“Tam,” he says, his voice strained. “Shoulder.”
I move back, wincing. “I forgot,” I tell him, retracting my hands. “I’m sorry.”
“I can take a little pain for you, princess.”
I feel as if I’m floating on air. What a whirlwind of emotions. A few days ago, he was lying in the hospital, a hole blown in his shoulder, and now he finally has his walking papers from the Disciples.
Maybe the shooting was a blessing in disguise. If something as awful as that ever can be. But in reality, without his injury, he would’ve been required to be here at least another eight months.
“Totally the best news ever.” I smile, unable to keep the smile from my face. “You can stay in my room at the apartment while I’m away at school during the week, until we find a place. I’ll come home every weekend.”
Mammoth shakes his head. “Gigi and I wouldn’t make the best roommates.”
I furrow my brows. “Why?”
“With you away, I wouldn’t feel right staying in her place alone with her. Understand?”
I nod. I do understand. I mean, I get the logic, but it doesn’t make it wise or reality. If I could trust anyone in the world with Mammoth, it would be her.
“She’s never there. If you stay at our place, she’ll stay at Pike’s. End of story,” I tell him, putting my proverbial foot down.
He stares at me, jaw ticking, gray eyes searching mine. “It’s still a no.”
“Just for a few days until you find a place.”
“Our place,” he corrects me. He smiles, pulling me closer with one arm hooked around my body, hand on my ass. “I just need a bed. We can save finding a place for later.”
I dig my fingers into his hair, careful not to touch his shoulder.
“I could live in the apartment above the office at the garage.”
I chew on my lip, letting him work through that statement.
“It’s small, but more than enough,” he says, not backing off that idea.
“Um,” I mumble, trying to keep my face as emotionless as possible, but also knowing I’m failing miserably.
“It’s perfect.”
“Mammoth,” I whisper, hating to break the news to him that I am not built for the garage lifestyle.
“Princess,” he says, smiling down at me as I stand between his legs, toying with his long brown hair.
“I can’t live in a garage,” I tell him, ignoring the knot forming in my stomach.
He laughs, giving my thigh a squeeze. “It won’t be forever. When you graduate, we’ll find our own place. It’s the perfect go-between for now. I’ll be at the garage all the time working anyway. There’s no point in wasting money on a rental when you’re not going to be around to enjoy it with me.”
“So, what you’re saying is I better get used to the smell of motor oil and gasoline?”
“I’ll burn those fancy chick candles you love so much. You can make the place smell like pumpkin whatever-the-fuck-it’s-called.”
“Pumpkin spice,” I correct him.
He nods, smiling back at me.
“You love me,” I whisper.
He nods again, brushing my hair away from my face. “Was there any doubt?”
“The pumpkin spice sealed the deal. Before that, I wasn’t entirely convinced. But any man who agrees to burn pumpkin spice to make his woman happy has to be in love. What else could it be?”
“You’re out of your mind.”
I laugh. “Was there any doubt?”
He bends his neck, bringing his mouth to mine. The kiss is soft and gentle, making my toes curl. “I want you back in school tomorrow,” he whispers against my lips.
I open my eyes, staring at him with our faces close together. “Tomorrow? I have to take care of you, and who’s going to drive you back to the other coast?”
Mammoth slides his hand up my spine, cupping the back of my head. “My truck is here. I can drive myself, and you’ve already missed enough school. It’s a shoulder, Tamara. I can survive with one arm.”
I pull my head back, wanting to see his entire face. “It’s not a good idea. It’s too dangerous.”
“Driving with one arm is dangerous?”
I nod, keeping my face straight and serious. “Extremely dangerous.”
“Not any more dangerous than being in a car with you when you’re using two hands.”
“I’m a great driver,” I scoff.
“Your bumper and fender would say otherwise.”
“There’re a lot of blind spots when I’m parking. It’s not my fault.”
He raises an eyebrow, knowing I’m full of shit.
I am a horrible driver, but I don’t drive any worse or better than most everybody in the state of Florida. It’s the reason I haven’t had a new car in years. There’s no point with the miles I put on driving back and forth between college and home. Once I graduate and don’t have to do the I-75 driver dash every few days, I’ll be able to keep a car in pristine condition.
Mammoth tightens his grip around the back of my neck, pulling my face closer again. “School tomorrow. Understand?”
I twist my lips and mutter, “Fine.” Which is the exact opposite of how I feel about abandoning him during his time of need.
“School is too important, and you’re too close to finishing to fuck it all up for me. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, babe. I can do it for a few days right now with one arm, and if I need anything, Pike, Gigi, Lily, Jett, and probably anyone from your family will be there to help.”
“Promise me you’ll stay in my room for a few days at least until you and Tank work out the details. Don’t go trying to move in to that dirty-ass garage while you have an open wound that’s trying to heal.”
He sighs, but I raise an eyebrow back at him because he has to know my logic isn’t wrong. If he wants me to give a little and go back to school, he needs to give a little too and at least try to stay healthy.
“Fine,” he bites out, just as annoyed at being told what to do as I am.
“Then we’re agreed.”
“I’ll spend at least the first week in your apartment until I’m more healed, and your sweet ass is heading back to school.”
I smile. “It’s a deal. I’ll even tell Gigi not to fawn over you too much while I’m gone, but make no mistake, I will be calling her to make sure you’re not overdoing things.”
Mammoth pushes me back until I’m flush against the bed and he’s on top of me, propped up on his uninjured arm. “Absolutely no fawning.”
I swallow, staring up into his seemingly bottomless gray eyes. “No fawning,” I repeat, whisper-soft.
“I’m a grown man.”
I nod as I slide my hands across his back, feeling every ridge and dip until they meet in the middle over his spine. “You’re grown.”
“I don’t have anyone parked outside your apartment on campus to make sure you’re not doing anything crazy.”
“I never do anything crazy.”
He stares at me, waiting for me to crack and knowing damn well I do stupid shit all the time.
“Well, not always,” I finally admit. “My course load is too heavy this year for shenanigans anyway.”