Chapter 7 Callie #3
“You look every inch the club princess you were born to be. You still designing tattoos?”
I put my hand on his shoulder to steady myself.
The high-heeled boots I was wearing weren’t the most stable.
I didn’t miss the way Wesley’s face swept briskly to the left to catch Kilian’s expression.
He seemed surprised to hear that Killian and I had somewhat kept in touch.
He was one of the only assholes here who had social media.
“She inks them now, too,” Laura said, lifting her shirt, brazenly showing off the massive mermaid tail I had inked into her rib cage. She looked like she had scales.
“Oh shit!” Killian said, moving past me to Laura. He skimmed a finger down her side as he inspected the ink.
“This is fucking good, Little Fox. Look at you.” He turned his head, a big smile in place. Pride engulfed my entire heart, soothing out old hurts and the tiny piece inside that craved approval from my dad. He wasn’t here, but Killian was like my brother, and the next best thing.
“Jesus Christ. This isn’t a fucking reunion,” Wes barked as he watched Killian smirk.
I didn’t miss how his eyes moved right where Killian’s arm slid around my waist.
He was staring at him like he’d just touched something of his.
“Look, we’ll get out of everyone’s hair just as soon as Wes lifts the lodging ban on us. We were blacklisted from every establishment in town.”
Wes glared, showing his teeth.
“Like I said, find a different town.”
I tilted my head, feeling a fight coming on. “I don’t want to. I want to stay in this town.”
Red suddenly stepped between us.
“This is nonsense. Callie, honey, you can have your dad’s old cabin. It’s on the back end of the property. It’s been recently—”
“She can’t stay on the property,” Wes declared flatly, interrupting Red. He acted as though I was an unwanted stray and not the rightful heir to this clubhouse. That rage in my chest roared with a silent scream, forcing me to step closer to my ex.
“Need I remind you that this property is legally mine, and I can technically have any room or space that I want?”
Wes glowered. A muscle jumped along his firm, square jawline, and I hated that I realized I’d never seen him look so angry so many instances in a row. He used to be pure sunshine; now he was all storm clouds.
“They can stay with me,” Killian offered with a wide smile.
Wes darted his eyes to the man right at the same time as I did. I had no clue where he lived, but it had to be better than some rundown cabin on the edge of the property. I was exhausted, and all I wanted was a bed to collapse into.
“Do you have space for us?”
Killian eyed me, lingering on Laura then took in Max.
“I do.”
“Killian,” Wes warned.
It made me curious at their relationship.
When I left, Killian was my dad’s second in command, and Wes looked up to him for some unknown reason.
While Wes wasn’t a part of the club, he was considered a hang-around by the other club members.
Someone who wanted to join, or was interested, but hadn’t pledged or become a prospect.
I hated it, because I did everything within my power to ensure they never saw him as a potential member.
Still, he and Killian were good friends, but Kill was always in charge, so it was strange to hear Wes bossing him around.
I watched Wesley as I responded to Killian.
“We’d love to stay with you.”
“Not fucking happening.” Wes stepped in between us, and his hand was suddenly on my hip, guiding me backward.
Because I’d let go of Max’s leash to hug Killian, I had nothing to keep me from moving with Wes. Killian laughed as he stepped in front of Laura to stop her from coming after me. Max began barking, but it was muffled a second later when Wes shut us into a storage closet.
He clicked the string above my face, illuminating the small space.
Our bodies were nearly flush as his chest heaved, and mine did the same. His hand was still on my hip, and I had no idea if he was aware of it or not, but there wasn’t even enough room to shake it off.
“You’re not staying with him,” Wes stated, towering over me.
I tilted my head back, watching his jaw work back and forth.
I could feel the strain in the air between us, and while I knew Wes didn’t want me anymore, it didn’t stop my nipples from hardening under my shirt, or that my body felt like liquid moonlight was suddenly thrumming under my skin.
This was the effect Wes had always had over me.
He was sunshine, and I was always the sleepy flower, waking up to bask in his warmth.
“Where am I supposed to stay, Wes?”
I was practically whispering at this point, and while it was quieter in here, I didn’t need to soften my tone. Words just felt heavy and burdensome.
Wes searched my face, that conflict twisting and forcing his hand at my hip to cinch the fabric in his fist.
“I told you—”
Shaking my head, I cut him off. “I’m not driving fifteen miles to the next town.”
His voice dropped to a whisper. “I warned you if you came for the club you’d be met with war.”
His mouth spoke of war, but his hands at my waist, and the way he kept closing the space between us, spoke of something else. Something we’d both left behind and closed the book on seven years ago.
I wanted to smile again, act cocky like I did last time, but I was so tired. And more than anything, I wanted to get away from him, because these feelings he was stirring weren’t welcome or convenient.
Right as I was about to open my mouth and wave the white flag, the door opened, and Laura snatched my wrist and yanked.
“Found us a spot.”
I reeled, falling after her as she pulled me behind her. Wesley’s hands fell away, but he was on my heels a second later. Killian was nowhere to be found, and the rest of the club looked like they’d fallen back into their previous chaos.
“Where?” I asked, searching the room, but Laura kept pulling until we were near the front door. A woman with thick black hair, wearing jeans so tight they could have been painted on, waited. Her face was down, staring at her cell, and my dog’s leash was wrapped around her fist.
Wes groaned from behind me. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
The woman looked up from her phone and gave us a blinding smile.
Her big blue eyes were framed by dark lashes and flawless wing-tipped eyeliner.
Her heart shaped face was beautiful, but my gaze was drawn to the bar through her eyebrow and the ring in her nose.
Outside, she looked hard and edgy, but there was a sorrow about her that made my heart ping around in my chest with familiarity.
“Hello, Wesley. Heard your girl needs a place to stay.” The woman winked at me.
Wes shook his head, slowing his steps until he was far enough away to resume his power stance—legs wide, arms crossed, face obstinate.
“Sasha.”
She tucked her cell into her bra, then blew him a kiss. Her tall boots shifted on the hardwood as she turned to open the door.
I didn’t know what their relationship was, but for some reason I felt the need to blurt, “I’m not his girl.”
Sasha paused and threw me a look over her shoulder.
“Yes, you are, honey. The sooner you accept that, the easier all of this will be.”
“Stone Riders don’t condone this. You’ll be going against the club,” Wes muttered in a deathly quiet tone.
With one last crinkle to her eyes and pop to her pink gum, Sasha smiled and said, “All my allegiance to this club was buried with Simon. The only other person on this planet that could summon any more from me is this girl right here.”
She slipped out, and Laura was on her heels. For some reason, I gave Wes one last look before following them.
As exhausted as I was, my mind still tumbled over the painful interaction with him. Why didn’t he want me here? Why on earth was I so delusional where he was concerned? It wasn’t as though he were harboring a secret crush on me all these years later, or wanted me back.
It’s been seven years, and it was fucking high time to get over my first love.