Chapter 13
Reagan
I spot Shane leaning against his bike near the edge of the school parking lot, helmet dangling from one hand. He’s scanning the crowd, and when his eyes land on me, his cocky grin spreads across his face.
It’s been three months since that night he climbed through my window, and he’s been showing up like this ever since. Not every day—the MC keeps him busy—but once a week, sometimes twice. Taking me home, or to the mall, or just for a ride through the city.
I shouldn’t look forward to it as much as I do, but those days when I get to see him are the best. I hitch my backpack higher on my shoulder and make my way over to him. Brittany and her friends are practically salivating over him. I’ve learned to ignore the whispers and the stares.
He pushes off the bike as I approach. “Hey, baby girl.”
“Hi.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, suddenly shy under his gaze. “You didn’t have to come. I mean, you must have better things to do.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Better things than seeing ya?”
My cheeks flush. “I just mean...things are better at home now. You don’t have to keep checking on me.”
“Better doesn’t mean good. She still giving you shit?”
I shrug. “No. No hitting.” It’s true. Sort of.
After that morning she saw Shane in my bed, something changed.
My mother doesn’t hit me anymore, and she gave me the guest room.
She still drinks, though. Still calls me names.
Still threatens me when she’s drunk enough.
But, at least, the beatings stopped. For now.
His jaw tightens. “Good. ’Cause if she ever—”
“I know.” I cut him off gently. “I just don’t want you to worry anymore, and you don’t have to waste any more time coming all the way here.”
“Ain’t wasting shit, kiddo. Love my time with ya. You saying you don’t want me around?”
“No!” The word comes out too quick, too desperate. I bite my lip. “I mean... I love our time together, too.”
The smile he gives me is different this time. Softer. Charming. It makes my heart fly. “Good. Now c’mon.” He hands me the helmet. “Got somewhere I wanna take ya.”
“The mall?”
“Nah. It’s a surprise.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “A surprise?”
“Just get on the bike, baby.”
I climb on behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist like I’ve done dozens of times now. I don't think I’ll ever get used to how solid he feels, how warm and safe and…hot. The engine roars to life, and we take off.
We don’t head toward my neighborhood. When the ocean comes into view, my breath catches. Oh my God, we’re going to the beach.
He parks near the sand and kills the engine. Waves crash against the shore as I slide off the bike. “Shane... what are we doing here?”
He pulls something from his saddlebag. “Your birthday’s tomorrow.”
My lashes flutter. “You... you remembered?”
“’Course I did.” He walks over to me, holding a small wrapped box. “Can’t be in Jacksonville tomorrow, so I’m celebrating with you today. Just us.”
Tears prick my eyes. No one has ever remembered my birthday. No one has ever celebrated it. My mother... She’s at her worst on my birthday. The day I was born, the day she believes I ruined her life. Last year, she locked me bleeding in the closet for twelve hours.
“Shane…” My voice breaks.
“Hey, none of that. No tears on your birthday.” He cups my cheek with his free hand. “Open it.”
With shaking fingers, I unwrap the box. Inside is a cell phone. Not just any cell phone—one of those new ones with a flip screen and a tiny keyboard.
“Oh my God.” I stare at it. “Shane, this is... This is too expensive. I can’t—”
“You can, and you will.” He takes it out and shows me. “Now you can call me anytime. Text me. Go online. Whatever you want.”
I don’t even have a computer at home. I’ve only used the ones at school. And now I have a phone with internet? “I can’t accept this. It’s too much.”
“Nothing’s too much for my baby girl.”
It cracks something open inside me. Before I can stop myself, I throw my arms around him, hugging him tight. “I love you,” I whisper against his chest.
The words slip out before I can take them back. Heat floods my face. Oh God, why did I say that? Kill me. Kill me now.
But Shane doesn’t pull away. Instead, his arms wrap around me, holding me tighter. Then he tangles his fingers in my hair and looks at me. “I love you too, Reagan.”
My heart explodes. I must be dreaming. This can’t be true. We stand there for a moment, wrapped up in each other, and I never want to let go. If it’s a dream, let it last forever.
When he finally releases me, I’m still clutching the phone. “Does your work with the club make you that much money?”
He laughs. “Why? Want a job?”
“Actually...yeah. I’m smart. I’m a fast learner and a hard worker. I could help with—”
Anger darkens his face. “No.”
I scowl. “Why not?”
“That’s no place for someone like ya.”
“Why, because I don’t have a dick?”
His eyes widen. “The fuck? What’s with the potty mouth? Who taught you to speak like that? I’ll spank you if you ever speak like that again, alright?”
“I’m not a little girl anymore, Shane. It’s what you keep telling me. Then why can I not come work with you?”
“Told ya. The club ain’t for girls like ya.”
“But you have plenty of girls there.”
“They are whores, Reagan.” His voice turns harsh. “That what you wanna do for money? Spread your legs for—”
“No! Of course not!” I step back, stung by his tone.
He drags a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched. “Hey, I’m looking out for ya. Why the hell ya need money anyway? I can give you anything you want.”
“I can’t just take your money, Shane. And I... I need to get out of that house as soon as I can.”
He squints at me. “Tell me the truth. She hittin’ you again?”
“No. But she could. Any time. The drinking makes her a ticking bomb. I’ll never feel safe in that house, Shane.
I just... I want to save up to get my own place eventually and for college.
I started tutoring, but I’m only a freshman, so it’s a little hard.
I think I can get a good scholarship, but I want—”
“Wait, you in high school already? How? Thought you start next year.”
“You probably don’t remember, but I skipped a year.”
“Yeah, right.” His lips pucker. “So what, you wanna leave? Leave the city? Leave me?”
“What? No! Never.” I reach for his arm. “I’d never leave you. You could come with me.”
He laughs with no humor. “Where? College? Can’t do that, baby girl. My life is here. In the MC. I’m gonna run that place one day, remember?”
“You haven’t even earned your colors yet,” I point out. “It’s been months.”
A smirk curves his lips. “Someone learning the MC language now?”
I shrug, trying not to look too pleased with myself. “I’ve been...educating myself on the subject.” Colors are patches bikers wear. It means they’re official, permanent members of the club.
“That’s my girl.” He reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Don't worry. I’m getting them any day now. Prez promised. Before ya know it, that club will be mine, and you’ll be by my side like a queen.”
I twist my lips. “Okay. If you say so.”
“I do. Now,” he pulls out another package from his bag, “got ya one more thing.”
“Really?” I open it to find a swimsuit. A bikini. Red and tiny and— “Shane!” My face burns.
“What? Y’don’t like it?”
“It’s… It’s… Beautiful.” Sexy. Nothing I’d ever wear. “I just…can’t wear this.”
“Why not? You’d look perfect in it.” His eyes rake over me in a way that makes my skin tingle. “Go put it on. We’re going swimming.”
“But it’s January. It’s like fifty degrees out.”
“C’mon, we’re young, and it’s Jacksonville, baby. Look,” he points at the sky, “it’s sunny. We’ll be fine.”
“But I... I can’t swim.” And I can never pull that bikini off. The scars… I don’t want him to see me like this.
“You can’t what? Nah, we gotta change that. I’ll teach you.”
I bite my lip at the swimsuit. I’m running out of excuses. “Where am I supposed to change?”
He glances around and then shrugs off his cut. “See that tree over there? I’ll stand guard, hold this up and cover you.” Then he winks. “Promise I won’t look.”
My heart hammers. “No.”
“C’mon, baby girl. Don’t make me beg. You shy of me or something? You can’t be. I’m your big brother.”
That again. Did he not say he loved me like I loved him? Is that what he meant? Brotherly love? I laugh at myself for getting my hopes up.
“Please?” He steps closer, his voice dropping to that husky tone that turns smart girls dumb, and then he flashes his golden grin. “For me?”
How am I supposed to say no to that?
“Okay,” I breathe.
He holds up his cut like a curtain. My hands shake as I peel off my clothes.
I glance at him over my shoulder. He’s not looking as he promised.
At least, I never catch him looking. He’s pressing his lips on a smile as he stares heavenward.
I slip into the bikini. It’s tighter than I expected, showing more skin than I’ve ever shown in my life.
“You done?” he asks.
“Y-yeah.”
He drops the cut, and I hide as much of my body as I can with my arms. “I’m cold, Shane. Can you give me the cut, please?”
“No way.” Gently, he moves my arms away. “Let me see ya, baby.” His eyes go wide. For a second, he just stares, his gaze traveling over every inch of me. Heat floods my cheeks.
“Fuck, Reagan.” His voice is rough. “You’re...perfect.”
I wrap my arms around myself again. “It’s too much. Look—”
“Don’t.” He catches my wrists, pulling my arms away again. “Don’t hide. You’re beautiful.”
My breath catches. “No, I’m not.”
“You are to me. The most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” He pulls out his phone. “Let me take a picture.”
“Shane, no!”
“Just one. For me. For my eyes only, to look at it when I miss you.” He’s already backing up, holding up the phone.
“You miss me?”
“All the time, baby girl.”
A smile takes over my flushing face. I pose awkwardly, not sure what to do with my hands. He takes several shots, grinning the whole time.
“Perfect,” he murmurs, looking at the screen. “Fucking perfect.”