We eat, play pool and talk shit for a few hours and then I head to bed. I notice that the vibe in the Wind Dragons clubhouse is different from ours. It’s very quiet, and there’s no warmth there, other than Rhett. The other members don’t come out to drink or play pool, and I wonder if it’s always like this, or if I just caught them on an off night.
It feels weird sleeping here, but I lock the door and seem to find sleep easier than I thought.
When the sun rises, I get up, shower and get ready for the ride home. When Natalie messages me, I meet her at Rake’s house, and then we head back. I wish she was riding with me, but I still like having her car near me, and knowing she’s there.
Never thought I’d ever be saying that.
What the fuck has she done to me?
Is this how Crow feels about Bronte? How Trade feels about Nadia?
I’m glad she didn’t secretly want me to storm over there, throw her on the back of my bike to make a statement. I’ve done a lot of work on myself in the last few years, and I don’t want a relationship that’s unhealthy in any way. I don’t want to fight just to spice anything up—I just want us to be happy and successful, together and alone.
And I think she wants the same.
So, it looks like I’ve found my match.
Checkmate.
Chapter Seventeen
Natalie
After the drive home with Atlas, I feel much better about everything. I get into work and avoid Cole and the Marko case as much as I can. I just want to forget everything that has happened, and move on.
Cara comes over for dinner that night and we drink wine and discuss everything going on in our lives, although she seems to be mostly focused on mine.
“I can’t believe he rode to Mom’s house just to have a chat with you. That’s kind of cute,” she says, her cheek resting on her chin. She spins on the stool she’s sitting on, lost in thought. “So are you both dating now or what? Surely it’s now time to make it official.”
“We haven’t had...that discussion yet,” I admit, shrugging. “I don’t know, this is my first proper relationship—how does it all work? You’ve done only long-term relationships, so you should be a pro by now.”
She laughs. “I’ve done two, and I’m definitely not a pro.”
“More pro than me,” I grumble.
“You don’t talk to me about your dating life,” she replies, picking up a grape from the platter I made for us to nibble on and popping it into her mouth. “How come?”
She noticed? “I don’t know. It’s the same reason why I thought I didn’t want to date a biker.” I shrug.
“Why won’t you open up to me about your personal life? You’ve always been so guarded with me.”
I decide to go with the truth. Atlas was the first person to notice how guarded I am with my family.
“I am the baby of the group. It was always you, Clover and Rhett. Yes, there were kids younger than me, but I am closest to your ages...but it was constantly the three of you and I was forever...”
“Left out,” she finishes, and I nod.
“Oh, Natty, I’m sorry. Why didn’t you ever say anything? I just assumed you wanted to do your own thing.”
“You know, I don’t like being called Natty,” I admit, realizing that truth is the way to go. You can’t expect people to know how you feel if you never tell them.
“What?”
“Yeah, I hate being called that. It makes me feel like I’m five.”
“Is that why Atlas always calls you Natalie?”
“He figured it out right after we met.”