by Rye Hart
I watched as she hopped off the stool and walked right up to Tanner. She grabbed the back of his head and tried to kiss him, and their lips almost connected. I could feel my blood boiling as Tanner pressed his hand to her chest, pushing her away as her tongue licked his cheek.
“Get out,” I said.
“Not a fucking chance,” my mother said. “I’ve got money now. I’m a paying customer! Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Gracie. It’s time to go,” Lindy said.
“Over my dead fucking body. Did you think I wouldn’t find out about your fun little store? Huh? How you’re planning on moving out so you can be a whore with your five little boy toys?”
She snickered at the brothers as they stepped up to the bar and turned their backs to me.
“Your bartender asked you to leave,” Nick said.
“Oh? And you guys are gonna help her out?” my mother asked. “I’m a paying customer!”
“Not anymore, you’re not,” Jacob said.
“Too bad, I really liked you boys,” my mother said.
She was belligerent. So much so that I saw the bouncer filtering his way through the crowd. He picked my mother up around her waist and lifted her off the ground, then started carrying her back through the bar. She was screaming and kicking, trying to elbow the guy in the face. I couldn’t even make out what she was yelling through the slurring of her words.
Something she’d said though had stuck in my chest. Was I nothing more than a whore? I took their money. I slept with all of them. How did that make me any different than what she said I was?
CHAPTER 20
I knew the guys had been trying to call me all weekend, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk. I told Lindy I’d see her after the weekend, then I buried myself in my bed. My mother came and went like nothing had ever happened between us and, during the times she was gone, I continued to pack. I lugged boxes and suitcases down to my car, piling them in as fast as I could. The moment I had everything packed up in my room, I was gone. I didn’t care if I had to sleep in a dilapidated loft with nothing but a sleeping bag surrounded by boxes.
Once work was over by the end of next week, I was out of this fucking place.
I told Lindy I was putting in my two-week notice at the beginning of the week. That weekend, I had plans to lay in bed and research manufacturers where I could get the best wholesale price for our inventory. I laid out lists and jotted down prices as I stayed underneath my covers. If my mother came knocking on my door, I could play it off that I was tired or some shit.
Sleeping like the lazy ass she was.
As the weekend wound down, I had five pages of inventory with pricing to go over with Lindy. I had called her up and asked if she could do dinner with me before we started our work week again. I was meeting her tonight at our favorite Mexican joint, and we were going to go over all the shit we wanted in our store.
I wanted to finalize our inventory and start figuring out how far our saved one hundred thousand would go.
I finalized my list and jotted down the last of the prices. Then, I rolled out of bed and stuffed everything into my pocket, heading for my bathroom. I hadn’t showered all weekend because I had been wallowing in self-pity, and I stank. I washed my body down and scrubbed my scalp as I smiled, thinking about that day with the brothers. How they each had their time with me in the shower, kissing me and doting on me and telling me how much they adored me.
Despite my deepest fears, they had done nothing to indicate that the money had anything to do with the sex.
I shook the thought from my mind and finished getting ready. I pulled on a pair of cut-off denim shorts and a long-sleeved black shirt. I grabbed my leather jacket and threw my hair up into a bun, then went downstairs to find my lace-up boots.
But as I was leaving to go and meet Lindy for dinner, my mother came traipsing through the door.
“Move it,” she said as she slammed into my shoulder.
“You know what? I have one thing to say to you,” I said.
“Perfect, because I have something I want to say to you as well,” my mother said.
“Fine. You go first,” I said.
“You think that business makes you better than me, but it doesn’t. I’m your mother, and whether you agree with the way I raised you or not, the point is I did when no one else would. Your father didn’t want you. He never would’ve, had he even bothered to remember who I was. You think this life is all about fashion and freedom and rock and roll, dude. But it’s not. It’s hard shit and crime and losing people you love more often than you get them to stay. I gave up everything to raise you, and the only thing I’ve asked you for in return were some free drinks and help with the damn bills when you got old enough. And if you think that makes me selfish, then you really did turn out to be the entitled brat your grandmother thought you’d become.”
“You done?” I asked.
My mother was panting, but she nodded and straightened her back, preparing herself for my words.
“You’ve always been jealous of me. Of my ambition. Of my strength. Of my youth. You feel like you lost your best years having me. You raised me out of requirement, not because you wanted to. If you could’ve pawned me off on someone else, you would have. So, don’t try to tug me down your guilt trip when the only thing fueling your anger is the fact that I’m making something of myself and you never did. Because I’m sick and fucking tired of it.”
I watched shock roll over my mother’s face as I picked up my purse. I threw the strap over my shoulder and walked out the door, closing it behind me without even looking back. I didn’t care how those words affected that bitch, and I didn’t care if she stood there and cried all damn day. She hadn’t done her best, despite what she said. She’d drank and partied and fucked her way through most of my life and made me miserable in the process. My childhood had sucked big time, and the only thing that had kept me from winding up as bitter and fucked up as she was, was my dream that I’d do better for myself one day.
She lost the right to guilt me into her world when she decided getting drunk was more important than my fucking high school graduation.
I climbed into my car and looked up into the window. I saw my mother looking through the curtains with a dumbfounded look on her face. Served her fucking right, saying all that shit to me. Trying to convince me no one gave a damn about me. If all else failed, I had Lindy. I had the best friend in the entire fucking world on my side, and I was ready to sit down and have dinner with her. It was time to finalize the inventory for our store before we started renovations on the building.
I was ready to begin a life that had absolutely nothing to do with the bullshit that came with my mother.
I cranked up my car and backed out of the driveway, making my way into town. I thought about all the research I would have to do on contractors, which meant I also needed to finalize an inside layout with Lindy. We would be having a lot of dinner dates over the next couple of weeks to get everything in order, but if all went according to the plan in my head, we would be watching our dreams come to fruition by the end of the month.
It was official. There was nothing in the world that could stop me now.
CHAPTER 21
“Are you okay?” Lindy asked. We were at the bar getting ready to open that night.
“Yeah. Why do you ask?”
“Because last night was a shit show with your mother,” she said.
“This afternoon was a shit show as well.”
“Fuck. What did she do now?”
“I think I know why she’s pulling all her bullshit, so I called her out on it.”
“What’s your theory?” she asked.
“I think my mother’s jealous of me. It started with the Grove brothers, but I think she’s jealous that I’m doing something with my life when she never did.”
“She had you. That’s not something to sniff your nose at.”
“You met my mother?” I asked.
“I want to make s
ure you’re okay is all.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“Could I ask you something?”
“You know you can, Lindy. What’s up?”
“Those guys really came to your defense last night,” she said.
“There a question in there somewhere?” I asked.
“Do you care about them?”
It wasn’t the question I was expecting, but it did bring me to a pause. I was fucking around with them, sure. And they were giving me money to help me with my dreams. A lot of money, too. But even before that, there was this excitement with them. I’d felt a sense of pride that these powerful, gorgeous, and good-hearted men were pursuing me. It was one hell of an ego boost.
I closed my eyes as I gripped my cleaning rag and thought back to that day when they all sat me down and gave me that check. I remembered what it felt like to be intimate with each of them. To be wanted by every single one of them with their cocks buried in my body. I shivered at the phantom echo of their voices ricocheting across my mind.
But it was the shower that caught me off guard. How tender and gentle and attentive they all were when we were one on one. They caressed me like I was only theirs and they made sure I was okay. They helped me to clean myself up, and they even followed me to the bar. They defended me against my mother and created a barrier with their bodies when things got rough with her last night.
My heart hammered in my chest at the thought of it all.
“If I tell you something, will you promise not to judge me?” I asked.
“I’m your best friend. I’ll always voice concerns, but I’ll never judge you,” Lindy said.
“I’m sleeping with them,” I said.
“You’ve slept with all of them?” she asked.
“Not individually.”
I turned around and caught Lindy’s stare, but it wasn’t as shocked as I thought it would be. In fact, there was a grin spreading across her cheeks.
“What?” I asked.
“I knew it,” she said.
“You knew nothing. If anything, you’re the one that told me to be careful,” I said.
“With money, Emma. You always have to be careful when money’s in play. But I knew they didn’t come to your defense for nothing.”
“You think they helped me out because they’re screwing me?” I asked.
“No, I do think they like you. But eventually, you’ll have to choose, right?”
“I don’t know if I can,” I said. “I enjoy each of them.”
“They can’t all share you.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“You’re really asking me why a bunch of hardcore biker dudes won’t share one chick?” she asked.
“Yeah. I am.”
“Because they’re possessive as fuck. They want what they want, and they claim what’s theirs. Someone will eventually get jealous. Fights will happen. Hearts will be broken.”
“Not if we work through it as a team,” I said.
“Come on, Emma. You can’t be serious.”
“Look. You asked me if I could choose, and I said no. I really like all of them. And all for different reasons. They make my heart soar whenever they’re around. I feel beautiful and wanted when they look at me. If they make me choose, then I won’t be able to. It’s all of them or none of them.”
“You’re insane,” Lindy said with a snicker.
“They’re all so different. Jacob’s very fatherly and protective. Gentle, but in a passionate way. Adam’s the alpha, and he fucking shows it with every move he makes. Plus, he has this nickname for me. ‘Baby girl’. It makes me shiver when he says it. And the twins? Tanner and Tyler couldn’t be more different. Tanner’s got this nurturing side to him, and Tyler’s the protective one. Rough and tumble around the edges, but you don’t mess with what’s his. And Nick’s the youngest, but he’s also the most enriching. Full of life and always has a smile on his face.”
“Sounds like five very different men,” she said.
“They are. And I enjoy each one of them for all these different reasons. I’ll never be able to choose without feeling a little empty inside, and I’ll never be able to be with one of them without somehow being reminded of the others in some way.”
“Well, okay. It’s the twenty-first century. No one’s gonna judge you for some sort of open relationship because they happen all the time. If you’re happy, I’m happy. I want you to be careful, that’s all.”
“And I appreciate that. Thanks, Lindy.”
“Anytime. You ready to open this place?”
The door to the bar swung open and in came all the guys. They were eyeing me with stern glares, and I felt my heart sink to my toes. I looked over at Lindy as she drew in a deep breath, then she made herself scarce.
“I’m gonna go get the glasses for tonight. We’ll open up in ten,” she said.
“Got it,” I said.
“Could we talk?” Adam asked.
“Sure. You guys thirsty?” I asked.
“Just come sit down,” Jacob said.
He pulled out a chair for me, and I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. There was something behind their eyes that was troubling. I could see Nick’s uneasy stare as Adam kept his eyes hooked on me, and one by one they sat around the table. Tanner was jiggling his leg, and Tyler was tapping his fingers. They were nervous, I could tell.
My fear was that they were nervous about the money. Had Lindy been right? Were they about to collect for something? Or make a deal? Did they need it back? Holy shit, was I in trouble with their crew?
“Should I start?” Adam asked.
“Maybe not. Let me,” Jacob said. “Emma, you look wonderful tonight.”
“Cut the shit and get to the point,” I said.
“Told you,” Tyler said, murmuring.
“Emma, we wanted to know how you’ve felt since the last time we saw you,” Nick said, hesitating and choosing his words carefully.
He reached out and took my hand, lacing our fingers together.
“Is this about the money? Because if you guys need it back, I can take out a loan. Or keep working at the bar to pay you guys back. I promise. I was fine without the money. I can find a way—”
“Whoa there,” Tyler said. “This has nothing to do with the money. Not even close.”
“Then why do I feel like you guys are about to drop a bomb on my world?” I asked. “You’re making me nervous.”
“We didn’t mean to,” Tanner said.
“Fucking hell. Emma, how do you feel after we all fucked you?” Adam piped up.
“Jesus, Adam. Could you have been any blunter?” Jacob asked.
“Well, you guys are pussy-footing around,” Adam said.
“I don’t really know how I feel. It was fun. I enjoyed it. Why?” I asked.
“Was there someone you enjoyed more of?” Tanner asked.
I could hear the hope in his voice, and it crushed my soul. There it was. The bomb they were trying to drop. They were asking me to choose between them.
And as I looked around the table into each of their eyes, it was confirmed. I couldn’t. I’d never be able to choose between any of them which meant I was minutes away from losing all of them. I felt sick.
“You want me to choose,” I said.
“We’re scoping out how you feel,” Jacob said. “That’s all.”
“No. You’re not. You’re wondering who I’m gravitating toward more because you want to figure out which one of you I’m going to choose. And I’m not. I’m not choosing.”
Nick let go of my hand as he leaned back in his chair.
“What do you mean?” Nick asked.
“I mean, I enjoy all of you. You are all so different, and there is something about each of you that makes you special to me. So, I won’t choose. Don’t ask me to” I said.
“Again. Told you,” Tyler said.
“Yeah, yeah. Shut up,” Adam said. “So, there isn’t one of us you’d like to be with more than the others.”<
br />
“Nope.”
“And if we try to make you choose, you’re not going to,” Tyler said.
“No. If you make me choose one of you, I’ll choose none of you. Look, I didn’t intend to get involved with any of you, let alone all five of you. This is not something I do, but since I’ve gone ahead and done it, I might as well be completely honest about it. I like being with all of you.”
My eyes looked down to my lap as I drew in a deep breath, trying to find the rest of the words I wanted to say.
“Take your time, beautiful,” Tanner said.
“It’s been a very long time since I’ve felt like this,” I said. “Since I felt wanted and important. I’m needed in all sorts of places. With mom to pay the bills. Here to bartend. But wanted? That’s different.”
Tanner reached over and rubbed my back, tugging a smile across my cheeks.
“See? I enjoy that about you. Your nurturing nature despite the rugged lifestyle you lead,” I said. “And Jacob? You’re so level-headed and protective.”
Jacob smiled and nodded.
“And Adam. You’re rough around all your edges, but you’re fierce. Fiery. You don’t take shit, not even mine. And I need someone like that. I need someone who can call me on my bullshit and make me stay true to myself.”
“You got it,” Adam said.
“And Nick? Your boyish nature? It’s refreshing. You’ve always got a smile on your face, and it’s infectious. You’re more animated, like the lifestyle hasn’t quite tainted you yet. I enjoy that innocence about you.”
“Thanks,” Nick said with a grin.
“And Tyler? You’re quiet and to the point, like Adam, but your protective nature bleeds from you. You can switch on a dime between aggressive and gentle, and it throws me for a loop every single time. And I love it.”
Tyler nodded his head as I rose my gaze to meet Adam’s.
“I’m not choosing,” I said. “And you can’t make me.”
“Well,” Adam said. “There’s only one thing to do now. Tyler?”
I looked over at Tyler as he cleared his throat.
“Tanner and I want to know what you’re doing tomorrow for lunch.”
