by KT Fisher
I quickly get ready for work but I know that my brother is downstairs, eating the breakfast my mother has prepared. In the events of discovering that I’m pregnant, I managed to forget the original drama that had me panicking about. My father discovered what went down between Ryder and me, now it’s quite possible that Axel knows too. In fact, I’m pretty sure that he does know considering the amount of phone calls I’ve ignored from him. The only reason he didn’t come up to my room is because my mother ordered him not too. The advantages of faking painful cramps and hiding in bed has its perks.
I manage to gather my things and escape the house before anyone can spot me. I make sure to stop at the café, collecting my sickly sweet pancakes on the way to work. As soon as I step into the boutique, Elise offers me a huge smile and I match it, heading into the back room to eat my food. I’m literally salivating as I open the plastic container and begin to eat.
“I gather you’re hungry.” Elise giggles from the doorway.
I look up from my seat, chewing my pancakes and I have to put a hand in front of my mouth to stop Elise seeing the food as I smile. “Oh god.”
We both laugh and she tilts her head sympathetically as I continue to eat. “How are you?”
With a heavy sigh I give her an update on Ryder but I leave out the pregnancy part.
“So, other than your dad finding out about your date, how was it?” Elise asks with a mischievous smile.
A sadness spreads around my belly as I think about Ryder and our date. “It was great actually.”
Elise looks excited. “Really?” She claps. “Is there going to be a date number two?”
Luckily for me, I don’t need to answer because a customer has just entered the store. The bell in the doorway alerting us to their entrance. I don’t know what I would have said anyway! I could have lied to her and said we would be going on another date but in reality, I know there won’t be. What’s the point?
I eat my pancakes with a heavy heart. I try not to think about me being pregnant as I tormented myself over that too much yesterday. I want a stress free day today.
When we have ten minutes to chat as customers browse, Elise stands beside me behind the counter. “So your dad was seriously ok with you being with Ryder?”
“Yeah, I mean he gave me the talk about what he would do if Ryder ended up breaking my heart but he was ok with me. I think he gave Ryder all the threatening words.” Elise cringes.
“Yeah, I remember all of that.” She giggles sadly.
Elise is a club member’s daughter too, just like me and we also both have an over protective big brother. Scrappy sure made Elise’s love life stressful in the beginning and I have a feeling that Axel will be doing just the same.
“Let’s hope Axel hasn’t gone to Scrappy for little sister advice.” I dread.
Elise shakes her head. “For your sake, I hope not.” After a couple of seconds, Elise asks me if I’ve seen Axel since he’s come back from a job.
“I haven’t seen him yet.” I fear, “I have a feeling he’s not going to be anything like my dad.”
Elise nods with a frown. “He doesn’t get to decide who you wanna be with.”
“No, but he can make Ryder’s life hell.”
A customer approaches the counter to make a purchase so we stop our conversation. I price up her new belongings and as I thank her and say goodbye, Elise gasps.
“Get in the back.” Elise ushers me towards the backroom. Thankfully the customer hasn’t seen Elise acting wacko and walks towards the door, that’s when I see my brother, Axel parked out front of the shop on his bike. I see him clearly through the glass of the door as he gets up from his bike.
“Shit.” I panic and take Elise’s suggestion and run into the backroom to hide from my brother. I only hope Axel didn’t see me and discover that I’m hiding.
“Hey Axel.” Elise greets him and I lean up against the wall in the dark room, beginning to feel really nervous.
“Where’s Poppy?” Axel asks, getting straight to the point as usual.
“She didn’t come in today.” Elise lies and I take deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I don’t want to speak to him just yet.
Axel sighs loud and heavy. “Stop lying to me Elise, I know she’s at work and I need to take to her.”
“She’s not here.” Elise says forcefully and then I hear my brothers’ boots loudly approaching. “Axel! You can’t go back there!”
Oh shit! Here we go.
I stand from leaning against the wall and face my brother with at least a little strength. I don’t want him to know how much I’ve been dreading this moment. I sip my drink, hoping to seem carefree as Axel steps into the backroom. When he glares I respond with a smile.
My brother is four years older than me and my twin sister and he’s always taken on the big brother protector role. It can be annoying but sometimes it has had its perks. School was a lot easier having Axel around but as I got older and boys were beginning to notice, it got old pretty quickly.
“Poppy.” Axel huffs.
“Hello Axe.” I grin widely, hiding my nervousness.
He shakes his head in annoyance. “So take a guess what I’ve been told?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug my shoulders. “That we have a 15% sale?”
“Don’t get smart with me Pops.” My brother growls, a scary sort of noise. “I’ve heard you and Ryder got close.”
I look away from him. I don’t know what to say. So I decide to lie. “Well, you heard wrong.”
I know lying in this moment is silly, but I’m all alone here. I’d rather have someone with me to help. I probably should have stayed home and had this talk with Axel with my parents around to help defend me.
“Stop fucking lying.” He scowls. “I spoke to dad this morning, club brothers have told me Poppy. You know how embarrassing that is? My brothers told me that my little sister is fucking one of my best friends!”
“Fucked, not fucking.” I correct him and by the pissed off look he’s shooting my way, I get the feeling I said the wrong thing.
“Do you get how wrong this is?” He yells and I’m so fucking embarrassed. I’m going to have to tell Elise how sorry I am when this is over. “There are rules Poppy. Being part of this life means that there are rules! Ryder should have come to me,”
“No.” I interrupt him right there. “Not you, dad. Ryder should have spoken to dad, but I’ve already spoken to dad about this and he’s ok now.”
That didn’t cheer Axel up. “He’s my best friend Poppy, so yes he should have come to me.”
“You’re acting like this is serious and that we planned this!” I yell right back. “It was a mistake and it happened in the moment. You think we should have stopped what we were doing and me run home to let everyone know I’m about to have sex?”
My brother cringes. “Yes, you should have stopped.”
Now I laugh, my brother is such a hypocrite. He’s a man whore, just like all the men in this club!
“Well nothing is going on, so you don’t need to worry.”
“But it did happen, so now I need to settle things.” Axel’s words scare me.
“There’s no need to!” I panic. “Please don’t do anything Axe.”
“I heard you two went on a date.”
I freeze. “Yes, but there won’t be anymore.”
He stares at me as if he doesn’t believe me. I mean what I’ve just said though. I’m pregnant and I’ve accepted my future. Cutting Ryder from my life now rather than later will be easier.
“So you’re done fucking?” I flinch from his words.
“Wow, don’t sugar coat your words.” Axel continues to frown at me. “It was just the one time!”
“I don’t want you near him again.” He orders and I laugh.
“Fuck you Axe, you don’t tell me what to do.”
“I don’t want you with someone I’m close to, or even a brother at all.” His eyes look like they’re going to bulge from his head.
“Speak the truth big brother, you want me away from any man.” I shake my head. “Do you hear how pathetic that sounds?”
His anger is building, I can see it in the way his jaw is tight and his fists are clenched.
“Let’s just be clear, shall we?” I continue, taking a step closer to my brother. “If I wanted to fuck someone I will, even if that’s Ryder. You can’t and won’t stop me.”
“But you just said that won’t happen.” He snaps.
“Yes I did, but you telling me what to do is pissing me off!” My own fists are clenched now. “But just know, if I want to, I will.” I pick up my phone to send a message to my dad, he should know how fucked up his son is acting. Looking up to Axel as I type away. “You can go now.”
Axel almost growls in anger and turns around, storming out of the room and thankfully out of the shop. As I take a seat to settle my shaky legs, Elise enters cautiously.
“Are you ok?” She asks me.
“I am now.” I relax into the chair and take a deep calming breath.
Elise then grins widely. “Girl!” She claps. “You were amazing!”
“What?” I’m confused.
“I thought you were just going to stand there and take his shit, but then you stood up for yourself. I’m so proud of you!” She laughs and my cheeks burn a little.
“Thanks.” I then think through what was sad and look to Elise with wide eyes. “I’m sorry we were shouting.”
Elise shrugs her shoulders. “Don’t worry about that, I closed the shop as soon as he saw you back here.”
I breathe in relief. At least her customers weren’t here to witness my drama.
“Is it true though?” She asks, sitting on the chair beside me. “You don’t want to see Ryder again?”
I think about telling Elise, she would understand my troubles if I was to tell her about the pregnancy but I’m not ready to tell others yet.
“I don’t know.” I cover my face with my hands, rubbing my face and thanking myself for not putting on makeup. “One minute he doesn’t want anything more than a hook up but on our date he told me differently.”
Elise nods. “So you’re getting mixed signals.” She places a hand on my knee. “Just do what’s right for you and fuck everyone else.” She then stands and smiles down at me. “Take ten minutes, I’m going to reopen the shop.”
I watch her enter the main store and I’m left with my thoughts. My never ending complicated thoughts.
Chapter Ten
Poppy
It’s another celebration at the clubhouse. When there’s so many members and then you add on their families, there’s a lot of special dates. There’s always a party or some sort of event happening. Tonight is going to be a late one, I can feel it in my bones. I’ve been stressing out a lot lately and I need to let my hair down!
I spy Axel at the bar and he spots me at the exact same time. I haven’t seen him since he stormed out of Elise’s boutique and if he thought our parents were going to be on his side, he was wrong. Shortly after I sent my dad the text to let him know what Axel had done and said to me, all hell rained down on my brother. My dad is pissed and I’ve never seen him like that before. When I arrived home from work, Lulu was waiting for me at the front door, but she didn’t need to tell me what was happening inside the house because I could hear the yelling from outside.
Everything my dad was saying was right, as mad as Axel may be feeling it’s my dad’s choice on how we react and my dad chose to sit me down and talk to me like an adult, not corner me and make me feel like shit. You know, exactly what Axel did.
My brother hasn’t been home since the shouting match. Even my mother was screaming at him and she’s not usually the type but apparently on that day she was. As shit as that night was, I actually felt proud of my parents. They were looking out for me, even if it was against their own son. I’m just dreading telling them about my pregnancy, because that’s a whole different chapter in my book of dramas.
Almost everyone connected to the club is here and as soon as I have eye contact with Elise, she sends me a wink and I smile back. Since Lulu and I have been working at her shop, I feel as though I have a sisterly bond with her. Obviously my friendship with Elise is nothing compared to my relationship with Lulu, but it doesn’t mean we’re not close. Drew and Maci wave as they walk pass Lulu and me.
“Have you seen him?” Lulu asks and I don’t need to ask to know who she’s referring to.
“No.” I look around the room we’re in, the main centre of all parties because it’s the largest room and has the bar. I haven’t seen Ryder all week and it’s probably a good thing. That hasn’t stopped him from calling me nonstop and sending multiple amount of texts. I haven’t answered a single call or message though and it’s not because I’m being a bitch, but because I truly don’t know what to say to him. I stare at my phone when it alerts me of his call, the photo of him flashes constantly, so it’s hard to get him out of my head. Especially considering I’m carrying his baby. I try to forget about that too, but’s it’s impossible seeing as I need to prepare and that I’m sick so much in the morning and can hardly old anything down. I’m sure my mum is suspicious.
“What are you going to say if he comes tonight?” My sister asks and I know she means well and she’s really worried about me right now, but her question pisses me off.
“I don’t know!” I loudly whisper, because I don’t want people to look over. “We’re not even a couple! He’s going to run a mile when he discovers I’m pregnant.”
“You don’t know that.” She frowns.
“Since when were you team Ryder?” I ask. “You hated him before last week.”
Lulu shrugs. “Things have changed.”
I choose to ignore her and decide to watch Drew dancing in the middle of the room. The area is considered the dance floor when the clubhouse gets loud. Cyrus joins her and Drew looks really happy, her face is beaming as she wiggles her ass all over her man. I can’t help but laugh when I see Baby, one of her brothers cringing at the sight. Cyrus has just returned home from the same job Axel went out on, and it’s also most likely the reason my brother hasn’t gotten his hands on Axel just yet.
I overhear my sister’s disapproving mutters above the music and curiously turn to see what has her so bothered. I’m actually not surprised that she’s frowning over at a bunch of girls swarming over Cyrus’ brother Zane. The club bunnies are all over him, literally shoving their tits in his face and their asses all over his dick. When the nomad Redgrave brothers arrived at the club, they got a lot of attention but seeing at Cyrus had Drew in his sights, Zane now receives all the female admiration. Lately I have observed that shockingly, Lulu is one of Zane’s admirers’. Even after telling me he’s not her type however, the way she’s gazing over at him is telling me otherwise. Stop lying to yourself sis.
Who knew that sweet little Lulu would fall for someone as dangerous and frisky as Zane Redgrave.
I catch Baby pulling Maci into his arms, unlike Drew she looks sad. I know that look. It’s the hatred of hearing your man is going on a long job and seeing as Baby’s new position in the MC is the Head of Security, he almost always has to go and sometimes, these jobs can dangerous. So I really do sympathise with her. I can remember the way my mother would go about her days with a hidden disappear behind her eyes. As much as we love the club, the danger lurks in the shadows.
Suddenly, Maci, Tasha and Elise arrive at our table, both of them holding a number of drinks and quickly placing them down.
“Help yourself!” Maci gestures to me and my sister. I catch Lulu giving me a little glance but I pick one up and begin to sip.
“I hate Head of Security.” Maci grumbles and we all don’t know what to say. We sort of look around at one another awkwardly as Maci quickly finishes her alcoholic drink and then picks up her second.
“Devlin said Grim is thinking of having a second, so Baby doesn’t have to always be away.” Tasha adds and I see a glint of hope i
n Maci’s eyes.
“Really?” She asks. “I wonder why Baby didn’t tell me.”
“He might not have wanted to get your hopes up.” Elise suggests and Maci nods along.
“But I don’t think Baby would be happy haring his role.”
Tasha shakes her head. “No, not sharing. More like assisting.”
“Oh.” A small smile begins to creep on Maci’s face and I think we all breathe a sigh of relief. “Well hopefully that can be arranged because it seems lately Baby is gone more than he is home.”
“Yeah I’ve heard there’s been some trouble.” Elise nods.
“Trouble?” Lulu asks, the worry in her voice clear to everyone’s ears.
“Nothing to do with us.” Tasha quickly adds. “Our men are helping another MC in the next city, there having some trouble with some rouges but it will be fine.”
Lulu relaxes but I see the slight worry in Tasha’s eyes. In fact, all three of them look a little scared. Perhaps this is a little bit more than Tasha is letting on.
I don’t get to quiz them on it though because Baby runs over, surprising the hell out of Maci by picking her up and spinning her around. She laughs and as Baby brings her back down they share a kiss. It’s a little too intimate of a kiss to be sharing with everyone, so I look away. I feel as though I’m spying on them in some way.
“Come on,” Baby leads her away. “I wanna show you how much I miss your gorgeous face when I’m gone.”
Maci’s laughter fades as they disappear towards the bedrooms.
“Come on then!” Tasha holds out her hands to me and Lulu. “Let’s dance!”
Lulu and I look at each other, hesitating. Lulu doesn’t usually dance, she’s more of an observer whereas I’m always dancing. It would seem weird if I wasn’t drunk and having a good time. So I quickly finish my drink, earning me a disapproving glare from my sister and accept Tasha’s hand.
“Come on Lu!” Elise temps Lulu. “You too!”
