Page 112 of Jackass

I eyed King carefully. I didn’t know where he was going with this, but I was sure I wouldn’t like it.

“King, I’m not—” I started.

He lifted his hand up, silencing me.

“Yes or no, Samantha.”

I stood there, looking at the club president. Knowing that he could ban me from the compound. I licked my lips, deciding how I wanted to answer. He eyed me sternly.

“Yes, but—”

Again, he cut me off.

“Did he ask you not to share that information?” King asked pointedly.

I smiled. I knew where he was going now.

“Yes,” I answered.

“Jack, let it go. Unless you don’t trust your woman’s instincts?” He knew that would piss Jack off. He didn’t care.

“King, what the fuck?” Jack whined.

I walked over, lifted onto my toes, and kissed King’s cheek.

“Thank you,” I told him.

Turning around to face Jack, I added, “You are welcome to come with us if you like, but Charlie and I are going to The Bookstore today. Tank and Mimic are waiting outside. I am going to get Charlie and then we are leaving.”

As I walked away, I heard King’s chuckle, followed by Jack’s muttered curse. Then heard King say to him, “You wanted an old lady, Jack.”

I smiled and gathered up my daughter.

We were going into town.

The girls were so excited when they saw me and Charlie walk into the bookstore.

“CHARLIE!” Chrissy yelled as she and Tabby came running over.

“Chrissy, no yelling in the store, honey,” Ryder reminded his daughter.

“Sorry, Daddy.” Chrissy grabbed Charlie’s hand and the three girls ran over to the children’s section, followed by Mimic.

Shaking my head at the little girls, I walked over to Ryder.

“Hey, how are you?”

“I’m good. Avery has the day off, so I’m glad you could make it in today.” He looked over at our girls digging through the books. “It will help keep the girls out from underfoot for a while.”

“Ryder, I just wanted to apologize again. I never expected Carrie to act the way she did,” I said, biting my lip.

“Sam, it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t even invite her.” He walked over behind the counter.

“But she was my friend,” I said, biting my fingernail. “I feel responsible. Beck wouldn’t have invited her if I hadn’t brought her around.”

“Listen, Sam.” Ryder leaned his arms on the counter. “Beck told me about what the guys learned about Carrie. There was no way you could have known what she had done. Unless, of course,you planned on running a background check on everyone you befriended,” he said with a smirk.

“I know. Logically, that makes sense. But then there is the mom guilt. That overrides the logical side of my brain.”