Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“Got it!”
I rushed out to my truck, and within seconds, I was pulling through the clubhouse gate. Concerned that Elsie might be in some kind of trouble, I hammered down on the accelerator and sped towards downtown. My mind was racing a mile a minute. I knew when that asshole showed up at the clubhouse something wasn’t right about him. I figured it was just my jealousy talking, but now, I realized it was something more.
As soon as I got to the pizza place, I whipped into a parking spot at the door and messaged Elsie. My knee started bouncing as I gripped the steering wheel and stared at the front door. Relief washed over me when Elsie finally stepped outside, and I could see that she was okay. She looked surprised as she made her way over to the passenger side of my truck.
As soon as she opened the door, she said, “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“I thought Lacy was coming to pick me up.”
“She had car trouble, so she asked me to come.”
“Yeah, I bet she did.” She rolled her eyes as she got in and shut the door. She buckled her seat belt, then dropped her hands to the hem of her skirt, inching it down her slender thigh. “Thanks for coming to get me.”
“No problem.” I kept my focus on the road ahead as I asked, “There a reason why you’re so anxious and your date couldn’t bring you home?”
“Let’s just say things didn’t work out.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” She glanced over at me with a grimace. “He ended up being a jerk.”
I can’t say that I was all that disappointed that Elsie’s date didn’t go well. I could tell by looking at him that the guy was a douchebag, and I didn’t want him anywhere near Else. Hell, I didn’t want any guy around her. She was my true north. The light that guided me through the darkest shadows. The calm to my chaos. The place my mind went to whenever I needed peace. And I would do anything in my power to keep her out of harm’s way.
She was all I could think about, and I wanted to make her mine.
But I loved her too much for that.
Elsie deserved someone who could give her the world—not a world of disappointment and heartbreak. She’d had enough of that to last a lifetime, and I refused to give her any more.
We were almost back to the clubhouse when Elsie announced, “You know, we still haven’t talked about the other night.”
“That’s because there’s nothing to talk about.”
“Of course, you’d say that.” She turned to face me as she said, “You never want to talk about anything.”
“That’s not true,” I argued. “I’ll talk about whatever you want.”
“Okay, then tell me what you were doing at the club the other night.”
“I was just having a drink.”
“You drove all the way into the city for a drink?”
“It wasn’t exactly planned... I just needed to get away for a while.”
Her eyes narrowed as she pushed, “You weren’t wearing your cut.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“You’re being intentionally vague.”
“I answered your questions. What else do you want from me?”
“Nothing.” She turned and stared out the window. “I don’t want anything from you.”
We pulled up to the clubhouse, and I’d barely gotten parked when Elsie opened her door and jumped out. I didn’t move. I just sat there watching as she headed inside the clubhouse. Eventually, I got out of the truck and started after her. I was just about to reach for the door when Stitch appeared out of the darkness. There was no missing the surprise in my voice when I asked, “Hey, Pop. Where’d you come from?”
“I was out in my truck when you and Elsie pulled up.” He gave me one of his looks as he said, “Figured you two might need a minute.”
“Nah, not so much.”
“Maybe if you’d pull your head out of your ass?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “I’m just trying to do right by Elsie.”
“Holding back isn’t doing right by her.”
“We both know she deserves better than me.”
“That’s bullshit. That girl would be lucky to have you.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
“You’re the only one who doesn’t.” His brows furrowed, and his tone grew stern. “You gotta stop thinking you’re not enough, son. You’re more than enough. You always have been.”
Before I could open my mouth, he reached out and pulled me against him, hugging me briefly. Then, without saying anything more, he turned and headed inside the clubhouse. That was Stitch. The man who had found me all those years ago at the diner had turned into the father I never really had and the one I so desperately needed. He was a man who didn’t waste words. If he said them, he meant them.
I considered his words, and deep down, I knew he was right. I was the only one standing in the way of what I wanted, and I was making a real fucking mess of things. Elsie was going on actual dates, seeing and talking to other men, and more importantly, she was growing more and more frustrated with me.