Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
I swallow the lump rising in my throat.
I mean sure, he could have fought harder, but god, my mother is a demon, and I know exactly how she works.
I know how she can twist anything to go her way.
“Does it mean I couldn’t have fought harder? Fuck no. I regret that every single day and I’ll own every part of it. But if you think I spent my life not wantin’ to see you, Ramona, you’d be very fuckin’ wrong. You’re my baby girl, and I wanted nothin’ more than to be in your life.”
Tears burst forth and roll down my cheeks.
I swipe them away and look to the side; I’m not sure what to say, what to do.
“Not goin’ to push you, and I understand if you don’t want to see me, but you have to know I’m here, and the second you open your arms to that, I’ll be there.”
I look at him, and the fond memories of the bond we had flash back through my mind. I know he loved me, but I also know my mother made it seem like he just abandoned me. She twisted and turned my heart until it wasn’t even sure it was a heart anymore. In the end I didn’t know who to believe.
“I do want you to be in my life,” I say softly. “But it has to be slow. I’m ... treading carefully. I’ve been hurt a lot. More than you could possibly know. Mom didn’t make my life easy, and she’s still not making it easy.”
“She hurtin’ you?” he growls, his face going from soft to hard in a matter of seconds.
“No, she’s not, but she wants something and she’s not letting up.”
“Know how to handle your mother, you need help you come to me. Do you understand?”
I nod.
“As for everything else, take your time. You see me when you are ready, and when you want, but I will be waitin’, kid.”
My heart aches again.
“Okay,” I say. “Okay.”
“Are you safe? Happy? Doin’ things in life?”
I tell him about myself, at least, the bits he doesn’t know. I tell him about Eve and my job as a nurse, and how I’m taking care of Adan. He listens intently, his eyes never leaving mine, his smile warm and genuine.
“What are the chances of us meeting again through a biker club?” He chuckles, low.
I can’t help but smile. “Yeah, the world works in strange ways, indeed.”
“Well, one thing is for sure, I’m fuckin’ glad it came about. You’re a beautiful young woman, you should be proud of who you’ve become because you don’t have me or your mother to thank for it. It’s all you, kid.”
He’s right.
It is all me.
Every single ounce of doubt I’ve had in the last few days vanishes.
The pathetic longing feelings vanish.
I don’t need to prove myself to any man.
Or to anyone.
I’m fucking Ramona, baby.
I know who the hell I am.
I WIGGLE MY BOTTOM as I move around the house, dancing, the music loud. I’m wearing only a crop and panties, Adan isn’t due home until tonight, and it’s the first time I’ve had a break from people in quite some time. I decided the house could use a spring clean and today I was going to give it one. Also, after seeing my father, I am feeling good inside, happy, confident again.
I’m done playing games.
Done messing with Adan and waiting for him to be something he’s not.
Done trying to find a nice man like Daniel to prove that’s what I need.
No, I need a man who will take care of me but fuck me like a wild animal at night.
I also need to be who I am.
I’m not Adan’s type, that’s perfect.
I’m my type, that’s all that matters.
I sing loudly as I spray the windows and wipe them, wiggling my booty and practicing my excellent twerking skills. I flick my hair around, laughing as I hop from foot to foot, feeling so damned good it is like a breath of fresh air.
I spin around and the scream and throw the spray as I see Adan, Beckett, Remy, and Hank standing in the doorway, watching me. They look as though they’ve just come through the front door, but my music was up so loud I didn’t hear a thing.
“Sweet Jesus, way to give a girl a heart attack,” I gasp, pressing my hand to my chest.
Remy’s eyes move up and down my body and then he grins. “You got a man, Ramona?”
I flush and laugh. “You’re terrible. No.”
“You want one?”
I bite my lip, grinning. “Are you offering?”
“He’s not,” Adan says, his eyes on mine, his face stern.
I blink slowly at him. “I’m sorry, since when did you get to choose for me?”
I look back to Remy. “If you take me out, I might consider it.”
“I’d take you fuckin’ anywhere lookin’ at that ass.”