Chapter 5
MARIETTA
Throughout the night, I swear I hear motorcycles in my dreams.
I wake up Monday morning feeling irritable and nervous, like the bikers are circling and the Wild Hair is coming for me.
When I arrive on campus, Jenna and Symphony are waiting on the grass in the quad.
“You look like you’ve been on a bender,” Jenna says. She wraps a sweater more tightly around her. “And it got cold.”
I sink onto the blanket they’ve spread out, wishing I’d worn a heavier coat. This isn’t normal for Miami, even if it is October. “I kept waking up, thinking I heard motorcycles outside my apartment.”
“Serves you right, getting in all that trouble Saturday night,” Jenna says. “Do you think it’s blown over?”
“I don’t think so,” Symphony says. “Diesel said that Merrick was a real bear at the bar last night, growling at everyone.”
I feel terrible. “I’m so sorry. I made you miss opening night. And now Merrick’s mad.” Tears tug at the edges of my eyes. “I’m never going to the Leaky Skull again. I get too crazy there.”
Symphony puts an arm around me. “Marietta, you’re behind the curve, that’s all. We’ll find you a proper boyfriend, and you’ll be all right. I think it’s hard to be twenty-six and feel like you’re missing out.”
“The romance novels don’t help,” Jenna says.
“Hey!” I say. “Don’t yuck my yum.”
Jenna tugs on a frayed string on the blanket. “I’m just saying, it’s putting ideas in your head. Like cozying up to motorcycle clubs and saying you’ll be a bike bunny.”
“Club bunny,” I correct her. “And you thought it was funny when I wrote the words on the sign in the bar.”
“I didn’t think it was funny. I was trying to be supportive of your wild side.”
“Easy for you,” Symphony says. “You weren’t there when Diesel had to sneak us out of the bar after she flashed everyone.”
My fingers dig into the strap of my backpack. I want to scream. “Will you guys please stop talking about that? I did a dumb thing! It’s over!”
“And now you’ve done another!” Jenna says. “You have to finish your degree. You can’t be a club bunny. You need to do your master’s thesis!”
“I know. You’re right. It was a dumb idea.” I settle down on the blanket, holding my backpack in my lap.
Symphony reaches out to squeeze my wrist. “Were you trying to find a way to get to Merrick?”
I shrug. “I guess.”
“You know, we could arrange a double date. They’re brothers.”
I shake my head. “He won’t do it.”
“You don’t know that.” Symphony releases me to pick up her phone. “Let’s find out.”
I snatch the phone from her. “Please don’t. It’s too humiliating.”
Symphony’s smile falters. “I’m trying to help.”
“I basically propositioned him Saturday night. If something were to happen, it would have.” Or had we been interrupted by the other Wild Hair? The memory is covered in a haze of anxiety and stress.
The roar of a motorcycle snags the attention of everyone on the quad.
“Is Diesel coming today?” Jenna asks.
“He’s already in class,” Symphony says.
We turn to look.
Two men in solid black helmets sit atop gleaming chrome motorcycles between the science and humanities buildings.
“They can’t bring motorcycles onto the quad,” Jenna says. “It’s pedestrian only.”
“Tell that to them,” Symphony says.
The motors cut down to a low hum as the two of them roll their bikes forward, using their feet to stay upright. Both wear Wild Hair cuts over long sleeves.
“That’s Two-Shit,” Symphony says. “He was part of the construction crew on the remodel. I don’t know the other one.”
“What are they doing here?” I hiss, my heart pounding. Are they following me? Is it time for me to surrender to the club?
Symphony pushes herself up to standing. “I’ll go ask.” She takes off across the grass.
“What’s the plan if they try to kidnap you?” Jenna asks.
“I don’t know!”
She looks around. “I’ll try to hold them off, and you run into the science building.”
I’m so freaked out, I can barely breathe. “How are you going to hold them off?”
“I don’t know. Show them my tits or something.”
I groan. “That’s what got me into this mess.”
“You have a better idea?”
My heart pounds like I’m sprinting. I guess I might be about to. “Even if I make it to the building, then what?”
“Call the police?”
“What can they do?” I keep an eye on Symphony as she approaches the motorcycles.
“I don’t know! Message Merrick then. Maybe he can call them off.”
“I don’t have his number!”
She checks her phone. “It’s after three. The bar is open. Call the bar.”
That’s not a bad idea.
I switch to sitting on my knees so it’s easier to get up and run as I Google the bar and press the number listed.
Symphony peers up at the men. They nod as she gestures wildly.
The line rings. I’m completely relieved when Merrick’s voice comes on. “Leaky Skull.”
“Merrick? It’s Marietta.”
There’s a pause before he says, “You okay?”
What was the pause? Does he know something? “Two Wild Hair are at my college!”
Another pause.
“Merrick! What are they doing here?”
Symphony keeps talking to the men, waving her arms toward the parking lot. Maybe she’ll get them to leave.
“They’re watching out for you,” he says. “They decided that at church.”
“Church? Like with a pastor?” What the hell?
“No, that’s what we call our meetings.”
Oh. “Why are they watching out for me?”
“You’re under the protection of the Wild Hair until you decide if you’re going to become property of the club.”
“Property?”
“It’s an expression. It means you’re one of us. Part of the family.”
“Why are they doing that? I haven’t said I’ll be a club bunny or a house mouse!”
“They’re looking out for you. Making sure you’re…” He trails off.
“Merrick! Why do I need protection?”
“It’s club business,” he says. “I’m not at liberty to talk about it. Just know they aren’t there to scare you or snatch you. This order comes from Iron Jack, and nobody is going to cross him.”
“They are on the quad with their motorcycles! The campus police are going to come!”
“They can handle themselves around cops.”
I hesitate. Symphony seems satisfied with whatever they talked about and starts traipsing back across the lawn.
“Symphony’s coming back. I’ve gotta go.” I pull the phone away from my ear.
“Hey—hold on.”
I put it back. “What?”
“I need to meet with you. Iron Jack put me in charge of getting an answer.”
“About being a club bunny?”
“Yeah, or whatever.”
“But you don’t live in the clubhouse.”
“No.”
“Who does?”
“We can talk about it tomorrow before the bar opens.”
“Should I come to the Leaky Skull?”
“Sure.”
“Okay. I’ll be there at ten. That all right?” Symphony has made it back and waits for me to finish.
“Sounds good. Tomorrow. Ten.” He ends the call.
The phone slides down my cheek to land in my lap. I’m going to be alone with Merrick. I look up at Symphony. “What did they say?”
“They’ll push back to the parking lot if we move to where they can see us.”
“What about when I go to class?” I ask.
“They’ll wait for you to come out. One will take the front of the building, and the other will take the back, so don’t try to sneak past them.”
I shove my phone in my bag. “This is ridiculous.”
“It’s pretty wild.” She glances back at them. “You know, it’s not you they’re protecting.”
I zip my pocket and stand up. “What is it, then?”
Symphony bites back a smile. “It’s, um, your virginity. They don’t want anyone else taking it before they can.”
I stare at her, incredulous.
Holy fucking shit.
My hymen has a security detail.