Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Roscoe shrugs. “Not if I can help it. It’s too fucking messy for my tastes. Most of the guys who get into the ring here aren’t exactly geniuses, you know? But at least they don’t piss and shit on the ground.” He thinks about that for a second. “Mostly.”
“Good.” I put the empty on the table and push myself to my feet. “Well this was fun. Let’s do it again never, hopefully.”
"Sounds perfect," he scoffs.
"Just see that pass on the message, Roscoe."
He spits over the edge again and crosses his arms over his chest, looking anywhere but at us, but he nods. I keep an eye out for Zeke as we make our way back out, but lucky for him he’s nowhere to be seen.
“Ready to go?” Beast asks.
We don’t sit around talking about our feelings and everything we’ve seen, but the three of us have lived and stood shoulder to shoulder for years. It’s impossible to do that without learning some of what makes each other tick. If I wanted to stay I know they’d hang around for however long it took, and if I wanted to blow the whole place to dust, they’d hand me the match.
“Yeah, let’s get out of this shithole.”
14
SANDRA
Natalie corners me in the kitchen. "Are you in trouble?" she asks simply.
Is this a setup? It’s feeling that way. Badass and Animal have taken Clark out somewhere, and Quickshot seems to be conveniently out of the way. It figures that her guys would kill for her, but they know better than to get between us when Natalie is in a mood. They're tough, but they're not crazy.
"No, why would you think that? I'm fine."
"Are you? You didn't think I'd hear about you going out? Gossip travels faster than the speed of light in the club. Everyone wanted to hear about how my sister clobbered someone over the head with a bat in a brawl, and you came home wearing someone else’s shirt the other night."
I roll my eyes. "It was a glass and I was fine, Nat. Zero, Beast and Piston were with me the whole time. It was hardly even a brawl, just a glorified scuffle."
Her eye twitches.
“A spirited misunderstanding?” It’s hard to keep a straight face but I manage.
She breaks first, but her laugh sounds forced. “What happened to staying clean and working on your degree? I know you needed a break and I’ve been trying so hard not to push you about your plans, but I’m worried, Sandra. I’m starting to think that you coming back here wasn’t a good idea.”
There’s so much to unpack there. “You want me to leave?”
“No! I want you to stay safe. I want you to live the life you were meant to live and not get dragged back into your old, self-destructive habits.” She sounds uncomfortable bringing this up, but it doesn’t stop her from trying to mother me.
"My old habits? Do you seriously think I didn’t have the chance to drink or do drugs when I was living on my own surrounded by college students? How is it so different here? You have to back off and let me live my life.”
"It’s different and you know it!" Natalie throws up her hands and turns to pull her apron off the hook by the fridge. “Do you think I’ve forgotten because you see me living here tucked away safe and sound with Clark? I might not do it as much anymore, but I still work shifts at the Eagles’ Roost and party with the club. Don’t act like college parties and club parties are the same thing.”
“That’s what I don’t understand. Why do you think you can handle it but I can’t? You’re not my mother. And it’s never worked out well for us when you pretend to be, so stop. Piston, Zero and Beast have been great.” I can see the hurt on Nat’s face, but I can’t stop lashing out any more than she can stop treating me like I’m made of glass.
"Oh, I’m sure they are,” she says sarcastically.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Natalie takes out her cookie trays, slamming things around noisily which isn’t like her. “Damn it! I'm supposed to make some cookies for the triplets' birthday party." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “I’m sure they’re good guys, but you have a history of poor decision making and not knowing when to stop.”
“I can’t believe you. You’re really standing there in an apron lecturing me on personal boundaries while you get ready to bake cookies for a woman who ended up hooked up with three men including her step-brother after they rescued her from her crazy cult father? But I go out for one non-alcoholic beer and I’m the problem.”
"I will always be your big sister. The day I stop being protective is the day I die."