Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“Yeah.” I lean on the door harder. “Ah, is there any chance…does Grinder know? About us?”
His gaze scans the area over my shoulder before returning to my face. “You make it sound like a secret affair.”
I snort. “That might be less complicated.”
“Jesus,” he mutters. “No, I don’t have any reason to think he knows. Unless you told him on one of your visits?”
“No fucking way.” The corner of his right eye twitches—a sign I’ve hurt or maybe surprised him? “I mean, I wouldn’t bring that up there…or with anyone before I talk to…you know who.”
His gaze slides away. Guilt? Something else? Whatever it is, Rock will never admit it. I release the door. “Go get him, Prez. Bring Grinder home. It’s been a long time.”
“See you soon.”
He climbs into his SUV and throws me a quick wave as he drives away. Then I head inside the clubhouse. My gaze scans the room, seeking one person. A pale beam of sunlight filters through the window, landing on Charlotte, illuminating her red hair in its glow. Appropriate.
She turns. Her dark red lips curve into a smile. She raises her hand, giving me a slight wave.
Sparky blocks my path and shoves a blunt in front of my face. “Emotional Palm Tree. Helps you release all those inner demons,” he promises with a doofy smile.
“I’ve got better ways to release my demons, bro.”
“Sex is the only other way.” He palms his crotch and mimics an explosion bursting through his fingers. “The union of—”
“Yeah. Got it. Get out of my way.” I straighten my arm, pushing him to the side, and continue toward Charlotte. More people move and my sister comes into view, her hands flailing in the air to punctuate their animated conversation. The corners of my mouth slide up. Then guilt creeps along the back of my throat. The regret clinging to me from my brief talk with Rock, or the same guilt that’s been following me for almost a year now?
“Hey!” Charlotte bounces off the couch cushion and peers up at me. “I thought maybe you were going with Rock.”
“Nah, he doesn’t want to overwhelm Grinder.”
Her mouth shifts into a sympathetic smile. “I hope all this is okay.” She sweeps her arm toward the crowded clubhouse.
“Yeah, although Sparky and his Emotional Pineapples might not thrill Grinder.”
“Emotional Palm Trees,” Heidi corrects.
“You better not go near that stuff,” I scold, gesturing toward her barely noticeable baby bump.
She rolls her eyes.
“You realize she’s an adult who’s already had one healthy baby, right? I think she knows what she’s doing,” Charlotte lectures me, using her lawyer voice.
“He can’t help it, Charlotte.” Heidi points to her left ear, then her right. “I’m able to tune him out with precision now.”
The two of them snicker at my expense. I smother a smile. Nothing better than the most important women in my life joining together to razz my ass.
Groaning, I wrap my arms around Charlotte’s waist and pull her closer. “Is this what I’m in for? Years of the two of you poking fun at me?”
“Decades.” She loops her arms around my neck and reaches up on tiptoes to kiss my cheek. “And decades of verbal grenades lobbed your way.”
“Can’t wait.” I lean down and catch her lips in a quick kiss.
“Ugh, my ears may have adjusted, but my eyes can’t deal with the horror.” Heidi stands and pushes past us. “I’m going to see if Trinity needs anything.”
Charlotte pulls away, staring after my sister. “I should go help too—”
“No.” I curl my fingers around hers. “Stay with me.”
She tilts her head and studies my expression. “Everything okay? Are you nervous about seeing Grinder on the outside?”
Nervous isn’t the right word. Guilty doesn’t quite capture what I’m feeling either. I was a teenager when Grinder went inside. Not a whole hell of a lot I could’ve done to prevent it.
“You were just a kid,” Charlotte says, as if she’d read my mind. “From the stories I’ve heard, you’ve done a lot to turn the club into what Grinder envisioned before he went inside.”
I hum a noise of semi-agreement. Maybe that’s what’s bothering me. It’ll be too many changes for Grinder.
Almost an hour and a half later, I catch Wrath slipping out the front door. I crane my neck to look out the window. “I think they’re here.”
A few minutes go by, and then they enter. I slap Murphy’s arm. “Let’s go.”
Murphy leans into me as we approach. “He sure looks a hell of a lot better than he did last time I visited. Like he aged backward about ten years.”
“Freedom will do that to you,” I answer. “I’m just glad the parole board stopped jerking him around.”
Mindful of what Rock said earlier, I wait until Rock and Z back away to introduce Grinder to Charlotte.
She clutches my hand tighter. “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”