by Sam Crescent
Chloe had always thought the man had a thing for Lily, and now since her father was out of the picture, he clearly wanted to be the only one she turned to.
“Sweetie, you got flowers too?” Lily asked.
“Yes, pretty flowers,” she said, holding them up.
“Will you take Eagle to the table so we can start enjoying this food? It’s nearly done,” Lily said.
“Eagle, would you like to follow me?” She showed them to the dining room where her mother had already put everyone in place. They had a small table, so she and Alfie would be sitting opposite each other while Eagle and Lily did the same.
This was going to be so much fun. She kept her mouth shut though, so no one would be able to detect the sarcasm.
“How’s school?” Eagle asked.
“You’re talking to me?” she asked, pointing at her chest.
“Yes. Alfie tells me you and he are now friends.”
“Oh, no—” She didn’t get the chance to finish as he kicked her under the table. She pressed her lips together but so wanted to kick him back.
Instead, she forced a smile to her lips.
“We’re really good friends,” he said.
“Kicking a girl under the table doesn’t make you very good friends, Alfie. I taught you better than that.”
Chloe bit her lip, seeing the glare in the man’s eyes.
“We are good friends,” she said, quickly coming to Alfie’s defense. “In fact, he wanted to ask me out on a date and my mom said no. It’s why you got invited, so she can see we’re bosom buddies and all that.” Shut up, Chloe. “Without him you wouldn’t be trying my mom’s cooking, and believe me, you’d be missing out.”
She really needed to stop talking. There was no time for Eagle or Alfie to say anything as her mother came out, carrying the large wok filled with her coconut stir-fry.
Chloe’s hands were shaking, so she was more than happy to have her mother serve the food.
The conversation was rather dull, talking about school, work, something to do with the club. Chloe didn’t pay attention. She was more interested in her food and not thinking about Alfie across from her.
Between kisses, proposed dates, and him standing up for her, she was all over the place. It was much easier when he hated her.
After dinner, her mother served cake, and to get away from all the awkward tension, Chloe offered to do the dishes, leaving her mother alone with Eagle. It wasn’t the choice she wanted to make, but she had to make her escape.
At least she knew Eagle wouldn’t hurt her mother, or she hoped not anyway.
“You’re running away again,” Alfie said, following her into the kitchen.
“I’m not running away. These dishes do not do themselves.”
“Noted. We have a club fairy come and take care of them.”
“Of course.” She turned the tap on, heating up the water.
“Why did you save me in there?” he asked.
“I didn’t.”
“Yeah, you did. You saw the way my dad was reacting, and you told him about us dating, and how you wanted to. You gave the sense that you did, and I know I didn’t win you over that easily.”
Chloe averted her gaze, not wanting to look at him.
“Look, I saw all those years ago. I saw him hurt you. I don’t know what you’d done, but I can imagine living with him isn’t easy.”
“I know you saw.”
She turned to look at him. “I figured it was one of the reasons you hated me.”
“It was, but what you don’t know is I deserved it.”
“No, there’s no way a child could deserve that.”
Alfie laughed. “I know my dad loves me. He’s president of the Satan’s Crew MC, and with that comes a whole load of responsibility. He has to make sure I’m a good man. The kind of man who can take over from him some day, and I will. That day I got that beating, Ian was locked in the old barn, and I was messing around with matches and I set fire to it. Nearly killed Ian. He got out, but he did suffer from smoke inhalation, died on the table for a minute before the doctors were able to bring him back. My dad, he got home and gave me a beating so I would know never to play with matches like that again. But you’re right. I hated you for seeing that. I’m sorry.”
He put a hand on her back, and she did no more than hold him close.
Chapter Seven
Chloe’s life over the next month and a half was surreal. The graffiti on her locker stopped completely, which she wasn’t going to complain about. People stopped trying to trip her in the hallway, and she stopped having things thrown at her, or put in her locker.
For the first time, she got to live a painless, happy time at high school.
Surreal as fuck.
Her parents’ divorce, against all the odds, was also going smoothly. Kurt didn’t contest it, and she hadn’t seen her dad since that time at the diner, which did suck. She had hoped he’d stop by to say hey. Even though most of his time had been spent at the club, he was still her dad, and she did love him.
Day by day, her mother began to glow again.
The tears finally stopped, and she was able to live her life without thinking about Kurt. What Chloe didn’t want to think about was Eagle.
He’d started to hang around a whole lot more, and she didn’t know if she liked him being near her mother.
Like tonight.
It was a Friday night. Alfie had offered to spend the night with her, and in doing so, Lily had agreed to go out on a date with Eagle, not that she would agree it was a date. Far from it.
“You’re sure you’re going to be okay?” Lily asked.
“Yeah, Mom. I’ve got popcorn, and I think Alfie has ordered some pizza. We’re good. Believe me. We can handle one night of you having fun.”
“I can stay. This is so stupid. I haven’t been out in a long time. I don’t even know why I’m bothering with all this,” Lily said. “The divorce is not final.”
“But it has been signed, and everything is fine. You should go out tonight. In fact, you need to go out. I demand it,” Chloe said.
“Why?” Lily asked. “I was eighteen once, and I remember why I wanted someone to go out.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Not like that. I promise you. Never, not in a million years is it going to happen. We’re really good friends. I promise you, I’ll be good, in all things.”
“I don’t know.”
“Trust me, Mom, really, trust me. I just want you to have some fun tonight.”
“It has been so long since I dated.”
“You’ll know what to do. I have faith in you.”
Lily laughed. “I’m the grownup here. I should be the one giving you advice.”
Chloe hugged her mother tightly. “I know, and one day, you will.” She closed her eyes, hoping her mother would have an amazing time tonight. “Go out. Have some fun and know I’m not going to do anything crazy.”
“I know boys that age. They want something, Chloe.”
“I’m not going to give in. Trust me.”
“I know I can trust you.” Lily hugged her again, but this time, the doorbell went. It would seem they’d forever be interrupted with the bell. “There’s no backing out now.”
They made their way toward the door, but her mother made a pitstop at the living room.
“No funny business in my house. I don’t care what you guys are calling it nowadays. Not in my house, understood?”
Alfie saluted her. “You got it.”
“Good.”
Chloe wanted the world to open up and swallow her whole. It was the only way she’d be able to deal with this kind of embarrassment.
Opening the door, Eagle was there, without his leather cut, which was a surprise. He held a bouquet of flowers, and this huge smile on his face. He also looked nervous.
“Lily, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you. Are those flowers for me?”
“Yes.”
“They’re pretty. Erm, I better p
ut them in water.”
Chloe took the flowers from her mother. “I can do that. Have fun.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, Mom, I’m sure.”
Lily nodded, but her nerves were still there.
Finally, she made it out the door, and Chloe rested against it, wondering if she should have advised her mother to stay home.
“You okay?” Alfie asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Your dad won’t hurt her, will he?”
“No. He won’t.”
“I have a hard time believing that.”
“I know. The only time I’ve seen my dad look so happy is when he’s around Lily.”
“What happened to your mother?” She slapped a hand across her mouth. “Forget I asked. It was so rude of me.” She stared down at the flowers. “I better put these in some kind of water before they die.” Her mother would take it as an omen the date was bad.
Walking past Alfie, she went into the kitchen, putting the flowers in one of the few vases, and filling it with water.
“She left,” Alfie said.
“Your mother?”
“Yeah. From what I know she was a club whore who got knocked up, not intentionally either. She didn’t want to earn herself a patched member, or even a prospect. All she wanted was to have some fun. The idea of a kid terrified her. Once she had spat me out and gave me to my dad, she was gone. Promised to never return.”
“Do you think she ever will?”
“Nah, it hasn’t happened in the past eighteen years, and it never will.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Why? It’s not like I’ve got anything to compare it to. There’s no memories for me to hate or to hang on to. It’s all a blank for me. Unlike your dad. He’s disappointed you all the time. You have those memories and your hatred of what he’s done. At least I don’t have that.”
“I see your point. I don’t like it, but I see it.”
He chuckled. “Are you going to hug that vase forever?”
“I’m going to take it my mom’s room. I think they’d make her happy to roll over and see them in the morning. I’ll be back in a second.”
Leaving Alfie in the kitchen, she walked up to her mother’s room. There was nothing to resemble Kurt in the room anymore. Her mother had completely rid the space of anything that reminded her of him.
Putting the flowers on the side of the bed, Chloe ran her hand down the covers.
“Nice,” Alfie said, making her jump.
“What are you doing up here?”
“You didn’t say I couldn’t see the upstairs of your house.”
“I thought that was a given.”
“You need to learn to communicate more.”
She sighed.
“Show me your room,” he said.
“Are you kidding me?”
“What? I promised your mom no funny business would happen tonight, and I mean it. I always keep my promises. Now, show me your room. I won’t fuck you tonight.”
Chloe’s hands clenched to fists at her side. “You won’t be having sex with me ever.”
“Don’t get all stuck up about this. I didn’t mean it like that. I’ve yet to learn how to use tact.”
“Or manners.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry. Forgive me.” One of his hands sank into her hair as the other moved down to her ass, squeezing the flesh.
“Enough, mister,” she said. “I forgive you, but stop talking about sex.”
“You know it’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“Says the guy who has done it a thousand times probably.”
“Nine hundred and ninety-nine. Saving the one thousandth for you.”
“How sweet,” she said.
“I’m teasing. Yes, I’ve had sex before, which is why I know you shouldn’t be afraid of it.”
“I’m not afraid of it. I’m just not ready, and I don’t want you to push this.” She didn’t see Alfie being her first.
Sex was something she did want to experience, but right now, no. Not with her doubts still about Alfie. Sure, he’d not given her a reason to doubt him, and there were times she’d find herself feeling sick to her stomach because she wanted to believe him so much.
“I’m not going to push this.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’m happy for you to take your time, to get ready.”
She stared at his chest and wondered if there would ever come a time when she did feel ready with Alfie.
“I would understand if you wanted to date someone else?”
“Why would I want to date anyone else?”
“I’m not giving you what you want,” she said. “We’re not committed together, you know. You don’t have to go without.”
Alfie chuckled. “Wow, you’re giving me the go-ahead to sleep with other girls even though I’ve said it’s me and you. We’re together.”
“We both know that’s not true.”
He slammed his lips down, holding her into place as he ravished her mouth. She gasped as he slid his tongue across her lips, and she opened up for him to deepen the kiss. It was so … unexpected and magical.
They had kissed a couple of times but never like this.
By the time he released her, her lips tingled.
“I’m not going to be seeing any other girl. I’m not a sex-starved man, Chloe. You’re going to learn to trust me.”
****
Eagle held the door open for Lily and took her arm, escorting her into the bar and grill.
“I wanted to take you to some fancy restaurant, but I’m kind of banned from all of them.”
Lily giggled. “It’s no problem. I’m not the kind of girl who needs fancy. This is nice though. I like it.”
He’d reserved a table, and he helped her into her seat before taking the one opposite her.
She was so nervous, and he wanted to calm her down, or at least to make sure she knew there was no pressure tonight.
“Well, this is really amazing,” she said. “You know it has been over twenty years since I went on a date with Kurt. Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
He reached across the table. “I know all about you and Kurt. You two were inseparable.”
“True. You know he always wanted to be part of the club. Always. When he told me what he did, how he ran away rather than stay and fight, part of me was glad.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I mean, I was young, alone, with a baby. I was also taking care of Alfie at the time. Kurt was the only one earning as well. I didn’t want to be alone. I don’t know if he ran away out of fear or if he was doing it for me. I always thought he’d come to me because he loved me and didn’t want me to be alone.”
“I can see that.”
“I don’t know if that’s the truth.”
Eagle didn’t believe for a second Kurt would have run away to just be with Lily. She deserved someone better.
Over the years, because of his love for Lily, he’d given Kurt so many chances. Chances even the club didn’t know about, to see if he was truly a coward or just had better instincts.
Each time he failed.
A fight, he’d run.
Shots, he’d cower.
There was no real man to him.
He wanted to be part of a club, but not pay the true price through trust and loyalty. It’s why he could never have Kurt as a full patched member. His father had once told him that no matter how much you liked the guy, you sometimes had to cut loose the weak ones to make room for the ones that will make you stronger, which was exactly what he did.
“Don’t think about it,” Eagle said.
“You’re right. I’m here with you, on our first date, and I don’t want to think about anything but having a good time. So, tell me, Eagle, what interests you?” she asked.
“You.”
She smiled. “You’re saying all the right words.”
“No, Lily, I’m saying everything I mean. You’re the only thing outside
of the club, I have any interest in. Watching you and Kurt has been real fucking hard, and now, I can’t pretend.”
“Eagle, please, not tonight. Can we just … you like me?”
The surprise in her voice was so endearing. She didn’t have a fucking clue about him loving her.
“I more than like you, Lily.”
“Oh. I … I had no idea.”
“I know.” She didn’t have a single mean bone in her body. “I don’t want to talk about it tonight. I know you’re not ready. I’m not going to rush you into anything. So, what do you feel like ordering?”
“Eagle?”
“No, I didn’t come here to tell you all of this. I wanted us to have some fun, and that is exactly what we’re going to have, fun.”
Lily squeezed his hand, and then, right there at the bar and grill, she got up and walked to his side, cupping his face.
Her nerves were so clear to read as she leaned in and brushed her lips against his. Eagle knew if she’d been in his life from the beginning, he’d never have made so many fucked-up mistakes, especially when it came to his son.
He’d not been ready to take care of a kid, and over the years, he’d pushed him away to make him a man, but he’d done so with so much regret. His father had loved him in his own way, and he’d done exactly the same to his boy.
“Thank you,” she said. “For being so patient with me.”
Eagle had been waiting for this woman for so long. What was wrong with waiting a couple more days, months, or even years? For the right woman, he’d do whatever it took to win her.
He had nothing to do with Kurt’s infidelity or abandonment. That was all on the man himself. But he wasn’t going to step away now, for another man to take his place.
Lily would belong to him.
****
Thanksgiving came and went, and they moved toward Christmas. Eagle spent a great deal of time with Lily, especially after the divorce went final. The club hadn’t heard from Kurt since the morning he’d woken up with the strippers.
Chloe had asked Alife about her dad, but she didn’t want him to find the man for her.
For his father, he knew the relationship was going slow between Eagle and Lily, but it was happening.
Every weekend, they were both at her house, and if they stayed over too late, Alfie got the spare room while Eagle slept downstairs.
