“I’m not in love with Sophia.”
“The shiner Nash gave you is proof to me you overstepped the line. I’m not as dumb as you think I am. Every time we were together and you talked about this club, I listened.” She pushed some hair out of her eyes. He held the chains, refusing to back away. “You talked about Sophia, especially in drink. You said her beauty would never be rivaled.”
“I was drunk.”
“And yet it was how you felt. I’m not stupid, Zero.”
“I don’t want you to go. There is something between us.”
She placed her hand on his chest and pushed. He took a step back and another as she got to her feet. “We may have attraction, but I will not be the second choice because the woman you really want is not available to you. I care about you.”
“What do I have to do to show you?” he asked.
“Prove to me she doesn’t affect you anymore.”
“How the fuck do I do that?”
He watched as she made to walk away.
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll know when I see it.” She spun away and headed back to the clubhouse.
“Fuck,” he said, shouting the word aloud. Butch walked up to him, smiling.
“I take it your woman doesn’t accept any of your shit.” Butch lit a cigarette, sitting down on one of the swings.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked.
“They’re attempting to feed a pack of animals. I tell you, there is nothing scarier than seeing a bunch of kids hungry.” Butch shivered as he stared somewhere past Zero’s shoulder. “What’s up with Prue?”
“She doesn’t want to fuck me because she thinks I’ve got a thing for Sophia.”
“You have got a thing for Sophia,” Butch said, frowning at him. “Fuck, the whole club knows you’ve got a thing for that woman. The only one who didn’t know was Sophia, and Nash soon put her in the know. She’s been avoiding you for some time.”
Couldn’t have been avoiding him that much. She was fucking talking to him earlier.
“It’s not what you think. I’m not in love with her.” Zero didn’t know what to say to make Prue realize he was telling the truth. Something had struck him hard being around Prue for so long. Was that it? Being around Prue made him understand his feelings for another?
Crap, he didn’t understand what the fuck was going on.
“What’s up your ass?” Zero asked, changing the subject.
“Nothing. I’m more than happy with life.”
Whatever, asshole.
Zero was jealous at the happiness in his friend’s face. He would be happy when Prue finally gave him a chance.
****
Prue helped with the dishes while cursing Zero and his stupid, weak attempt to seduce her. She had been approached in the playground by nine year olds with more charisma than he just displayed. Picking up the last plate, she dried it viciously before putting it on the pile of others.
“Stupid, fucking asshole,” she said, muttering the words underneath her breath.
“Whoa, who has you pissed off?” Tate asked, walking into the room. She carried a glass of water.
“Nothing.” Prue wasn’t in the mood for whatever this bitch had to throw at her.
“I’m calling a truce,” Tate said, holding her hands out in front of her.
“What?”
“I can’t get Murphy to tell me what’s going on. My dad refuses, and Eva is following his lead. Everyone stops talking when I enter a room. It irritates me. I don’t like it.”
“I’m not going to tell you anything,” Prue said, pointing at her chest. “I’m new here. Tiny looks like a scary guy. I’m not going to do anything to piss him off. If you want the truth then you’re going to have to get it out of them.”
“I understand.” Tate ran fingers through her hair. “Look, I’m a bitch. I know I’m a bitch. You’re Zero’s woman, and I don’t want to cause problems. We’re all on lockdown. It takes a toll, and I don’t want to be fighting with the new girl, especially seeing as you’ve got the others on your side as well.”
“This is what this is about?”
“No, I want us to be friends. This club means everything to my family. I fuck up all the time, but they’ve always got my back.”
Prue thought about it. She didn’t know how long Alan intended to play whatever game he wanted to play. “Fine, we can be friends.”
She offered her hand, and Tate took it.
Seconds later Tate left the room, and Prue left the kitchen, going to Zero’s room. She was surprised to see him on his bed. “I thought you were outside.”