Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Dad came up next to me and smiled. “Good to have you back, son.”
“Good to be back.”
“How’d things go today with Jess?”
“Not too bad, but I’m not so sure that Goose would say the same.”
“It was awesome,” Goose shouted from the back. “Jess is the shit. I’m gonna put a ring on her finger. You just wait and see.”
“You would, you sick bastard.”
“Ah, damn,” Dad grumbled under his breath. “How the hell did you let that happen?”
“I let him come into therapy with me today, but Skid’s the one to blame.”
“What? How’s that shit on me?” Skid gasped.
“You’re the one who was telling everybody she was hot.”
“Hold up,” Skid protested. “I didn’t tell everybody. I just told Goose.”
It took a little while for the guys to settle down, and as the day went on, Rusty and a couple of the others left for their shift at the Vault. I was actually a little jealous of the fact. I hadn’t been there since my last shift, and I missed the rush of the wild nights. Thankfully, it wouldn’t be long before I was back at it.
Things had finally started to settle down, so I used the opportunity to ask Ghost, “So, what happened to your little stalker? Did the girls get rid of her?”
“Yeah, they got rid of her, but it wasn’t easy.”
“Oh, yeah? What went down?”
“I thought they were gonna duke it out. She didn’t even care about Star or Nikki or that they were my girls. She was willing to join.”
“Hey, now. Doesn’t sound so bad.”
“Nah, you had to be there. This chick was wide-eyed and crazy.”
“Yeah, crazy about you,” I teased.
“No, bitch was crazy. Stole half my clothes and keyed my damn truck, and I still have that fucking itch behind my balls.”
“Holy shit.”
“Now, you’re gettin’ it.”
I chuckled as I told him, “Ah, man. She was just trying to get your attention.”
“Well, she certainly did that,” he scoffed. “What about you and lil’ sis? You two gettin’ along?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“Hmm. Alright then.” He nodded with a smirk. “So, where’s she at?”
“Went home for a couple of days.”
“But she’s coming back, right?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Good deal.” He reached over and gave my shoulder a slap. “I gotta say, it hasn’t been the same around here without ya.”
“You trying to say you missed me?”
“Don’t know if I’d go that far.”
“I would,” Shep interjected. “Been too damn quiet around here without you stirring up trouble.”
“Trouble should be my middle name, but quiet should be a good thing. It means no one’s fucking with the club.”
“At least for the time being.”
“So, nothing more from the Vipers?”
“Not as of late.” Shep motioned his head over at Dad. “Prez got word to their leader and made it clear that if war was what they wanted then war was what they were gonna get, and if they pulled one more stunt, it was on. And it’s been radio silence from them ever since.”
“You think it’s really done?”
“Not a chance.”
His words hit me like a punch in the gut. I was still processing when my phone chimed with a message. I grabbed it out of my pocket and glanced down at the screen, and I got a second punch of the day.
Mom:
I’m leaving Carmine.
Antonia
“It sucks so much.”
“I know it does, and I’m so sorry.”
“It just doesn’t make any sense. I thought things were going so well.” Mark’s voice was heavy with heartbreak when he said, “He checked all the boxes, you know? And I thought I did the same for him.”
Mark had been a mess all day at the office. I’d asked him to meet me for dinner, so he could finally talk about the breakup. I had no idea just how hurt he really was until he said, “He said it was too much too soon, that he was losing himself in us. He said he felt suffocated, which I don’t get. We’d only been seeing each other for a couple of months. I hadn’t had time to suffocate him. I guess I was too much for him.”
“Well, that says more about him than it does you because you’re one of the best people I know.” I hoped it would make him feel better when I said, “You’re supportive and caring, and you love wholeheartedly. If he couldn’t see that, then maybe he wasn’t the right one for you.”
“No, this is on me. I was too clingy.” Mark shook his head, tears glistening in his eyes. “I tried to give him space, but I guess it wasn’t enough, and that hurts, you know? I thought we had something special. I thought we could make it work.”
“I know, but this is his loss, Mark. I mean that. You’re a great guy, and you deserve someone who appreciates everything you are and everything you do.”
“If I’m such a great guy, then why am I alone?”