Ranger stared at me strangely for a second, then shook his head.
“Is there something you want to say?” I asked him.
“Not really,” he admitted. “I have a question burning in my mind, but I know I shouldn’t ask it.” He ran a hand over his smooth brown hair. It was longer than most of the guys in the club, whipping around his ears in a slight wave. He always wore it parted, but somehow had that messy, I don’t fucking care about a brush look. His green eyes were absolutely mesmerizing, and more often than not, I found myself getting lost in them. Even before this shit with Sabbath. Even before I started picking through the club one by one. Green had always been my favorite color.
I sat up a little straighter in the bed, glancing at the door. Both Sabbath and Snyder weren’t back yet.
“You can ask me anything you want, Ranger.”
His eyes darted the same direction mine did, and instead of moving toward the door, he flopped into the chair beside me.
“I don’t want to get involved, but there was a look in your eyes earlier that I found rather odd. You seemed rather emotional about Sandman’s current state. I know that he’s part of the club, but I don’t know, it just seemed weird to me.”
He was on to us.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I argued, admitting everything in silence.
He scrubbed at the goatee on his chin and sighed. “If something is going on between you and Jesse, I don’t want Sabbath to find out about it. Jesse’s vulnerable right now, and truthfully, I’m not sure if he’ll ever be the same again. So, if something did happen between you two the other day, before the accident, I’d keep it to yourself. There’s no telling what Sabbath would do about it if he found out.”
Nerves rattled me like a closed cage. I could feel the guilt creeping in again, and as I lost myself in those green grassy knolls that swirled around his iris, my teeth clamped down on my tongue, keeping it imprisoned.
I’m not talking.
Ranger continued to stare at me with great scrutiny. I knew he was close to Sandman; they were best friends after all, but I had no idea how loyal he was to Sabbath. He was definitely fishing for information, but I wasn’t sure what kind or who for.
“Anyway, I better get going. I don’t like leaving Jesse alone for long. I’m still holding onto the hope that he’ll wake up and be fine, and that everything they’re predicting doesn’t come true.”
I nodded. “I’m praying for that, too.”
For a brief second before he left, Ranger stared deeply into my eyes, and I felt my heart racing once again. It raced like this any time one of the guys from the club looked at me. Any guy who wasn’t Sabbath.
Fuck, I was literally going crazy.
This wasn’t me.
I wasn’t a slutty girl who craved every man that walked by her. I was loyal, and faithful… my mind drifted back to that day I cheated on Hoax, and I realized loyal and faithful were two words I couldn’t use anymore. Maybe I never could.
Chapter Three
Ranger
I was determined to be there when Jesse finally opened his eyes. It had been seven long days, and each day felt more drawn out than the last.
The rest of the club came and went, and Shasta had been released two days ago by the doctors, but I stood steady, watching over my best friend that was so close, but so far away at the same time.
The door squeaked open, and I thought it may be a nurse peeking her head in, but it wasn’t… it was the one person who had no fucking right to be there.
Lindy.
What the hell was that bitch doing here?
She squeaked when she saw me rise from my chair, cowering like always. I was half the size of Sandman, and probably one of the smallest guys in the club, but she still shied away like I was some serial killer out to murder her.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Lindy?” I boomed, looking between her and my friend who couldn’t defend himself.
“I—I” she stuttered through her words like a broken record, tears welling up in her eyes when she glanced over at Sandman’s sad state.
“You should fucking leave.”