Chapter 21
Tanner
I stayed at the clubhouse. Me and Dani spent the night eating fried chicken and continuing our Good Girls binge. She went to her room about midnight, so I turned off the TV and tried to get some sleep. My phone wakes me up as it vibrates next to my head. It’s a text. I groan seeing it’s 2:30AM.
Zeke: Open your door.
Seriously? I drag myself out of my bed and walk over to my door. I turn the lock and twist the knob, leaving it cracked open. Half asleep, I manage to fall into my pillow and pull the covers over me. The soft click of the door and the sound of footsteps fill the quiet room. When I feel him standing next to me, I look up. He lowers down to his knees and leans over the edge of my bed towards me.
I pull my face back when the smell of a horrid perfume and smoke invade my nostrils.
“What?” He asked as he watched my reaction.
I shake my head. “You smell, Zeke.”
He laughed and started to push me aside so he could lay next to me.
I put up a hand. “You are not getting in here smelling like that.”
He frowns. “Like what?”
“A whore,” I scoff.
He rolls his eyes. “We were at the strip club, Vix. I wasn’t sleeping with a whore.”
“I don’t care what you were doing. I don’t want that stench on my sheets,” I snap as I pull the covers over my arms.
“Are you for real?” He asks as he jerks his head back.
“Yes. I’m for real.”
He has the actual nerve to look pissed. He’s the one dragging in from the strip club at two in the morning and waking me up. How did he expect me to react?
“Well then, I guess I will settle for a goodnight kiss.” He reaches for my jaw.
“I don’t know where your lips have been tonight,” I hissed.
He chuckles. “My lips have been on no one, and I wouldn’t mind telling you if they had.”
At least he’s honest.
I huff. “Fine, go ahead.”
He tugs me over, and his lips land on mine in a soft gentle touch. The butterflies return and I suddenly pull back as my tongue swipes across my lips.
“Goodnight Zeke,” I say quietly.
He looks at me for a moment. Like he was expecting more. I can’t give him more right now. An attachment is not an option.
“Goodnight.” Then he rises from the carpet and disappears out my door. What the hell am I doing?
This week has been crazy. I’ve had to pick up a few extra shifts since Stacey is down with mono. I have been really looking forward to this weekend, we are having a party to welcome Ember back. Apparently, her dad has been really sick. She went to stay with him up in Michigan for the last few months while he was on hospice. He had cancer, and finally lost his battle a month ago.
AC/DC pumps through the speakers in the main room of the house. It’s so loud you can hear it well into the front and back yard. I walked out front to take a trash bag to the dumpster. After I tossed it in, a rough hand caught my wrist and pulled me behind the bushes.
“What are you doing, Zeke! You want my brother to see us?” I scold as he wraps his arms around my waist.
I know for a fact my brother would not be happy with me randomly making out with him. He was so hell bent on me not coming here in the first place I doubt he would approve of whatever this is.