“None taken.” She giggled.
“You know, this shouldn’t make you laugh. This shit should be fucking terrifying you.”
“Bad, I hope you don’t see this as pushing, but have you ever considered the fact that you might actually be in love?” she asked.
He accidentally spilled some of the beer over his chest and cursed. “Don’t, Piper.”
She held her hands up. “You’re moody and you clearly miss this woman.”
“I said don’t.”
“Why didn’t you invite her?” Piper asked.
He turned his glare to her.
“Well?”
“You don’t understand.”
“From what I’ve heard, she is on the road right now. She’s traveling, doing exactly the same thing as we are. The only difference, she is doing it alone. You have friends. Club brothers. You clearly love her. Anyone can see that. It’s why you’re so moody.” Another smile came to her lips, especially as this time, he growled. “See. I don’t understand why you didn’t call her. Why you didn’t ask if she wanted to come on the road with you. You love her. Think about it.” Piper gave his knee a friendly tap, and then she left.
He stared at the fire. They were always setting fire to old metal trash cans. There was no need for warmth. The night was hot. He was sweating beneath his leather cut.
Sipping on his beer, he glared at the flames.
“You’re not going to die them out,” Colonel said.
“Are you here to finish what Piper started?” Bad asked.
“Yes. You’ve never really talked about Charity. I know of her because of what you spilled during your drunken tirades.”
“My best friend told me to stay away from her.”
“I imagine it was when he assumed she wanted the same things that he wanted for her.”
Bad shrugged. Stevie had assumed that Charity wanted stability. The house, the husband, the steady job, and kids. Stevie had been wrong.
“Is it possible that your best friend would be begging you right about now to act on your feelings? To be there for her? You’re clearly in love with her, Bad. There is no shame in that.” Colonel turned to look at where Piper stood with a couple of the guys. “I get that now more than ever. There is a woman that calls to your very fucking soul, and there is no denying that. No hiding from it. I wouldn’t be anywhere without my woman.”
“I don’t know if this life is what she wants. I can’t allow her to be … unhappy.”
“Can you allow yourself this chance to slip you by?” Colonel asked.
For several seconds, he didn’t say anything. “What if she hates it?” he asked.
“Then she hates it and you both know that you tried.”
Bad thought about it.
“But what if … she loves it, Bad? What if this is the life she had always wanted?” Colonel got to his feet and walked away.
Chapter Seven
After spending the last couple of days boiling in the heat of the sun, Charity had no choice but to find a nice motel to stay at for the evening.
She had to wash her hair and her clothes.
The sweat had made her hair so gross. Even running a comb through it hadn’t helped. She had washed her body in sinks of warm water at different stops.