Chapter 2
Lily
Itake a sip of warm coffee, ignoring the buzzing phone on the kitchen counter.
Matt gives me a pointed look. “You gonna answer that, Lil?”
I keep both hands firmly clasped around the coffee cup and glance down at the phone. It's Dad, again. “No,” I say firmly.
Matt narrows his eyes at me. We've been friends since the first day of college, and he knows me too well.
“You’re up to something, Lily. I don't know what it is. But if it involves angering your dad, you know, the badass president of a biker gang, then I don't want to be a part of it.”
I vaguely feel bad for dragging Matt into this, but it was the only way I could think of. “You're already a part of it, hon.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that. He's not gonna turn up with all his biker friends and have some kind of shootout, is he?”
Matt looks more excited than worried. “You've been watching too much Sons of Anarchy. The Crows aren’t like that. My dad's a good guy.”
Matt presses his lips together and nods vigorously. “Mm-hmm, yep. A good guy who did three years inside.”
“Dad was set up for that.”
But I know how it looks. The club has gone legit in recent years, but they're not squeaky clean. I know what my father is. He works to his own moral code.
The buzzing of my phone finally stops, and in the silence that settles over the kitchen, Matt slides a bagel across the counter to me.
“I should have been suspicious when you wanted to come over and have an all-night Ryan Gosling film fest.”
“What's wrong with having a movie night with my best friend?” I ask innocently.
Matt looks like he’s going to question me further, so I quickly change the subject.
“You excited about the date?” Matt’s met a new man, and he spent most of the night texting him. They’re finally meeting in person tonight.
His face goes dreamy when he talks about Ethan.
“Yeah. Maybe this time he won’t turn out to be an asshole.”
Matt's had about as much luck with men as I have, but at least he puts himself out there, unlike me. There's only one man for me, but if I wait around for him to make a move, I’ll be ninety before I lose my virginity.
The roar of a bike crashes through my thoughts and sends a nervous flutter into my stomach.
“Did he track your phone here?” Matt sounds nervous now.
I knew he would find me; I’m just surprised it's taken him this long. I peek through the blinds, and my gut clenches when I see that it’s Jesse. My plan has worked better than I realized. But when I see the furious look on his face, I’m not so sure.
“Ooh, he’s hot.” Matt’s peeking through the blinds next to me, oblivious to what I might have just unleashed.
“Um, Matt. You might want to wait upstairs.”
“And miss all the fun?”
There's a loud thump on the door, and suddenly I’m wondering why I thought this was a good idea. I might be about to see my best friend get beat up.
“Please go upstairs.”
But Matt’s shaking his head, looking amused. “I think I know what you’re up to, Lily.”
I grab my bag and open the door, but before I can leave Jesse pushes past me and into the kitchen.
“Is this the shithead you spent the night with?”
Matt’s eyes go wide as Jesse grasps him by the collar, but Jesse doesn’t give him time to speak.
“Do you know who you're fucking around with? That's the Underground Crows’s president's daughter.”
“Jesse…” I try to calm him down, but I’ve never seen him so enraged. A vein throbs in his neck, and I think he’s going to hit Matt. This is not what I meant to happen.
“Stop it.”
It’s lucky I’m a big girl, tall as well as wide, and I throw my weight around, managing to wedge myself between them and get Jesse’s attention.
“You can't just barge in here and manhandle my friend.”
Jesse turns his gaze on me, and it’s terrifying and hypnotic the way he devours me with one look.
“If he’s laid one hand on you…I swear to God, I’ll ring his neck.”
This has gone way too far. I wanted to make Jesse jealous, to shock him into making a move on me, but I didn’t imagine it would get so heated.
Matt’s eyes are bulging in his head, and if he gets hurt it’s all my fault.
“Stop it, Jesse.”
He takes my concern for confirmation that there’s something between us, and he pulls his fist back. I close my hand around it before he can strike.
“We were just watching movies, I swear.”
“So you didn’t sleep with him?” It comes out as a growl. Jesse’s like an enraged bull claiming its territory, and if I answer the wrong way, there’s no doubt Matt will get hurt.
This is what you wanted, isn't it? I tell myself. But I didn’t think it would go this far. I thought making Jesse jealous would finally get him to make a move. I don't want anyone getting hurt.
“No, I didn't sleep with him, not that it's any of your business. I’m still a virgin.” My cheeks flush crimson at the admission. The reason I’m still a virgin is standing right in front of me, his eyes blazing with jealousy.
The vein in Jesse’s neck pulses at my words, but the anger goes out of him. He lets out a sigh, and the tension falls from his body. He releases Matt, who slumps onto the counter rubbing his throat.
My arms go around Matt. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m fine, Lil.” He’s got a smile on his face, and I can tell by the way he looks at me that he's figured out what I'm up to.
“Get your bags, Lily.”
I’m furious with Jesse. I know I bought this on myself, but I didn’t expect him to come in here like an animal.
“I’m not going anywhere with you…” My words are cut off as Jesse picks me up and throws me over his shoulder.
I’m a big girl, but he lifts me up as if I’m light as a feather. His other arm scoops up my bag.
“Jesse. Put me down.”
My fists pummel his back, and I blush red in embarrassment. This is not how it was meant to go.
Matt’s smirking at me, thinking this whole thing is hilarious. “Have fun,” he mouths and gives me a little finger wave before Jesse carries me out the door like a sack of potatoes.