He joined some kind of motorcycle club when he left town and had been sending money to our dad this entire time. I don’t know where Dad was keeping the money or what he was doing with it, but he never said a word. He never made out like we were alright financially, and every penny I made went to the mortgage and bills.
I can’t be mad at my dad though, rest his soul, but I can be mad at Jake. He took off and didn’t say a damn word. Didn’t tell me Hunter called him to come join the club. I have no doubt in my mind the phone call he received that night was from my brother, and he dropped everything, including me, to go to him.
He deserved the punch, but I’ll be damned if my hand doesn’t hurt like a bitch thanks to his chiseled, rock hard jaw. I don’t recall ever throwing a punch in my entire life. I had no idea how bad it would hurt. I wince as I try to ball up a fist.
I thought I wouldn’t recognize Jake; thought he would be so different. He is, but not in the way I imagined. He’s bulked up, just like Hunter, and is covered with tattoos, including some on his neck and head, although his face is left unmarred. The man who left me had no ink on his skin. He was utter perfection in my blinded teenage eyes.
His appearance has changed, but he still looked at me the way he always did. Like I’m some sparkling toy that he wants but is never supposed to have because he might break me. Like I was standing right in front of him but was still out of reach.
Damn him!
I sit down on the bed in the room Hunter told me was mine, clutching my quickly swelling hand. I look around at the drab walls, bare of any photos or paintings. There are tape marks, indicating there were once posters plastered on the wall, but they must’ve been torn down prior to my arrival. There’s a small desk in the far corner and the bed, but that’s the only furniture. Hunter assured me this was only temporary, and I’ll be in my own place by the end of the week.
I think about the small amount of money the church donated to me, and I know it isn’t enough for me to rent a place of my own. If I can convince Hunter to let me go back to Brewton, back to my job, I can save enough money for my own place soon. They have low-income apartments I can apply for, and I can even look for a place to rent. This is all happening way too fast, him bringing me here. I haven’t even had time to process my dad’s death.
“You settling in?” Jake asks me, peeking his head in the door without knocking.
“Making myself right at home,” I say and roll my eyes.
“You might as well. Your stuff should be here soon,” he replies and walks into the room, an ice pack in his hand. “Thought you could use this.”
He extends his hand, the ice pack dripping slightly on the floor. I take it and gingerly place it on my hand.
“Thanks, but you can go now.”
“Skylar, just let me‒”
“Explain? Is that what you’re going to say?” I ask bitterly. “Because there is absolutely nothing to explain. My brother called, and you answered, right?”
“Something like that,” he replies. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“What exactly did you mean to do, Jake? You left me alone, with no idea of where you were going or if I’d ever see you again. Did you honestly think that wouldn’t devastate me?”
“You don’t understand,” he says with a sigh.
“No, I don’t fucking understand!” I yell, tossing the ice pack onto the bed and going over to him. Although my hand still hurts, I give him a shove. “I don’t understand how you could fuck me and then leave me!”
“Skylar, keep your voice down,” Jake warns, but I don’t stop.
I push him again, my voice getting louder. “I was a virgin, and you fucked me right there on my bed, taking one thing I can never get back from me, and then walked away! All because my brother called you! You always chose him over me! Even after what happened between us!”
In an instant, Jake covers my mouth with one hand and pushes me back against the wall, his hard body holding me still.
“Damn it, shut up, will you?” he hisses.
My eyes grow wide, and he lowers his hand. “Hunter doesn’t know.”
“And he can’t fucking find out, so stop with all the dramatic fucking bullshit already,” he says firmly. “It was five years ago, I apologize, so move the fuck on for fuck’s sake!”
I narrow my eyes at him, at how harsh his words are. “Not a problem, Jake. Besides, I don’t even know you anymore.”
He releases me and takes a step back, running a hand over his short hair. He swallows, and it’s like the skull etched into his neck is laughing at me. I am being dramatic, childish even. It’s clear he doesn’t harbor the same feelings I do for him. I’m a damn idiot for holding on as long as I have.
I tear my gaze from him, walking around him and back to the bed. I hear the door click behind him as he leaves. Again, he doesn’t say a word, but I suppose I should be used to that from him by now.
I put the ice pack on my hand and lie down. Finally, I let the tears I’ve been holding in all day flow freely, my pillow absorbing them.
It’s well past midnight when I get back to the club. After my confrontation with Skylar, I had to get out for a bit. I took my Harley out for a ride and did my best to clear my head. Usually, a good, long ride helps, but it didn’t fucking help this time.
“Prospect, get me a beer!” I call out, not caring whether it’s Dash or Munsey who jumps to it.
Dash hops up from his spot on the couch, not bothering to pause the video game he’s playing with Munsey and rushes over to the fridge. He pops the cap on a beer for me and slides it across the bar. Dash is our newest prospect, so he kisses ass a bit more than Munsey does. If the vote passes, Munsey’s due to be patched in next time we hold church. I’m sure he feels he can relax a little and let Dash do the grunt work.
I take a sip, and as I’m lowering the bottle from my lips, Skylar comes into view. Her hair is up in a knot on top of her head, and she’s wearing a tank and pajama pants. My eyes instantly zone in on her tits and the fact she isn’t wearing a bra.
It isn’t uncommon for nipples to be on display around the club. Patch pussies are always hanging out, offering up the goods to the members, but Dash and Munsey are practically drooling. I snap my fingers and point back to the television, telling them to keep their eyes where they fucking belong.
Skylar opens the fridge and pulls out a pizza box. I watch as she grabs two beers and places them on top of the box before closing the fridge and heading back to her room. She’s completely damn oblivious to the effect she has on us all.
“You might not want to eat that,” I call out a warning to her. “That’s Bishop’s pizza, and he’s an asshole about sharing.”
Without even turning around, she answers back over her shoulder, “Tell Bishop if he wants his pizza, he can try to pry it out of my hands.”
Munsey lets out a laugh, and I glare over at him as Skylar disappears back into her room. “What? It was funny.” He shrugs. “So, that’s Hunter’s sister?”
“Yeah,” I answer gruffly.
“That’s too bad. She has a nice fucking rack.”
“Damn right, she does,” Dash agrees. “Lots of nice lingerie too.”