I stand, pull twenty dollars from my wallet, and drop it on the table.
“Fair enough,” I say, hoping this make us even in her mind.
“Where are you headed?” Grinch asks.
“For a ride,” I mutter before walking away.
There aren’t many times that riding a bike are miserable, but being open to the elements, especially in the winter, is one of them.
I hate the days we’re in New Mexico, and it’s not because of the environment or the people. I’d rather be on a mission, doing something that keeps my mind as busy as my body.
Lazy days aren’t my thing. I get too wrapped up in my own head. It’s when I have time to stop and think that gets me into trouble. It’s when, despite my many attempts to think of something else, Sylvie Davis infiltrates. It feels like an insidious invasion, mainly because there’s never been another woman capable of taking up space there.
Thoughts of her will wane eventually. I just have to avoid her. Since she doesn’t seem to have any interest in me and she’s hardly ever at the clubhouse, it will happen in due time.
My only goal is to not go insane before it does.
Chapter 7
Sylvie
I’m not a woman prone to nervousness. I make a plan, set a goal, and go after it.
Today’s task started no differently than any other—get off work, shower, get packed for my trip back to Telluride so I can deal with the shit storm my cousin has created in my life.
Maybe it’s the irritation making my hands tremble a little as I toss clothes into the suitcase. Maybe it’s going back home after so many years, knowing I won’t find that home in the same condition as when I left it. Maybe I’m still worried about Big Daddy even though Faith assured me she’d look after him.
I hiss when a pair of underwear land outside the suitcase rather than in it like I intended. It seems the smallest of inconveniences are just grating on my nerves today.
Faith texted late last night that a plan was worked out for my trip but didn’t go into further detail. I asked last night exactly what she meant, thinking it had to do with the paperwork she was having prepared for me, but when that text went unanswered, it hiked my stress level to the point I hardly got any sleep last night.
Since she still hasn’t texted me back today, I’m no closer to relaxing.
The sound of a motorcycle approaching my house isn’t a relief, and my heart is pounding as I walk to the front door, startling when I find Faith standing there with Legend.
“What’s going on?” I ask, suspicion and a healthy dose of irritation marking my tone.
Legend cocks an eyebrow at me, but I ignore the opportunity he’s allowing for me to change my tone.
Faith is my best friend, and when she does shit that annoys me, I’m going to call her on it. Her protective man will just have to deal with it.
“Open the garage so I can park my bike.”
I bare my teeth when I see an unhappy Spade sitting on his motorcycle in my driveway.
“No,” I say immediately, speaking to whomever is listening. “I’d rather go alone.”
I knew Legend would never let Faith out of his sight, but if this is what Faith meant when she texted that she had a plan worked out, I want no damn part of it.
“Faith mentioned you were nervous about your trip,” Legend begins. “Spade is going to go with you. Make sure nothing bad happens.”
I glare at my friend, ignoring her pushy boyfriend.
“I want you to be safe,” she says, gnawing on the corner of her lip. The action tells me that she knows this is a bad idea. “I thought it would’ve been someone else.”
“Anyone else,” I growl. “Not him.”
“Everyone else is busy.”