Enough(84)

I typed a single letter.

K

And hit Send.

I restarted my car and headed home. I don’t remember the drive or the walk up my stairs, but I ended up in bed with the covers pulled over my head.

* * *

The ring of my phone woke me slowly. I had a vague feeling it’d been ringing for a while. I stretched and grabbed it, afraid to even hope it’d be Dare. It wasn’t so I let it go to voice mail. I flipped to missed calls—seven, all from Jericho. My phone rang again. I swiped Answer. “What the fuck?”

“Good morning, sunshine.” Jericho’s cheery voice grated on my nerves as I’m sure he’d intended. “I’m heading out with my guys for two weeks—shop’s closed. You be ready to report for work when we get back.”

“Wha...” Questions swirled too fast in my mind to speak. “I have...”

“I gotta jet, get your shit together, we’ll be back in two weeks—you staying.”

“Is that a question?” I huffed.

“Nope, a command.” He hung up. The freaking frustrating idiot hung up on me.

Now what do I do? Work was out, and I didn’t have many friends—okay I had one friend, but I was in no way ready to deal with Rachel or anyone, really. I trudged back to bed and decided to worry about it another day.

Lying in bed and eating chocolate lasted two days. By Saturday night, my bed had become like a prison. Tomorrow morning, I would get a life. This was new territory—breaking up without running away.

Sunday I woke up before eight in the morning, unable to sleep longer. The shower haunted me as memories of Dare and me flashed in my mind. I forced myself not to rush through my shower. His presence marked my apartment, making me cringe with memories of what I lost and how lonely I was now. My bed was my only refuge, his scent and our memories mixed to comfort me, and I could almost pretend he was away on club business instead of gone forever.

I dried off and wrapped the towel around me. Picking out clothes had been too hard before the shower.

“Glad I didn’t have to drag you outta bed.” MJ sat on my couch with coffee in her hand.

I startled but didn’t drop my towel. I needed better locks.

I strode past her and into my bedroom for clothes because talking to her in a towel wasn’t an option. After I’d dressed in a shirt and jeans, I joined her in my living room. The pain in my chest had become a dull ache, always present, but it didn’t double me over at the moment.

“He’s a goddam idiot.” MJ handed me coffee.

“He’s not a topic I’m discussing with you.” The edge I teetered on would crumble if I did a replay.

“Everyone else is talking about it.” MJ stared me down.

I looked away. “Go talk to them.”

“I have been, but now it’s time for you to get back on the saddle.”

She didn’t just say that?

“Rock and Rebel both like you. Some other guys, but not Jericho.” She sounded forlorn ruling her son out.

“He’s Dare’s best friend. And hell no.” Saying his name caused a stabbing pain where my heart used to be.

“He needs an old lady.” She grumped, frowning at her coffee. “And you an old man.”

“MJ.” I waited until she met my gaze. “Back the fuck off. I’m not some piece of meat to be passed around. Don’t talk to me about who to date again.” This time she looked away from my hard stare.

“I promised...” Her face crumpled.

“I know you’re trying to help, but this isn’t it.” I needed to get my priorities in order. “Do you want me to stop cooking?”

“No, do you?”

“I’m good.”

“I’ve been meaning to talk with you about this, and now, well it’s awkward.”

I needed her to say it and get out of the apartment before my resolve to leave dissolved.

“In our club, Mama is a title of honor.” A wistful smile flashed and disappeared. “And not because it’s part of my nickname. Guys use it as a way to thank someone, but until you, they didn’t use it all the time for any one old lady or girl. It’s your nickname, and that’s big. Huge. When the Old Man retires, the club will need your influence, they’ve picked you, with or without Dare.”

I blinked away the tears that his name brought to my eyes.

“I’ve heard those boys saying it even after Dare screwed the pooch. It’s not because you’re with him.” She sighed and for the first time MJ appeared old to me. “Speaking of the club, while Jericho and several of them are gone, some may try and poach you, whether you’re willing or not.”

Shit. The hits just keep coming.