Page 9 of Rider
On the other hand, I’ve seen my fair share of gruesome crimes and experienced far more grisly horrors than I’d like to remember. If Axel sees the proverbial water glass as half full, I’m likely to assume it was once filled to the top with poison and is only half empty because the poor bastard who drank it died.
Until Sutton came into my life. My precious, brave little flower.
My life was filled with darkness long before I was locked away, and being in prison only hardened me more. I didn’t think I was capable of feeling the warmth of the sun. Then Sutton smiled at me, her light piercing through the darkness and shining down on all the broken pieces of my soul.
“I know that look,” Hawk says, startling me out of my thoughts. “Who is she?”
My eyes widen before I remember to school my expression.How the hell did he figure it out so quickly?
“Uh, what? What are you talking about? She?” I ramble.
Hawk grins at me and takes a swig of his beer. The bartender working tonight hands me a beer without me having to ask. I give him a nod and lay down a five-dollar bill, thankful for something to do other than look at Hawk’s stupid smirk.
“Let me rephrase that. How are things going with Sutton?” I blink, unable to think of a response. “Rider, You couldnotbe more obvious, my friend. And you weren’t subtle the first time you met her.”
I narrow my eyes at Hawk, not liking how quickly he’s piecing everything together. I don’t want to keep a secret from my friend, but truthfully, there isn’t anything to say. It’s not like Sutton and I are together. I’m just helping her out during a rough patch. And sure, I hope she falls for me, and I can convince her to stay for good as my wife and partner, but he doesn’t need to know that yet.
Plus, Sutton asked me to keep her living arrangements private for now. I initially encouraged her to talk to Tessa about it, but she’s hesitant to give her friend any bad news. As much as I wanted to make her see that Tessa loves her, I know my girl needs time. She needs consistency. Sutton was brave enough to let me into her struggle and to let me help. That has to be enough, at least for a few days.
It’s not like I can judge her for wanting to keep a secret. I still haven’t told her about the arrest or my time in prison.
“Well, it’s just… I mean, there’s nothing…” I trail off with a sigh and take a long swig of beer. “Sutton and I have been hanging out,” I finally settle on. It’s not a total lie. Between my duties to the club and Sutton’s design projects, we’ve been getting to know each other more and more.
“And…?” Hawk asks, dragging out the word.
“And that’s all. You know how shy she is. I can’t push for anything she’s not ready for.”
“But you thinkyoumight be? Ready for a relationship.”
“With anyone else, fuck no,” I grunt. Women were never on my priorities list. No bitterness or terrible relationship experience, it just never felt right. Or worth it. Women were never the point and certainly never the most important thing in my life. Until my wildflower.
“But Sutton?”
I take a deep breath in, nodding yes on the exhale. “Yeah. She’s… it. Everything. It’s intense,” I admit.
“Sure is,” Hawk agrees. I know he’s thinking about when he and Tessa first met.
“Not you, too,” Blade says from behind me. Hawk and I turn slightly to make room for him. I give him a questioning look. “Found a woman to distract you, just like Hawk here.”
“Tessa isn’t a distraction,” Hawk grumbles. Blade shoots him an incredulous look, which makes Hawk roll his eyes. “Fine. A tiny bit of a distraction. But more than that, she gives me a reason to be better and work harder. I want her to be proud of me.”
Blade scoffs while I listen intently. Yes, that’s exactly how I feel about Sutton. She makes me want to be a better man. The kind of man worthy of taking care of such a precious gift.
“Yeah, yeah,” Blade says dismissively. “Whatever you say.”
“What about you, Prez?” Hawk asks. “How is it that Rider spent the last five years locked up, yet he has a better love life than you?”
This startles a chuckle out of me, and a few others join in. Blade flips all of us off, though he’s smirking beneath his scowl.
“It’s called self-preservation, boys,” he says, grabbing a bottle of whiskey from behind the bar. Blade backs away, then turns on his heel, bottle in hand. “Women are crazy,” he hollers over his shoulder. “Every last fuckin’ one of ‘em.”
“Can’t wait to see the day you fall hard and fast for someone!” Hawk calls out.
“Never gonna happen!” comes Blade’s response. He throws a final middle finger in the air as he takes a long draw from the whiskey bottle, then shoves his way to the back room, presumably to start his surveillance shift.
Hawk is still grinning when he turns back to me. “So, when are you seeing her again?”
“Uh…”