CHAPTER THREE
“What the fucking fuck?” I mutter for maybe the millionth time since leaving Charlotte’s place.
I wanted to stay, but I didn’t know the words to break through her freak out.
Shit, maybe I don’t know her as well as I thought I did.
For a brief, insane moment, I consider calling her brother to see if he knows what’s going on with Charlotte, but then I lock that crazy down. One, I don’t know how to reach him and two, I’m not asking her little brother for advice on how to date his sister.
I drag my sorry ass into the clubhouse, hoping no one’s downstairs to annoy me.
No such luck.
“How’s that pussy whip tastin’?” Z asks with a smirk as soon as he sees me.
Goddamn is he a dick lately.
“What’s up, you lazy shit? Why aren’t you down at Crystal Ball?”
Dressed in only a pair of loose running shorts, he’s busy tying his sneakers while the dogs dance around him.
“I was there all damn morning,” he answers without looking up.
When he’s finished, he gives me a more serious appraisal as I drop down on the couch across from him.
“You look like shit. What’s wrong?”
Before I have a chance to tell him to fuck off, the front door opens.
Z’s eyes widen at the prospect of fresh meat to torment. “Speaking of whipped,” he yells to Murphy.
Murphy raises an eyebrow and slows his steps. “What’d I walk into?”
“Zero’s being a dick.”
“So, the usual.”
Z’s devilish gaze swings between us and I brace myself for whatever obnoxious taunts are about to come out of his mouth.
“Either of you tired of banging the same chick yet?”
A growl works out of my throat. Don’t care for Z talking about my sister or Charlotte that way. Even if I don’t know where I stand with Charlotte. “Really, bro?”
“Let it go.” Murphy slaps my arm. “He’s just jealous.”
“Please, if anyone’s jealous.” Z lifts his chin at us. “It’d be you two.”
Murphy’s already shaking his head. “Nope. Sorry. It’s a helluva lot better when you actually give a shit about the person you’re with.”
Something dark passes over Z’s face. I think Murphy hit a nerve. I kick back and wait to see if Murphy’s going to keep pulling at that thread.
Even though I’d rather not hear anything remotely related to his relationship with my sister.
Z, on the other hand, has no problem bringing Heidi into the conversation. “You’re just saying that because you’re banging his sister.”
Murphy takes a few steps away from me before answering. “No. I’m not going into detail because I’m banging his sister.”
“Asshole,” I growl, leaning over to throw a punch at him. He sidesteps me easily and my fist only grazes his thigh.
Because she has perfect timing, my sister opens the front door carrying Alexa.
“Better hop to it, pussy-whipped boy,” Z whispers to Murphy.
Murphy leans down, getting right in Z’s face. “Damn right. Tastes delicious. You should try it,” he says before meeting Heidi at the door. “Hey, beautiful.”
He spends way too long groping her before they join us. Z smirks at me the whole time.
“Hi, Uncle Z.”
“Don’t talk to him. He’s being a dick today,” I warn her.
“Stop it,” Heidi scolds.
Z throws a shit-eating grin my way and holds his hands out for Alexa. “Come ’ere, princess.”
“I’m serious, Heidi. Don’t let his foul hands touch my niece.”
She rolls her eyes before handing Alexa to him. “Where’s Charlotte?” she asks.
Since crazytown doesn’t seem like an appropriate answer, I lift my shoulders. Thankfully, she drops it in favor of answering some of Z’s questions about Alexa.
I swear the gentle way he treats my niece is about his only redeeming quality lately.
He sets Alexa in his lap, and the dogs lick and sniff her tiny feet, making her giggle. It’s a cute scene that almost makes me forget what a dick he was being five seconds ago.
“You tired of this joker here yet, Heidi?” he asks, jerking his thumb in Murphy’s direction.
Almost.
Her eyes widen. I flex my fingers. Maybe a fist to Z’s face will snap him out of his mood.
Unfazed by Z’s teasing, Heidi leans over and kisses Murphy’s cheek. “Never, ever.”
“Aw, you two are so sweet, I’m about to throw up,” Z cracks.
Heidi takes Alexa from his arms and pats his shoulder in a consoling way. “Don’t be jealous, Uncle Z. You’ll find someone one day,” Heidi says with a knowing smirk of her own. Murphy and I crack up.
My sister isn’t easily fooled by any of us. And while she may love and respect all of my brothers, she’ll always take Murphy’s and my side over anyone else.
“That’s it.” He stands and signals the dogs to follow him. “I’ve had enough abuse from you three. Taking the dogs for a run.”
“Don’t trip,” I call out. Z answers with his middle finger.
“Does Charlotte have any friends you could set Z up with?” Heidi asks after he leaves.
I cock my head, amused that my sister’s worried about playing matchmaker for Z, who can pick up any chick he wants whenever he wants. “Hell no. I’m not subjecting any of her friends to that deviant.”
Murphy chuckles. “Been there done that. He already ‘dated’ Hope’s friend and look how that worked out,” he reminds us.
“Did they actually date?” Heidi asks.
“Who fucking knows.”
Alexa sort of closes her eyes and makes a little grunting sound. Something I learned she does right before—
“Oh. Oh, wow. Someone needs her diaper changed.” Heidi glances at the stairs. “I think I have stuff for her upstairs.”
“Want me to—”
She cuts Murphy off before he can make the offer. “I got it. Keep my brother company.”
“What a good dad,” I tease after she leaves. “Offering to change diapers.”
“I was going to go upstairs, grab the diapers and bring them down here,” he clarifies.
“Asshole.”
He chuckles then winces.
“How’s your face?”
“Better than yours.”
“Please, if you looked this good, you wouldn’t need to cover your ugly mug with that big ol’ beard.”
“Not my fault you’re not man enough to grow one.” He waves his fat finger in my face. “Whatcha got going on there? Couple chin pubes finally come in?”
I slap his hand away. “Fuck off.”
When he stops laughing, he levels a more serious look my way. “Seriously, you look tense. You still mad at me about the fight?”
“I wasn’t mad. I was worried.” I tilt my head toward the stairs. “She still mad?”
A slow grin spreads across his face.
“Never mind. I don’t want to know,” I grumble.
“You and Charlotte have a fight?”
Blake knows me well. We’ve been able to read each other since we were kids. Something that developed out of self-preservation from growing up in a rough neighborhood and perfected to survive in the early days of the MC.
“Not exactly. She kind of flipped her shit. Said I’m over at her place too much.”
His brows furrow. “I always suspected you’d be a clinger if you found the right girl.”
“Is that your official opinion, doc?”
He drops the attitude. “Sorry. You two seemed tight the other day.”
“I thought so too.”
Not exactly familiar with sitting around talking about our feelings, we’re quiet for a few minutes. “You think her uncle got to her?” he asks.
“Maybe. Last time she got weird it was because he ran his mouth about me.”
“Really?”
“Talked to him about it at the party. Told him to back off.”
He runs his hand down his beard a few times, thinking it over. “Probably pissed him off more.”
“Christ, she’s thirty-fucking-years old. He should butt out.”
“Always knew you liked the older broads.”
“You better never say that to her. And a few months doesn’t make her older, you cradle-robbing bastard.”
He snorts. “Actually it does.” Under his breath, he mutters, “And you’re the numbers guy.”
“Is this your idea of being helpful?”
Shaking his head, he sits up straighter. “What’re you gonna do?”
“Give her a few days? Then talk to her.”
He pats my arm. “That’s my boy.”
I raise a brow.
“You really love her, fight for her.”
“Thanks.”
His mouth curls into another smirk. “She’s already way out of your league though, so don’t wait too long.”