She’s wearing something short, perfect for my hands to slide up and under to grip her ass.
“We can have more fun.” Rochelle’s hands slide down my body and she goes to touch the floor, but I reach for her and pull her back up. She distracts me with sex. It’s her specialty, and she’s good at it too.
“We will. After.”
Rochelle stands, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t like your brother.”
“I know, and he doesn’t like you either.”
She shrugs her shoulders, throwing her hands up in the air. “Then why do I have to go?”
“Because you do nothing anymore, literally nothing,” I say.
Rochelle bites her lip and looks down. “You never do anything either but work, so what’s the problem?”
Stepping away from her, I take my keys and turn to her. “You’re changing. I know why. But stop locking yourself away. You didn’t die with Tanika,” I say, and it’s not until the last words leave my mouth that her eyes look up at me and anger is evident in them.
“A part of me jumped off that bridge with her,” she says, walking over to me. “Now, if you’re finished discussing this, let’s go.” She takes the keys from my hand and walks out of my house to my truck. She unlocks it and sits in the passenger seat as I lock up the house and follow her out. She hands me the keys and doesn’t say a word as we drive.
I look at her and wonder why I’ve stuck around for so long. Why I haven’t gotten sick of her. It’s been months now, and not once have my eyes strayed. Not once have I wanted another woman more than I want her.
It’s her.
Always her.
“I’m going to drink,” she announces, as we pull up to the clubhouse. Rochelle jumps from my truck and waits for me to meet up with her before she goes any farther. Her hand reaches for mine and she clasps it, squeezing tight.
I’ve become her lifeline, and I don’t know how to break that. Before me, she was her own lifeline.
Death has changed her. Seeing it, feeling it, has killed something inside her.
“You brought her? I told you not to bring her,” Blaze says, as we walk toward him.
“She’s right here, asshole.” Rochelle pushes into my side.
Harper stands, smiling at us. “Hey, it’s been too long.”
“Sit, Harper,” Blaze barks. “She isn’t welcome here.”
Rochelle ignores him and turns, looking up at me. “Drink?”
Before I can reply, a flash of blonde hair comes up behind Rochelle and pulls her strawberry-blonde hair backward, making her leave my side and fall to the floor. The blonde who was on my lap last time Rochelle was here jumps on Rochelle and punches her in the face. Hard. Rochelle gasps, covers her face, then in a split-second bucks the blonde off and flips her so she’s on top. Rochelle’s fast hands punch and she starts hitting, over and over again, until I reach for her, lifting her backward and off. The blonde who started it is lying on the floor crying.
“You stupid fucking bitch, you made me bleed,” Rochelle screams, struggling to get free and go back to the blonde. I manage to keep hold of her when Harper walks over and helps the crying blonde up from the floor and walks her away.
Snow steps over with a beer in hand and passes it to a very angry Rochelle. She takes it as she calms in my arms.
“Girl, every time you come here, trouble follows you,” he says, and gives her a smirk. “And… I’m sorry about your friend.”
Rochelle’s chest deflates, and I see the fight leave her.
Blaze pushes through and angry eyes land on Rochelle. “You have some fucking nerve.”
“Me?” She points to herself while shaking her head. “I didn’t even want to come, let alone be attacked from behind by some blonde maniac. Maybe you should control your bitches,” she yells at him.
Everyone around us goes silent, and Blaze steps up to her, but I block his path, stepping in his way.
“I would calm down.”
“You pick her?” he spits angrily.
“I’m not picking anyone. But you will watch what you say or do to her.”
“I’ll do no such thing. You’re on my property now.”
“It’s in both our names. This is our place. I let you think you can have it.”
Rochelle steps up from behind me. “Tell me, Blaze… tell me why you hate me?” She takes a long pull of her beer. She brushes up against me, and Blaze doesn’t miss the action.
“You’re changing him. I hate that you are.”
Rochelle looks to me with her eyes pinched. “Am I?”
I don’t answer her, because she is. I think she knows that too. I’m almost ready to walk through fire for her to make sure she’s safe, and stand still as I burn.