Page 18 of Stonewall
I heard a phone go off and saw Lenny look at the number before walking out of the room to take the call. I turned toward Tildie and saw her watching me with a knowing look. I returned my attention from thoughts of Lenny to catching up with Tildie and spending time with Gael.
I LEFT THEroom to take a call I had been waiting for;I talked to Lord about renovations on the apartment above the tattoo shop. It had great bones, and I had always meant to live there eventually, but being single, the clubhouse worked out better.
I wanted it to be perfect for Brooke and Gael. A clubhouse is no place for a kid, Gael needs his own room, and Brooke will want a home of her own. The apartment will help her get back on her feet.
And I plan on offering her the position of receptionist at Club Tattoo. We haven’t had one in a year, and filling the position is long overdue. It will be perfect for her because she can bring Gael along.
The hard part is convincing Brooke to take the apartment and job. She is proud and will liken it to charity, which it isn’t. Brooke is a hard worker; I wouldn’t offer her the job if she weren’t.
Am I hoping to be an important part of her future?
Damn straight I am!
I hung up, going back into the room, meeting Brooke’s stare, she wanted me that she couldn’t hide, but she was trying to close herself off from me at the same time.
Like I was going to let that happen.
Brooke still looked pretty rough this morning. The swelling and bruising on her face inflamed my rage whenever I looked at her. I had to tap it down fast. I know Brooke got a glimpse of my dark side with Flex that day, but that wasn’t a fifth of what I was capable of; like the other men in the club with their old ladies, I would never allow Brooke to see the darkest side of me.
I never wanted her to see me at my darkest, it wasn’t for the squeamish, and I feared it would send her running. But, it wasn’t something I could always control, but that side of me was only for those that deserved it, never for an innocent.
Brooke needed rest, so I went to her bedside and hooked Gael around the waist, swinging him into my arms. “Ready to go get some lunch and let your mom rest?” I asked.
“What we gonna eat?”
“What do you want?”
Gael scrunched his face up, thinking, before answering, “A hot dog and mac-n-cheese.”
Tildie got my attention by showing me her notebook.I’ll take him to the kitchen and feed him. I want to spend time with him.
“Tildie is going to take you and feed you lunch; then, you can visit with your mommy again before returning to Sophia’s. That good?”
“Yeah, I go with Tildie,” Gael said, taking Tildie’s hand when I put him down. Tildie smiled her goodbye before leading Gael out of the room.
“You like to take charge, don’t you?” Brooke said, arching an eyebrow at me.
“Only when I care about something and during sex always, so get used to it; I’ll have you in positions you never thought possible; I’ve already envisioned several with you,” I told her, running my finger down Brooke’s neck and hearing her breath hitch. “That I promise you, Brooke.”
A hint of sadness clouded her features as she asked, “And how many women have you used that line on before? I’m guessing quite a few to have learned all those positions,” Brooke accused the sadness from her face flowing into her voice.
A knock on the door interrupted before I could reply. I opened the door, and Jenna, dressed in tiny shorts and a tank top, walked in with a food tray. “Hey baby, Jane said to bring this tray for Brooke; I didn’t know you’d be in here,” Jenna said, giving me an I wanna fuck you look.
Just what I fucking needed right now. Shitty timing, for sure. I grabbed the tray. “Tell Jane thanks. Shut the door on your way out,” I told Jenna, turning my back and praying she wouldn’t say anything else.
“Sure thing, baby; hope to see you around tonight,” Jenna crooned before shutting the door behind her.
Fuck, why now? During this conversation, would this happen?
I looked at Brooke her expression gave away nothing. I put the tray on her lap. “What are you thinking?” I asked.
“Who was that woman?” Brooke didn’t look at me as she moved the food around on the tray.
“Jenna is one of the club women. But I think you already guessed that, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I kind of figured she was. I don’t know why but from the way Tildie touted you, men, up, I didn’t think this club had them. But I should have known better. Do you think because I put up with that shit from Flex that I’m an easy mark?” she gave a bitter laugh, “Because you’d be wrong.”
“You listen to me, Brooke,” I commanded, sitting on the bed and forcing her to look at me. “Yes, we have club women here, and some of the men use them, but ninety-nine percent of the married men in our club do not touch them. And before you say it, yes, I’m single, but I haven’t touched one of the women here or anywhere for almost seven months. Yes, I’ve slept with them in the past, but the the past is where they are. I’m not some man-whore who can’t keep his dick in his pants. You’re not some mark; I really like you, Brooke, and once you get to really know me, you’ll see how rare that is,” I finished watching all the different emotions cross her face, the last one hope.