Born to Ride_A Clubhouse Collection

chapter 8

AXEL

I’ll haunt you right until the end; you’ll never escape me, my friend.

I shift, and groan. That’s when I feel the warm flesh in my hand. I open my eyes, and turn my head to see Meadow cuffed to my bed. I’ve got her hand firmly in mine, and it’s pressed to my chest. What. The. F*ck? I slowly uncurl my fingers, and she groans, turning her head and letting her lips part with sleep. She’s so f*ckin’ perfect.


I move my hand, and it swipes through something damp. My heart stammers and I look down to see a damp patch of seamen on my belly. What...the...hell? I move quickly after that, jerking out of the bed and stumbling as I land incorrectly and go crashing into the bedside table. Where are my f*ckin’ pants? Oh f*ck. I had a nightmare. I put her in my bed, and I had a nightmare. F*ck...I came on her.

I storm into the bathroom, but not before glimpsing her on the bed, eyes open, watching me. Nothing is showing on her face: it’s blank and emotionless. Maybe she was asleep when...it...happened? I glare at her, and then I slam the bathroom door, and start shoving things off the counter, sending them smashing onto the floor.

What the f*ck is wrong with me?

I grip the sink and drop my head, panting. Why the f*ck would I pull her onto the bed? Why the f*ck would I do something so stupid? God, I was probably high. I don’t remember how last night went down. I went out, I had a few drinks, a joint, and then I woke up with her in my bed. F*ck. I lift my hands and tangle my fingers in my hair and pull. The sharp pain snaps me back into reality.

No more.

~*~*~*~

MEADOW

I tuck my knees up to my chest and peer at the bathroom door, wondering what he’s breaking in there. I’ve heard things smashing, I’ve heard him cursing, and then it all fell silent. Did he realize what he did? Did he remember? It’s obviously affecting him quite badly, so maybe it’s best if I play dumb, and don’t let him know that I was fully aware of what happened.

I hear the bathroom door creak open, and he walks out, bare-chested. I feel my eyes widen slightly, hating that I want to look, yet not being able to stop myself. I slowly move my eyes down his body, then back up again until I meet his seething eyes. He’s angry, again. It’s nothing new to me, but I thought...I guess I’d hoped...God, what was I hoping? That he would wake up after last night and feel something? I’m a fool. That was never going to happen.

“Thank you for letting me sleep in your bed,” I say meekly. “I had the best sleep. I didn’t move all night.”

It’s a lie, but I see instant relief flood his features. He replaces it quickly and nods his head harshly before leaning down and taking hold of a black shirt. Then he turns and storms out the door, slamming it loudly. Well, that went well. I lean back against the headboard and pull the cuffs. They’re not going anywhere, and neither am I. Sighing, I close my eyes and lean my head back.

I just want answers. I need to know what happened to my dad that day. I need to know why Axel did it, and I need to know what the information on that USB stick is. I can’t keep running around in circles, but until Axel is willing to speak to me, I just can’t give in. So I’ll continue to sit here, cold, starving, and empty while I wait for one of us to break.

It’s not going to be me.

It’s never me.