“What do you mean?”
Crash leaned forward. “One minute she’s cuddled on your lap, the next you’re letting her walk out the door. That’s what he means.”
Cole frowned. “Am I missing something? I mean, what I saw in that back hallway—”
Wolf cut in. “What you saw in that hallway was a connection that time hasn’t broken.”
Cole huffed out a breath and shook his head. “Don’t care how strong a connection you two have—it can all be washed away with a woman’s tears. And the way you let her go tonight—”
“What choice did I have?” Wolf snapped.
Crash gave him a ‘what-the-fuck’ look. “Who the hell are you? Are you not a member of this club? Because no member of my goddamn club says those words. What the fuck do you mean what choice did you have?”
?
?She works for those guys, Crash. She told me once to let her go. You heard her yourself, she says she’s happy. You want me to make a scene and cause trouble for her with her bosses? Fuck up her job? How’s that gonna win her back, genius?”
“So you did nothing? First time you’ve seen her in how long? Wolf, you didn’t even walk her outside.” Crash lifted his chin toward the door.
Wolf ran his hand angrily through his hair. Christ, he hadn’t. How’d she take that?
“I fucked up?”
Cole had no problem answering his stupid question. “You want me to say it? Yeah, you fucked up, Wolf. And don’t play dumb with me. You knew what you were doing. I don’t buy this crap for a minute, so cut the bullshit. What the fuck is your problem?”
Wolf shook his head, leaning over the table.
“Whatever. Do what you want. I came to get drunk, not to play your damn therapist, Wolf. I’m getting another beer.” Cole shoved his chair back and walked off.
Crash leaned his folded arms on the table. He waited until Cole had moved away, and then he started in with his own advice with a grin. “I got no problem playin’ your therapist.”
“Lucky me.”
“You need a woman in your life, Wolf. One who knows you. One who understands you. One who lets you be who you are.”
Wolf ran a hand down his face. Crash wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know. And he was describing everything Crystal already was to him.
Crash dipped his head closer, his voice quieting. “This life, this job, this club…it’s not always easy. It can suck the soul right out of you. You need someone to go home to, Wolf. Someone to take away the darkness, fill you up with light. Shannon does that for me. Angel does that for Cole. If Crystal can be that for you, why are you fighting it, bro?”
“I don’t fucking know.”
“Yeah you do.”
Wolf blew out a long breath. Yeah, he did. “I’ve never lived up to anyone’s expectations, Crash. What if I can’t live up to hers? What if I destroy her? Everything that’s good about her?”
“This more baggage your piece-of-shit father left you with?”
Wolf huffed out a laugh. “Probably.” Then he ran a frustrated hand down his face, shook his head and looked over at Crash. His brothers wanted him to cut the bullshit, fine. “Yeah, she’s what I need. I know that, Crash. But what if I’m not what she needs?”
“What if you are?”
Wolf swallowed.
“That scares you, doesn’t it? Being what she needs?”
When Wolf stayed silent, Crash shook his head in aggravation, got up and walked away.
Red Dog strolled over, a beer in his hand. He stood and looked down at Wolf. “He rub your head and tell you everything’s gonna be all right?”