Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
His father could destroy him. He loved the club more than anything, and he wouldn’t risk fucking it up in the name of revenge. Not anymore.
He would have to play this out, though, as turning back wasn’t an option.
****
“You invited them for dinner?” Chloe asked.
Her mother threw more peppers into the pot and began to stir them around with more garlic and ginger. The stir-fry smelled amazing, and she’d already started to cook the coconut noodles with equal parts coconut milk and stock. This was one of her favorite dishes and her mother’s specialty.
“Why not?”
“I don’t know, because why invite them in the first place?
“You need to stop worrying. If you must know I invited them for you.”
“Why? Is something going on between you and Eagle?”
Lily snorted. “No, of course not, silly. Why would you think of something like that?”
“Why did you invite them for me?”
“Well, if you must know, Alfie came to me and asked if he could date you. I know you’re nervous about his intentions, and rather than throw you to the wolf, I figured in this kind of controlled environment, I’d get a good reading on the kid.”
“The kid?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do, and I don’t think this is a good idea. You should call him and cancel.” Chloe hadn’t told her mother about the kiss, or about anything at school. Not even the fight he got into with Daniel. It was pointless to do so.
“I’m not going to cancel. You’re worrying unnecessarily. It’s all going to work out. You will see.” Lily patted her hand.
“I don’t want to be here.”
“Stop it. Now I mean it. This is not going to be bad. It’s going to be awesome, and you’re going to stop worrying about every little detail.” Lily gave her hand a squeeze.
“Have you heard from Dad?” she asked.
“No, not yet. I have initiated the divorce papers. I don’t imagine it will be long now.”
Chloe nodded. She couldn’t believe this was happening. It was the end of an era with her parents. Their divorce would be … it wouldn’t be good. She’d not seen or heard from her father either. He hadn’t been around town, and she hadn’t asked Alfie about him either. Keeping Alfie at arm’s length was the only logical way to go.
The doorbell rang. “I better go and deal with that, hadn’t I?”
“Please, while I’m finishing up.”
Chloe left the kitchen.
“Don’t be rude. Remember I raised a lady, not a thug.”
She rolled her eyes, put a smile to her lips, and opened the door. Sure enough, there stood Eagle and Alfie.
“Evening,” she said.
Eagle had a small bundle of flowers.
“My mom is in the kitchen.”
“It smells incredible.” Eagle brushed past her, leaving her alone with Alfie.
“You tried to get a date with me by asking my mother?” she asked. She didn’t let him in. She stood in the doorway, not giving him room to move.
“I can see you’re upset by that?”
“Nah, this is my amused face.”
“I don’t get to see it all that much. Forgive me for not noticing it.”
“Why?” Chloe asked.
“Why what?”
“Why ask my mother when you could have asked me?”
“Would you have agreed to go on a date with me?”
“No.” The truth just kind of slipped out, and she gritted her teeth, hating herself for it.
“It’s why I decided to ask her. She doesn’t trust me either, so this is what we get. I have to watch my father drool all over your mother.”
She gave a shudder. “You know my mother doesn’t have a clue.”
“I know. She is completely clueless to my dad’s obsession. This is going to be one interesting night.” He took a step toward the door. “Are you going to let me in?”
“I’m thinking about it.” She held her hand up.
“Hopefully this will win me some points. Flowers for you, pretty lady.”
“You think flowers are going to butter me up?”
“They always do the ladies, and seeing as I was your first, I’m guessing I’m the first guy not related to you to give you flowers.”
“Yes, you are.”
“See, I’ve got a lot of firsts coming up here.”
“Come in, Alfie. Make yourself not at home,” she said. With his back to her, she smiled down at the flowers and breathed them in. They had a subtle, sweet scent, which she liked.
“You do like them?”
She looked over the edge of the flowers and nodded. “I do. I’ll go and put them in a vase.” She left Alfie, as her face heated up once again. He’d caught her sniffing his flowers and liking them.
In the kitchen she paused as she saw Eagle standing close to her mother, but she also saw the intense way he stared at her.
Chloe had always thought the man had a thing for Lily, and now since her father was out of the picture, he clearly wanted to be the only one she turned to.