Libby cradled my face in her hands. “I can see this is tearing you up.”
“You have no idea.” I winced as a sharp pain stabbed my heart. “I just want her gone.”
“Do you really? The way you’re acting, I’d say you still want her. I mean, why else would you call out her name during sex? Why do you only want me? It’s my blonde hair and green eyes, isn’t it?”
Fuck, I felt ashamed hearing it from her lips.
“I was a fucking idiot. I’d held myself back, guarding my heart for what? Aspen and I have been over for a long time. We aren’t ever getting back together.” My chest squeezed as the realization hit.
Aspen and I are never getting back together. She’s never going to be mine.
She arched her brow. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry I treated you like you were her. It was wrong.” Man, I felt like a dick.
She smiled sweetly. “You know it didn’t bother me, baby. I enjoy being with you.” She unzipped my jeans. “Do you want me?”
I nodded, crushing my lips to hers.
12
Aspen
Storm and Hero entered the bar without Zach. I had a weird feeling he wasn’t okay. Lynx got me a beer, the first I’d had since before Cass took me captive. He hated that I liked it, and said a lady only drank wine. That was the first of many choices he took away from me.
Lynx and I were at a table together, making small talk. I hadn’t been inside the bar before. He’d told me it wasn’t as lively or lewd as usual. The way the kittens sat on members’ laps so freely, moving from one biker to another, whispering and rocking their bottoms on them, I had a good idea of what all went on here.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Lynx.
Despite not wanting anything to do with Zach, I needed to check on him. I’d felt his tension, the way I used to when we were together. It reminded me of how I could sense his moods, especially when he was struggling.
The months leading up to his high school graduation had kept him on edge. All he’d talked about back then was not wanting to leave me, even though joining the Marines was for both of us.
I shook my head, not wanting to think about all the lies he’d told me.
“Where you going, sweetheart?” Lynx put his beer down as he considered me.
“The bathroom,” I lied. “Which way is it?” There was no chance I could escape. After I’d asked Storm to help me leave the country, he’d posted men at all the exits. I was a prisoner again, only not handcuffed to anything and free to eat and drink whatever I chose.
Lynx pointed. “Out the entrance and to the left.”
I gave him a genuine smile. “Thanks.” The location of the bathroom was near the room I’d been in forchurch. It worked to my advantage, in case Zach got angry over me trying to talk to him. I could pretend bumping into him was by accident.
Two steps out of the bar, I froze. Zach was led by the hand upstairs by his woman, Libby. I should’ve turned around or gone to the bathroom, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away. They looked really great together. I could tell she made him happy.
When Libby wasn’t around, I’d forget Zach had someone. In church, the way he behaved wasn’t like a man who was married or had an old lady. For a hot minute, it felt like he genuinely cared about me. The rage in his eyes made me think he was jealous I was on Lynx’s lap. Ready to fight for me.
But as I watched him disappear up the stairs with his woman, he looked content. Nothing like he’d displayed during the meeting.
I hated that I’d brought danger to the club’s doorstep.
Even more, I hated that I’d wondered if Zach had grown up as I had, and the universe brought us back together for a second chance. That may be ourforever and everhadn’t been empty words between two teenagers. I’d always meant it…
Zach ran his fingers through my long locks as I sat astride him on the bleachers at school. “I love your silky hair. How can you be so perfect? And mine?”
I giggled as he cradled my head, reeling me in for a kiss. “You’re the perfect one.”
He eyed me with a boyish grin, brushing his nose across mine. “Together forever and ever.”