone from me and stands at the trash can.
“Do you need any numbers from this?” he asks.
I don’t even have to think about his question. I already know the answer. No. I’ve made zero friends over the years. No contacts. Nothing. I’ve been a ghost of a person. Being here with these people over the last week, I’ve made more connections than I had in all the years before I met Victor.
“I don’t need anything,” I state.
He frowns slightly, then I watch as he breaks my old phone in half. Alex actually snaps the phone, and my breath hitches. I blink a couple of times before he clears his throat.
“Okay, now we don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
Together, Alex and I walk back toward my car, and the entire way, I cannot believe that this is my life. I found people who actually give a shit about me. They don’t even know me, yet they’re willing to help me this way.
It’s just unbelievable.
I should probably be wary of it, especially with my past. I’m not. I’m taking this whole thing as a sign that this is where I was meant to be.
It doesn’t take us long to get to the clubhouse. I ask Alex some questions about the guy he’s seeing. They call him Fantasy. Seems like an appropriate name to me, especially with how Alex talks about him. He sounds like a fantasy.
When I pull up to the clubhouse, the person behind the little guard gate doesn’t even come to the window. He just opens up the gate for us to drive through.
The moment I pull into the makeshift parking lot, I’m surprised to see so many cars and bikes. I’ve only ever been here to clean, so I’m a little taken aback by the sight of the sheer number of vehicles.
“Welcome to the Iron Flame MC, babe,” Alex announces as he opens the door.
Before I can respond, he’s already out, closing the passenger door and walking toward the front door.
I watch as it swings open to reveal the man I assume is Fantasy.
He wraps his fingers around Alex’s neck and leans down, pressing his lips against his.
Their kiss is electric, and I find myself a mixture of turned on and envious.
Then, before I can even open my door, I hear the sound of a motorcycle grumbling past me and parking in front of the clubhouse. It’s him. I know without even seeing his face, but it’s not just him.
There’s a little boy on the back.
I watch as he jumps off, then Slade does the same, though with much less enthusiasm.
Slade reaches out to the boy, curls his fingers around his shoulder, and shakes him once before he lowers his head and touches his forehead to the boy’s. It’s a sweet, even heartfelt moment. I feel like I’m invading their privacy.
The little boy runs off, making his way into the clubhouse as Slade follows more slowly. I don’t know what’s going on, and now I wonder if I should have come.