Chapter 9 Jesse
Jesse
My cheek stings, and there’s the taste of blood in my mouth. I think my nose is broken, but I still don’t fight back. I deserve this. Every hit is a reminder of the betrayal of my best friend. And every hit makes me more determined to be with Lily.
It’s only the sound of a bike tearing up the gravel outside that stops Bruno’s fists. The door’s wide open, showing Lily on Bruno’s bike snaking down the gravel drive and kicking dust up behind her.
“Shit.” Bruno strides to the door, but she’s already long gone. “She’s not wearing a helmet.”
“Lily can ride.” I try to reassure him, but I don’t feel crazy about it myself. Lily’s been on a bike since she was a baby, but Bruno’s bike is a beast, and I don’t know how she’ll handle the turns in the road.
“That woman is a handful, I swear to God…” Bruno sags against the doorframe, the fight going out of him.
If Lily’s intention was to stop him from beating me up, then it worked. His anger has turned to concern, and it may be the opportunity I need to get through to him.
“I didn’t mean to disrespect you, Bruno. I denied my feelings for four years. But we love each other.”
He runs a hand through his hair, and I see the torment on his face, the father not wanting to let go.
“She’s a child, Jesse. She’s half your age.”
“She’s the same age as your wife.”
He shoots me a dirty look, not happy that I’m bringing up Scarlett.
“This is different.”
“Is it? How?”
“Because Lily’s my daughter.” Even as he says it, I can see he realizes how unreasonable it sounds.
“She’s an adult, Bruno. A woman who can make her own decisions. I want to make her my old lady. I want to marry her. It’s hard, I know, but you have to let her go.”
He lets out a deep breath and gazes up the driveway. Lily’s long gone, but the dust still hangs in the air.
“Is it what she wants?”
I think back to the last few days, how she made me jealous to get my attention. The good times we’ve been sharing, the promises we’ve been making to each other. I hope like hell she means them like I do.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Will you look after her and treat her right?”
He’s questioning me now like a concerned father, and I feel hopeful that he’s coming around to the idea. It feels weird having to explain my intentions to my best friend, but if it’s what I have to do for Lily, then I will.
“I’m gonna buy a place somewhere for the both of us. She can finish her studies, work or not work, whatever she wants to do.” I want to add that we’ll start a family, but I don’t want Bruno to be reminded of what that entails right now.
“You sure this is what she wants?”
“I haven’t asked her formally yet. But if you give us your blessing, then I will.”
Bruno paces the porch. I hope that showing him respect by asking for his daughter’s hand will go a long way toward healing our friendship.
“And if I don’t give you my blessing?”
I shrug my shoulders. “Then we’ll be together anyway.”
I hold his gaze so he gets my meaning. There is nothing in this world that will keep me and Lily apart. If it means leaving the club, if it means going to another state, that’s exactly what we’ll do to be together.
Bruno breaks eye contact and keeps pacing. He gives a soft chuckle that’s tinged with sadness.
“I knew I’d have to hand her over to another man one day. I just thought I’d have more time.”
Hope fills my heart; he’s definitely coming around to the idea. “You’re not giving her away, Bruno. You’ll still be in her life.”
“I know.” He shakes his head. “You’ll understand if you have a daughter one day.”
He puts his hand on my shoulder, and the pressure is a little bit harder than I’d like.
“You have my blessing, Jesse.” I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. “But you break her heart, you fuck with her, you make my little girl cry, and I will rip your balls off one by one.”
I don’t doubt the man, but I have no intention of hurting Lily. Now all I want to do is find her.
“Can you trace her?”
Bruno pulls out his phone and brings up the tracking app. In a few minutes, I know exactly where Lily is. I quickly splash water on my wounds, then get on my bike.
It’s time to claim my woman.