Did I mention I hated them?
The third visit to Christine I talked to her. I told her the truth, confessed my feelings and then I apologized. I apologized for hating her when I was younger and for not getting to know her then. I told her I’d always regret not getting the chance to make a memory with her, something I could compare when Blackie took his trips down memory lane.
By the fourth visit, I knew he was being released and my time with Christine would come to a close. I asked her to watch over him and promised he’d return next week.
I never expected him to find me there.
If he went to the cemetery, found the flowers and wondered who brought them…I’d let him keep wondering.
But he not only saw me, he heard everything I said and for the first time I became his equal. Someone who could relate and understand. I took a chance, despite the doubt my maker tried to impart on me, hoping he wouldn’t turn a deaf ear to me and pleaded with him.
He didn’t argue or makes excuses.
He listened.
A spark of hope was ignited and even though I wanted to stay with him, never leave his side, I walked away and gave him his overdue visit with his smile keeper.
My dad and Reina were having everyone over for dinner, a celebration of sorts, thankful that that he survived. I was on pins and needles after I left the cemetery, worried about how he’d act in front of everyone and prayed he wouldn’t act like a world class jerk. I didn’t think my heart could take another blow, especially, not after sharing a tender moment and the softer side of the man clothed in leather.
He was relatively quiet as he sat beside me, eating the olives I picked out of my salad. He didn’t ignore me or pretend like he wasn’t feeling some kind of way about me. I’m not na?ve enough to believe he had some sort of epiphany but I think he thought about the, what if and maybe, just maybe, he walked away from the cemetery carrying the same spark of hope I did.
My phone blew up, reminding me I had made plans with Daniela and Noah to attend this frat party. I hated college parties, especially the type that included sorority girls.
Fake.
Whiney.
Kappa Annoying.
I texted Blackie about twenty minutes ago the address I was at but he didn’t answer me. I hope he didn’t change his mind. He brought me into the bathroom, whispered sexy things into my ear as he slid his hand into my pants.
I glanced around the room at the guys doing keg stands and smiled.
There was no comparison.
Give me my guy over these any day.
“Come on,” Daniela said, dragging me onto the makeshift dance floor. “Standing here in the corner won’t help us nail one of the frat brothers,” she insisted.
“That’s fine with me,” I mumbled, making the best of the situation and joined her. I suppose she needed a wingman. I felt a hand on my waist and spun around to meet Noah’s handsome face.
My best friend was the poster boy for college jock but he wasn’t a jerk like the rest of them. He was sweet, and I hoped pledging didn’t change that about him.
“There’s my girl,” he exclaimed, hitting me with the scent of alcohol on his breath as he leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Thanks for coming.”
“And miss your big night? Never,” I teased.
“No, introduce me to your friend,” the guy standing next to him said.
I lifted my head, smiled politely as I took him in. I had seen him around campus before. He might even be in one of my classes, maybe English, I don’t remember…. nor did I remember his name.
“Lacey, Brandon. Brandon, Lacey,” Noah introduced, turning around to glare at his friend. “This one’s off limits, man.”
“She yours?” Brandon questioned with a smile.
“She’s mine,” a voice said from behind me.
That voice.
Those two words.
It all gave me goosebumps.
He came.
I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulled her against me and glared at the little fuck, watching as he stared back at me, surrendering his hands in the air.
“Didn’t know they were letting parents chaperone,” he laughed.
Kid had a death wish.
“Dude,” the guy next to him warned. I had seen him with Lacey a handful of times. “Don’t you know who he is? Man, read the fucking patch before you go saying something stupid.”
Lacey twisted in my arms, lifting a hand to my face and forcing my eyes to hers.
“Let’s just get out of here, okay?”
I nodded, diverting my gaze back to the little shit who rolled his eyes as Noah whispered in his ear.
She grabbed my hand and dragged me away.
“You look like you’re going to snap his neck,” she commented, over the loud music. Ignoring her, I stepped around her and pulled her through the sea of dicks fist-pumping away, hoping to get a blow job.
Wolf was right.
Lacey didn’t belong here.