Stealing the biker, p.3
Stealing the Biker, page 3
I chance a glance in his direction, and our eyes lock. Holy shit, I think he’s smiling at me. Shoving my folder back into my locker, I close the metal door and lean against it, pretending to act aloof. This is it. He’s going to ask for my number or to add me on Snap or something.
“What’s up?” He jerks his chin upward, coming to a stop in front of me, so close that the toes of our shoes are nearly touching as he towers over me.
I pull away from the lockers and glance up at him. “Hey, Jonesy.” I bat my lashes, unable to stop myself. He’s so hot with his blonde hair and baby blue eyes that twinkle when he smiles. Not to mention his abs that he loves to flash on TikTok.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you...”
“Yeah?” I do my best to sound interested, but not overly eager.
He starts to smile, but his expression freezes as he looks past me.
What’s happening? Panic bubbles in the pit of my belly. Did I do something wrong? Does my breath stink? I popped a mint in my mouth at the end of class.
I clear my throat to regain his attention.
His lips turn down the second I feel the heat of someone standing behind me.
“You ready to go?” Jimmy questions as Jonesy walks away without another word. “Grab my jacket from your locker, brat.”
This can’t be happening to me.
“I’m going to murder you.” I spin around and shove Jimmy as hard as I can, and he doesn’t budge an inch.
“What’d I do?” he laughs with a twinge of nervousness, wearing a dopey expression, playing innocent. He knows exactly what he did. He just ruined everything. I can’t believe him. I should tell Link he made a pass at me so he rips his balls off or something.
“Forget it.” I yank his jacket from my locker, drop it at his feet, and stomp toward the exit, knowing he’ll follow. Sam is waiting near the door, grinning at me.
“How’d it go? Who’s your shadow?” They stare at Jimmy with curiosity written on their face.
“It didn’t. I’ll explain it to you later.” I don’t have time to get into it right now. Today is the worst day of my life. I can’t believe Jimmy did that just now. He’s supposed to be protecting me. Not ruining my chances at a social life.
Sam grabs my wrist as I attempt to storm through the exit. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine,” I snap a little too harshly, instantly regretting taking my anger out on them as I twist out of their grasp.
Jimmy’s long-legged strides make it easy for him to catch up with me. “Wait up. Where are you running off to?”
“Anywhere you won’t be.” I flip him off over my shoulder while increasing my walking speed, navigating the bus riders.
“What will Jonesy think?” he mocks, and I want to slap his stupid mouth.
I keep marching on, ignoring him, scanning the parking lot for Jonesy to see if I can salvage our conversation.
My heart catches in my throat and I stop in my tracks at the sight of him. He’s talking to a JV cheerleader. A freaking freshman.
“Hey. You can’t be running off on me,” Jimmy says, coming up behind me.
“It’s a free country,” I mutter as my heart hammers in my chest. I wonder if this is what heartbreak feels like as I struggle to catch my breath. I ball my fist, digging my nails in my palm deep enough to make crescent-shaped grooves.
“You know what I mean.”
Yeah. I know exactly what he means. He’s my babysitter who can’t let me out of his sight. I watch as Jonesy presses the freshman cheerleader up against the side of his car. That’s supposed to be me right now.
“You ready to go?” Jimmy tugs my backpack off my arm as my tears threaten to fall, further adding to my humiliation and anger.
“I can carry my own stuff.”
“Just trying to help.”
“Fine.” I turn sharply, changing my direction.
“I’m parked that way.” Jimmy catches my wrist. His touch is rough and warm.
“I hate you,” I growl at him as he keeps pace with me.
“Hey,” he says softly after a moment of silence. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Do us both a favor and stop talking.”
I do my best not to speak to look at jimmy, the jerk. I can’t believe he did that.
Face pressed to the passenger side window, I need as far away from him as possible. I’m afraid I’ll strangle him if he even breathes near me right now.
“Are you still mad?”
I glare at him.
“Come on. Make the guy sweat a little bit. I guarantee he’ll track down your phone number and be calling tonight.”
“Whatever.”
“Trust me. Everything has a way of working out.”
He fiddles with the stereo, turning on some alternative rock. I glance at him from the corner of my eye as he taps his fingers against the steering wheel, humming and smiling to himself.
What’s he so happy about? Maybe it’s that he’s about to be off duty. I can’t fault him. I wouldn’t want to be stuck going to school if I had already graduated. I’m sure he’s not being compensated for his time.
I should probably be nicer, but I’m pissed that he ruined my chances with Jonesy. What if he already asked someone else, and I missed my one shot? I can’t even ask Sam to be my date to the dance. They’re going to visit their dad. I’m going to be going alone as usual. Story of my life.
Jimmy parks in front of my house and I jump out, noticing he’s getting out of his truck to follow me. Ugh.
I stomp through the back door, dropping my backpack on the floor as I kick my shoes off. “Dude. I’m home. You see my mom. You can leave.” I wave an arm toward my mother, who is standing in front of the stove looking as if her day has been as craptastic as mine has.
“I’ve got my orders.”
“He’s got his orders,” I mock. “Why do I need some biker following me around school like a bodyguard stalker? Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was to explain to my friends? And then Jonesy Ripley came up to me at my locker and I thought he was going to ask me to homecoming. Then this jerk struts up behind me, leans in and grabs my books to carry them, so Jonesy walked off without asking. He thinks I have a boyfriend now. My social life is over. Ruined. I might as well join a convent and become a nun.”
“I was told to pretend I was her boyfriend and blend in. My girlfriend won’t be happy about it either,” Jimmy explains, like it changes anything.
“Great. Not only do I have to lose out on the hottest guy in school. I mean, he has these abs that I just want to lick. Now I’ve gotta worry about biker boy’s girl trying to kill me for fake stealing her man.”
“Kiesha,” my mom scolds. “The last thing a mother wants to hear is her teenage daughter drooling about licking some douche football player’s abs.”
“He’s not a douche.”
“I shouldn’t be sharing this, and you best not repeat it, but he has a baby. You know how I know? Because his son is in my daycare while his teen mom works at a fast-food joint. And Jonesy, with the lickable abs, doesn’t lift a finger. Because he’s going to college on a football scholarship, and he doesn’t have time for a job or a kid.”
My mouth drops open as heat fans across the back of my neck. “Is that true?” I gape at my mother, avoiding Jimmy’s stare. I’m sure he’s gloating on the inside.
Mom takes a hearty sip of her wine. “Yeah, honey it is.”
“That jerk.”
“Told you.”
“Ugh. This is why women become lesbians,” I grumble under my breath. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving and can Sam come over to do my hair?”
“What do you like on your pizza, Jimmy?” she asks, completely ignoring the fact that my life is over and I’m never going to get a date.
“He’s not staying for dinner,” I cry. I’ve suffered through enough cruel and unusual punishment for one day.
“Whatever you order is good with me. I’m not picky.”
“What about Sam? Will they be eating with us?”
“No. We’ll starve in my room.” I stomp down the hallway to my bedroom, intent on slamming the door to make my point, but think better of it.
I don’t need to add getting grounded as the sprinkles on top of the shit cake my life currently is.
In the safety of my room, I mourn the boy I thought I knew. What kind of jerk has a kid and doesn’t help to raise it? Someone like my father. That’s who. The thought that I was chasing after a guy like that makes me sick to my stomach.
Guess I’m more like my mom than I thought.
At least this time with Prodigy, she’s getting it right.
He seems to be one of the good ones.
There’s not many good men in this world. Even my Uncle Link did his wife dirty. I don’t know how she forgave him or stayed with him after something like that.
I crack my bedroom door open and look down the hall to the living room where Jimmy sits on the couch, being all polite to my mom.
I was so horrible to him today. I’m such a selfish bitch.
He was taking time away from his life to have my back and I treated him awful the whole day.
I should apologize, but Sam shows to do my hair before I get the chance.
“Okay. What gives? Who is the tattooed hottie who has been following you around all day?”
“You think Jimmy is hot?” I arch a brow at them.
“If I was into guys.” They shrug.
“His hotness doesn’t matter. My father is back in town and determined to ruin our lives.”
“You need protection from your father?”
Sam is lucky. They have an amazing relationship with their dad. When they came out to him as nonbinary and cut all their hair off and started dressing in unisex clothes, all he said was okay and hugged them. No questions asked.
Mine probably doesn’t even know my name.
Chapter Five
Where are you?
Have you had dinner?
Are you ignoring me?
What time are you coming home?
I scroll through the missed text messages from Sabrina and know I’ll catch hell from her the second I walk through the door if I go home, and I’m not looking forward to another tongue lashing.
I spy Kiesha watching me from the doorway of her bedroom.
“Do you need something?” I arch a brow at her.
“Yeah. A new life.” She shoves away from the frame and goes back to her bedroom.
I grab another slice of pizza, knowing I should have left an hour ago, but there’s something about getting under Kiesha’s skin that gives me a thrill. She cracks me up with her constant sass. Guess you could say I definitely have a type. Not that I’d go there. Prodigy and Link would beat my ass, and I would never cheat on Sabrina.
There’s nothing wrong with a little harmless flirting.
Judging by the jock Kiesha is into, I’d never be her type.
I excuse myself to the bathroom, prolonging my visit. I catch a glimpse of Kiesha and her friend Sam in her bedroom on my way out. She’s seated on the floor, back to the bed as Sam brushes color onto her hair. I try not to get caught watching as she bites on the cap of her ink pen, staring at a page in her notebook, deep in thought.
I make my way back to the living room, dreading dealing with Sabrina when I leave.
“Be back here in the morning to drive Kiesha to school. Until I know where this bastard is, I want Zoe and her girls covered,” Prodigy tells me.
I don’t ask what time. Hopefully, she’ll be ready by the time I get here.
“Sure thing.” I take this as my cue to leave. I finish off the last swig of my drink. “Thanks for dinner,” I tell Zoe as I rise from the couch.
“You’re always welcome here.” She shoots me a warm smile as Prodigy gives me a nod.
You know I can see that you’ve read my messages, Jimmy. Why are you ignoring me? Are you mad at me?
Fuck. After one last glance at the house where I think I see Kiesha watching me from her bedroom window, I climb into my truck and text Sabrina back.
Sorry. Been a busy day.
I just miss you and just want to snuggle up in bed once you get here.
Reading her last message, I feel like a total dickhead, but I’ve got to take every chance I get to prove my worth to the club. It won’t always be this way. All I’m asking is for one year of patience.
She’s going to be even more pissed when I tell her that I’m planning to crash at Trenton’s so I can be back at Zoe’s on time to escort Kiesha to school in the morning. If I go home, it means waking up two hours earlier than necessary to make the drive. I can avoid it by sleeping on the other prospect’s couch.
There’s always staying at the clubhouse, but if I do that, then I won’t get any sleep. The guys never miss an opportunity to fuck with me or put me to work. Last time I tried to sleep there, I woke up locked in one of the interrogation rooms in the basement buck naked with a dick drawn on my left cheek in black permanent ink. I had to pay one of the club girls to cover it with makeup for a week. Sabrina still doesn’t know about it. Not looking for a repeat of that experience, or worse.
Can you stop and grab a carton of pralines and cream?
Oh and some caramel sauce?
Not tonight. I’m still working.
Seriously? What is so important that you’re blowing me off again? Are you with someone else?
Of course not. Why would you think that?
Maybe because you care more about that stupid club than your girlfriend. Forget it. I don’t want to see your face right now because if I do, I’ll probably punch it.
You don’t mean that. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you. I swear.
You better.
She’s still texting, which means she’s not as mad as I thought she’d be.
Thank fuck.
I pull up at Trenton’s, park in his visitor’s space, and lock my shit up.
Thought the trailer I was raised in was a shithole until the first time I crashed here. He lives in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods and the only reason no one fucks with him is due to his ties to the club. His old man was Vice President before he was murdered.
Sabrina thought Trenton sharing that family history with me would turn me off being a prospect. Said it should scare me.
It doesn’t.
I know what I’m signing on for. I’d rather die believing in something instead of standing for nothing and working a dead-end job somewhere. Waking up one day, having lived life with nothing but regrets.
I’m seeing this through until the end of my road.
I shoot off a text to let him know I need his couch for the night.
Hey man, is it cool if I crash at your place tonight?
I doubt he has anyone over. He’s still hung up on Ember, Sabrina’s bestie that is the sister of Prodigy and currently dating Smoke.
Even if I wasn’t prospecting, Sabrina would still be around the club because of Ember. I don’t know why she gives me so much damn grief for it.
Was about to go grab some grub. Want to go shoot some pool?
Yeah, sure. Why not? I’m parked downstairs.
All I was going to do was go to bed, anyway.
I start my truck back up and wait for him to drag his ass down here. After about ten minutes, he climbs in the passenger side. “What were you doing? Curling your hair?” I chuckle.
“Was trimming my pubes for your grandma later. Wouldn’t want her to get a hair hung in her throat when she takes her teeth out.”
“Fuck you.” I shudder. “You’re sick, you know that?”
He grins. “We all have our talents.”
“Where are we going?”
“Bullseye on seventh avenue.”
“Is that the new place they built where the vacant lot used to be by the car dealerships and Dollar General?”
“Yup. They have the best onion chips I’ve ever had and tonight they have two dollar beers.”
“Now I see why you wanted to come here.” I watch the pretty little blonde he’s been eye-fucking for the past ten minutes strut toward us with our beers.
He grins. “Shut up.”
“Hey. No judgment. I’m just glad to see you’re moving on from Ember because we both know that’s never going to happen.”
“Don’t.” he shuts the conversation down fast.
Can’t blame him with the whole bet thing he had with Smoke. I don’t understand how Ember forgave either of them for that shit, but she did.
The cute server places our beers on the table, flashing her dazzling smile at Trenton before spinning around to take another order from a nearby table.
All the girl’s working here are dressed in black booty hugging shorts and white tees with a bullseye on them.
I get another text from Sabrina while we wait for our onion chips.
Are you really not coming home tonight?
As much as I wish I could, I’ve gotta stick close to the club this week.
Are you saying you won’t be home at all this week?
I don’t know. Depends on how long this job lasts.
Seriously?!?!
I don’t know what she expects. This comes with the territory. What will she do when I’m a patched member and have to go on a run that she can’t know shit about?
I’m trying my damnedest, Brina. I swear.
How many times have we had this same conversation? You’re always making me promises you can’t seem to keep.
