Page 16 of Empower

And for some reason, I trusted this girl, I didn’t know what it was or why, but it was the feeling deep in my belly, therefore, I said, “Really? Darn it. I don’t suppose you’ll let me borrow it sometime?”

She shrugged, “Doesn’t matter to me. Looks like we are close to the same size. You can borrow anything of mine anytime except for a few pieces.”

“Same. I was nervous about this. But thanks for putting me at ease. Now, I ate a while ago, and I’m hungry again. Do y’all have any food here?” I asked.

She smirked and then said, “Sure. I was going to make some walking tacos. You want some?”

“Seriously! Lead the way.” She smiled, looped my arm with hers, and then led us into the clubhouse.

All the while Red called out, “Show my daughter around Raine. I know they won’t fuck with her if she’s with you.”

Raine only raised her hand and made some kind of signal.

It was while we were eating that she burped, not lady-like I know, but to help the light blush on her cheeks, I followed suit.

The chuckles that burst forth turned into full-blown laughter.

And that was how she became my best friend in the whole world.

After Raine showed me around the clubhouse, we all piled up and headed to Red’s house.

To say that I thought I lived in a home with my stepfather and Karly, well, that would be a lie.

But this… this warm and inviting space? Now this was a home.

Red had an old farmhouse, renovated, to have all the comforts of home, it was small, yes, but it fit him perfectly.

The walls were all a dove gray, and with the white crown molding and black furniture pieces it looked amazing.

My bedroom was on the far side of the house away from Red’s room and the garage.

Once I was settled in with Raine’s help, and since she didn’t have any plans, she helped further settle my nerves as we binged on popcorn, watched movies, and talked about our love lives.

She also showed her a picture of Tank.

I could see it. I could. He was cute.

But he had nothing on the man named Storm. Freaking nothing.

I told her about Byron and everything that went down.

And her only response was, “What a douchebag.”

What a douchebag indeed.

When it was getting late in the evening, Raine looked at me and said, “Red has been at the clubhouse getting things ready for a birthday dinner for you. I wasn’t supposed to tell you, but I know that I hate surprises.”

“Thank you. There’s no telling what I would have done and embarrassed myself.”

She winked at me, and then when Hippie arrived in an SUV to take us to the clubhouse, we piled in.

Fifteen minutes later we were pulling up to the clubhouse, and there he stood. Storm.

His legs were braced, his arms crossed over his chest, and seeing the most handsome man I had ever seen in my life, I tried not to hyperventilate as we all climbed out.

Raine looped her arm with mine, and with Hippie at our backs, we started walking to the front doors.

Said front doors that Storm was standing in front of.