Chapter 2
CHAPTER
TWO
Nova
I don’t know what I was thinking. Some may say I don’t think at all, but that just isn’t true. I don’t mean to get myself in these messes, it just happens.
I thought I could trust Jessa and Em; they seemed like nice girls.
Just goes to show what a great judge of character I am.
Not. I think they just wanted to get tight with me and then undoubtedly into the Rebels clubhouse.
Girls are always asking me for ways to get in there and check out all the bikers.
Most of the bikers are already taken or happily married, but some girls these days don’t seem bothered by that.
They’re happy to play home wrecker. The one thing I will say about the Rebels is that they ride or die for their women. It’s their club motto.
I realize we’re going to Sawyers, and for that I’m glad.
I’ve been living with Payden, one of my friends and the club’s lawyer, but I don’t need her to see me like this.
She’s got a shit ton on her plate with work, and I don’t want to stress her out.
Plus, she’s good friends with Willow, Haze’s wife who is also a cop, and I don’t need her on my case, and the boys, too.
The truth is, I panicked. I was being pushed and shoved around and my friends bailed.
I didn’t know what to do. If I’d called Brew or Haze, they’d have a fit.
Logan would bring his double-barrel shotgun, and no doubt any other weapon of choice he could think of.
Sawyer, however, my best friend, always pulls through.
I hated having to call him, but because he’s a night owl, I was hoping he’d already be up so I wouldn’t feel so guilty, not that it would matter. Sawyer would always come.
When we pull into his garage, he shuts off the engine and the roller door closes behind us. I pull my helmet off, then use his shoulders as a leaning post so I can get off the bike. I have to say, the rumble of those straight pipes does something to a girl, and it’s lightened my mood a little.
Sawyer runs a hand through his hair, pulling off the bandana. I will not deny that he isn’t good looking. He is. Exceptionally. And when I first met him, I truly thought we’d bang in the first couple of weeks. What I’ve learned over the last year is that Sawyer isn’t like all other guys.
I mean that with sincerity. He’s… different.
Maybe it’s me. I don’t think he’s into me like that — but then again, he is always the one who starts with the innuendo and flirting.
I supply the dirty jokes, some of which have him rolling around laughing.
It makes me happy that I can make him laugh because when Sawyer laughs, the entire world lights up.
He has pretty eyes: turquoise, kinda like his prized Harley, but Sawyer’s no beast. Not to me, anyway.
To the guys back at the Shady Skull? Sure. They deserved it. I’m just glad we got away when we did because that could’ve been a disaster. The way Sawyer handled it… that was hot.
Okay, not the bitch slap, that was kinda funny, and the dude immediately became enraged, but they underestimated Sawyer. He might look pretty, but that’s where the stereotypes have to end, because he is a bad ass.
He takes a second before rising from his seat and I don’t know what he’s doing.
“Saw?”
“I just need a second.”
“Why? What’s wrong? Did they hurt your hand?” I grab his fist to see if he’s hurt there. It’s a little pink, but nothing crazy. He doesn’t even wince when I touch him.
“No. I’m just mad. I should’ve done more to those guys.”
“More?” I mouth the words, surprised. “You beat their asses. That bitch slap, by the way, was pretty funny.”
He looks me dead in the eye. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
My eyebrows raise. “I didn’t mean to—”
He holds up a hand. “You never mean to, that’s the problem. You didn’t think. Do you know those girls well enough to be goin’ to some dive bar across town? What if someone had… What if they…” he trails off, unable to finish.
I know this is a touchy subject for him.
I’m not aware of all the gruesome specifics, but I’ve overheard enough from the Rebels’ women whispering that Sawyer was trafficked as a teenager.
It’s horrific, and he’s never talked about it with me.
In fact, all of our banter is lighthearted and never really heavy. I think we both like it that way.
Although I haven’t suffered like he has, I experienced abuse. So I guess two broken souls are bound to find some common ground.
I rest a hand on his arm. “It didn’t. I know it was wrong, but they said they’d been there heaps of times.”
“You’re too trusting, Nova. You can’t believe everythin’ people say, you got me?” His eyes are blazing with intensity, and I don’t dare argue with him. I don’t like him telling me what to do, but I know it comes from a caring place.
“I’m not a child.”
“Really? Because that was pretty heavy back there. Do you think you would’ve stood a chance against those three guys?” He shakes his head in disgust.
He’s right. I don’t like to admit it, but he is. “It won’t happen again.” I give him my best Girl Scout salute, hoping to get a smile out of him.
“Promise me you won’t ever put yourself in a situation where you feel threatened like that. It isn’t safe, I need you to understand that.”
I want to tell him that some monsters can be in the places you thought were safe. They can be the person you love, or someone you live with. Not to mention home invasions… but I get where he’s going with it and being a smart ass won’t win me any favors.
I press a kiss against his cheek. “Don’t be mad at me.”
“I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at them, at the world,” he mutters.
I wrap my arms around his neck. “You’re cute when you’re angry.”
“Stop flirtin’.”
“How can I flirt when I caught sight of myself in the side mirror and know I resemble Fright Night?” I smile, hoping the frost around him will lessen. I like Sawyer happy, not mad at me.
“You do not.”
“Yes, I do.” I press a chaste kiss to his lips.
We do this sometimes, too. We kiss. Not make out. Not get all hot and heavy. Just kiss. It’s soft, warm and gentle. In fact, the first time I kissed him, he froze on the spot. That’s when I knew there was something different about Sawyer.
He later confessed it was the first time he’d kissed a woman.
I didn’t understand at the time what he meant, because clearly he’s too beautiful to not have had that experience, but now I think I do.
It’s the first time he’d consented. That idea just makes my stomach roll, but we both like being close to one another. He chases all the demons away.
“Best friends aren’t supposed to kiss.”
“Well, we’re not fucking, so at least give me this,” I say with a smirk.
“You’re too cocky for your own good.”
“Ugh, you sound like Brew.”
“I sound like someone who cares about what happens to you.”
I nod, cupping his face. “I messed up. I get it. I’ve learnt my lesson.”
“You say that, then next week I’ll be haulin’ your ass outta jail.” I wince ever so slightly, then he adds. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”
“It’s okay, and you won’t be, pinkie promise.” I hold out my pinkie as he sighs, then links his finger with mine.
“Do you solemnly swear to think before you do somethin’ reckless next time?”
I blink at him in surprise. “If by that you mean, don’t rely on girls to have your back when you’re out having fun, then yeah.”
“Wise ass.”
“Thanks for coming to get me.”
“You wanna talk about what happened?”
“Can I have a shower first and at least wash all the smoke out of my hair and wipe the mascara from under my eyes?”
“Deal.”
I peck him again and pat his cheek a couple of times. “You’re the only one I can rely on. I feel bad you had to come and get me.”
“It’s not about that,” he says as he follows me to the side door that leads into the house. “You just can’t trust people. If you want to hang out, then do it at the clubhouse, at least I know you’ll be safe there.”
“I know. I know. I just pinkie promised I wouldn’t be stupid. I’ll go to the clubhouse and hang with the girls there. More importantly—have you got any snacks?”
He gives me a sideways look. “What do you think?”
I grin, making my way to the pantry. I reach in and grab the first thing I find: potato chips.
“Ooh, you’re the best!”
“I’ll make up the couch.”
“That’s sweet of you.”
“I meant for me, you can take my bed.”
“Saw, you don’t have to do that,” I say, trying to open the bag. The stupid thing won’t give an inch. Why do potato chips always do this? He takes the bag from me and opens it with ease, then hands it back to me.
“It’s fine. The couch won’t be comfortable for you.” ain’t that comfy.”
Of course he’d give up his bed for me. We’ve fallen asleep twice on his couch, and I can confirm that it is not very comfortable.
“So then why do you wanna sleep on it?”
“I’d prefer my back to be messed up rather than yours, Princess.”
I squeeze his cheek. “So sweet. We can share the bed… if you’re okay with that?”
Another boundary to cross, but I wait to see what he thinks of that idea.
I don’t see how it’s any different to falling asleep in his arms on the couch with a comforter over us, but that’s his choice to make.
I don’t want to invade his personal space, but I also don’t want to be alone. Not after tonight.
“Why don’t you go have that shower, and we’ll talk when you get out.”
Typical of Sawyer to change the conversation, but I’m used to it. I take a handful of chips and hand him back the bag. “Fine, but save some of them for me.”
“There are spare towels in the cupboard underneath, and I’ll find you one of my shirts to wear.”
“Such a gentleman!” I call back, smiling to myself. I truly do have the bestest friend in the entire world.