Precarious(52)
She smiles and leans in close. “I’m . . . I’m kind of seeing someone outside the club.”
My eyes widen. “You are? Won’t Maddox have a shit fit?”
She shakes her head, a saucy little grin on her lips. “Not if he doesn’t know.”
“Okay,” I say, slightly concerned, but figuring it’s not my place to lecture her. “So tell me about him?”
She leans back. “He’s really sweet. He has taken me on a few dates. Oh Ash, he even opens doors for me.”
I smile. “He sounds nice. What’s his name?”
“Alec.”
“That’s a nice name.”
She nods. “He’s a really good guy. He hasn’t tried anything. He’s not bossy and best of all, he’s not a biker.”
“Bikers bother you?” I ask, shocked.
She shakes her head. “No, not at all. But Maddox is always on my case, making me feel like I have no life. Alec lets me be whatever I want. I don’t have to answer to him.”
“Do you think it’s going to bother Maddox when he finds out?”
“Maddox doesn’t like his control being taken away,” she says, her voice soft. “I’m his little puppet. The girl he saved. He thinks I owe it to him to be his little dog toy. But I’m tired of it.”
“Do you care about Maddox?”
“No,” she says quickly, far too quickly if you ask me.
“Sure about that?”
She gives me a hard expression. “He is horrible to me. He treats me badly, and he won’t let me have a life. There’s nothing to care about.”
“Okay,” I say. “I believe you.”
“Alec is different.” She sighs, smiling. Maybe she really does like Alec. It sure looks like it, judging from the stupid love-struck expression on her face. “He is so sweet.”
“What does he look like?”
She squeals happily, throwing her arms around me. “He’s gorgeous, Ash. Like sandy-blond hair, and blue eyes . . . gorgeous. He’s got a killer bod.”
I beam. She deserves happiness. “So are you going to see him again soon?”
She pouts. “While we’re on lockdown, I can’t. Maddox would never let me out.”
“No, you’re right about that.”
“Anyway, come out front with me. Penny will be here soon.”
“Who is Penny?” I ask, following her out the door.
“Krypt’s little angel.”
I stop walking. “What?”
She laughs. “Don’t be jealous, they haven’t been a thing for ages.”
My mind swims as I walk out the front with her. Krypt’s little angel? What is that supposed to mean? They haven’t been a thing for ages? Meaning there was a time they were? We stop on the front steps and sit down, but my mind is too foggy to have decent conversation.
Commotion brings me back to here and now, and I blink a few times to shake the intense thoughts from my mind. I look up and see Maddox coming through the gate with a girl behind him. I gasp as I take her in. She’s beautiful, in the sweet-and-innocent kind of way. She’s nearly an exact replica of that actress Amanda Seyfried, with her long, slightly wild blond hair, and light blue eyes.
She’s wearing a white dress that ties up around her neck and flows prettily around her knees. I swallow down the lump in my throat as I watch her eyes scan about for Krypt. Santana is right; she sure does look like an angel. Krypt’s angel. I shake the thought from my head just as I notice Krypt coming out of the shed.
He’s got the smile of all smiles on his face as he approaches her, dimples and all. When he reaches her, his arms encircles her waist and he flings her around, causing an angelic little squeal to leave her lips as she wraps her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. Her lips slide over his, rather quickly, but it’s a kiss all the same. He grins, pressing a kiss to her head, on top of the one she just gave him. Jealously punches me in the chest like a hammer, and I find myself backing up.
I need to get out of here.
I turn and rush back into the house, dodging bikers as I go. I run through the building, and straight out the back, heading down the yard until I find a thick cluster of trees to disappear into. I lower myself, squatting on the floor and capturing my head in my hands. I steady my breathing, telling myself to stop it.
You said no to him.
You said no.
I know my jealousy is uncalled for, but I didn’t say no to Krypt because I didn’t want him. God, I barely know him, but the raw fact of the matter is I do want him, more than I’d first thought. This is all too much. Everything is too much. This wasn’t meant to happen to me. God dammit, it wasn’t meant to happen.