I LOOK UP FROM MY uncle Mark’s huge TV when I finally notice him leaning over the couch above me, repeating my name.
“Huh? Were you saying something?” I look up with wide eyes and shake my head as I take in his amused expression. “What?” I ask again.
He laughs and walks around to plop down on the couch next to me, nudging me with his elbow. “It’s your day off, kid. Why in the world are you here on my couch, eating my chips?”
I smile back at him and try to pretend to act normal. “Oh . . . no reason. It’s just been a while since we’ve hung out. That’s all. I figured you could use the company.”
“Seriously? More like I could use some sleep. I feel like I haven’t seen my pillow in days.” He grabs the bowl of chips out of my hand and starts digging in, eyeing me over curiously. “Have you heard from your mom? She said she was going to call you when she got back from California.”
Annoyed, I shake my head. I don’t even know why he bothered with that question when we both already know the answer. “Does she ever really call? Come on. She’s too busy dealing with her perfect little life and current fuck to worry about her only daughter.” I roll my eyes and grab a handful of chips, eating out of the palm of my hand. “I could be dead in a gutter for all she knows.”
“I would never allow that to happen. She knows that.” Mark gives me a look of sympathy. “She’s always been selfish, Avalon. It’s nothing personal towards you. Trust me. I dealt with her for fourteen years, until the day she moved out of your grandparents’ house. She wasn’t easy having as an older sister.” He stands up and hands the bowl back to me. “Why do you think she can’t keep a guy around for longer than a few months? The woman is annoying as shit.”
We both smile.
“And because she sucks at communicating,” I say matter-of-factly. “Very much.”
“Exactly.” He pulls out his phone when it goes off in his pocket. “Shit. I should take this. I’ll be back.”
“Alright.” I turn back to the TV and try to get back into my show when Mark disappears into the hallway to take his call.
The real reason I’m here is because Madison is at work and I didn’t want to be alone in my thoughts all day. I tried for a few hours this morning and all I could think about was picking up my phone and messaging Royal to ask him why he was such a dick. Yes, things got a little sexual between us. We were both drinking and vulnerable. That’s it. There’s nothing to be mad about.
I haven’t spoken to him since he dropped me off at my car the other day and for some reason, that bothers me. I’ve gone days without talking to Colton before and have never felt this way.
I figured if I spend most of the day at my uncle’s that he could at least keep me busy so I won’t give into this silly temptation to make a fool of myself. I don’t even want Royal to know that he’s crossed my mind since the other day.
Mark appears back in the living room about ten minutes later, looking more exhausted than he did when he walked away. He looks down at me on the couch and rubs his hands over his face, clearly tired. “I need sleep. Lots of it. You’re welcome to stay here until your dinner with Colton tonight, but if you bother me I’ll cuff your ass and shove you in the back of my police car until I wake back up.”
A small smile appears on his tired face and I can’t help but to smile back.
This man is who I take after. He’s the one that I’ve grown up with since I was fifteen, and he’s more family to me than my mother ever will be. I love him for that and am lucky to have him around. I don’t know where I’d be without him.
“Just go to sleep, Mark. I know you need it.” I look up at the clock on the wall and grunt when I notice the time. As much as I don’t want to see Colton, it has to be done, and I’m the lucky lady to do it. “I have to meet Colton in less than an hour anyways. I’ll clean my mess and lock up on the way out.”
“Good luck. Just do me a favor.”
I stand up and wipe my hands off on my jeans. “Yeah?”
“Make sure you get it on video if he cries. The guys at the station would get a kick out of that.”
“Seriously!”
He nods his head. “Dead serious.”
“Why does everyone think he’ll cry? Does he really come off as that much of a pussy, Mark?” He nods again. “That’s it. I’m done with pretty boys. No more.”
“I’m surprised you dealt with that one for as long as you have. I just hope this guy on the Harley that Madison was talking about isn’t bad news. You’ve been so good for the last couple of years and I’d hate to see you mess up because of some guy. I’m up for you having fun and dating a tough guy instead of that pussy, but if he hurts you, I’ll have to kill him. Arresting him might not be enough.”
My heart instantly flutters at the mention of Royal. He’s definitely bad news; every single inch of his beautifully tattooed flesh, and I want nothing more than to run my tongue across it.
I clear my throat and close my eyes, mad that I’m letting my thoughts go there. “There’s nothing going on with Harley dude, so there’s nothing to worry about. Ignore Madison. She’s crazy and we both know it.” I wave my arms at him to move him along to his room. I suddenly don’t need his company anymore and can’t wait to escape him. “Now, get your beauty rest. You look a hot mess. I’ll be fine.”
“Better be,” he says while crinkling his forehead. “Don’t forget to lock the door. I’m passing the hell out while I have the chance.”
“Got it,” I mutter. “I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know what happened.”
I wait until my uncle disappears into his bedroom, before cleaning up my mess and locking the door on my way out.
Jumping into my car, I toss my purse into the passenger seat and look over at it. Then I start my jeep and look back over at it again, losing my will power.
“Ah . . . screw it.”
I reach into my purse and grab my phone out, typing out a quick message to Royal.
Avalon: Your cold attitude wasn’t necessary yesterday. No worries . . . I plan to keep my distance.
Letting out a long breath, my shoulders relax a bit as I look down at the message being sent. As soon as it goes through, I toss my phone back over to the passenger seat and head home.
I don’t check my phone again until after I take a quick shower and throw on my favorite pair of holy jeans and a thin, black top that hangs off my right shoulder. I don’t have to impress Colton anymore and it feels so good showing him that.
When I unlock my phone, my stomach does flips at the sight of Royal’s name along with three missed texts.
Royal: It was more necessary than you know, Avalon . . .
Royal: I almost lost my shit with you and I’m not sure you can handle it.
Royal: Where are you at right now?
Swallowing, I hit the box to his last message and stare at my phone, going crazy inside, as I try to come up with a response. Just the thought of replying has my heart racing so hard that I can feel it pulsing in my fingertips.
I let out a small breath when my phone starts vibrating in my hand to a call from Colton. That’s when I realize the time. Colton has never been a patient man.
“I’m on my way,” I say quickly into the phone. “Walking out the door now.”
“I’ll be waiting,” he responds. “I’m already seated at a table so try to hurry so I don’t look like a lonely idiot, please.”
“I’ll try my best,” I mumble. “Gotta go so I can drive.” I hang up before he can respond.
Feeling anxious, I decide now is not the best time to reply to Royal’s messages, so I lock the screen and quickly shove my phone in my purse.
Plus, I still have no idea how to respond, but his words definitely have my heart going crazy with curiosity. Everything he does and says does.
THE LAST TWENTY MINUTES HAVE been nothing short of awkward, as we’ve sat here making small talk. I decided to wait until after we order our food, so I can at least get some delicious food inside my stomach before ruining our little dinner date. We just got done placing our orders about five minutes ago.
“So . . .” Colton says over the top of his water glass. “Did it feel good to have my brother’s fingers inside of you at my parents’ dinner?”
Slamming my glass of soda down, I look him in the eyes. “Yes,” I admit. “Did it feel good to fuck your partner the other night and probably many other nights before that?”
His body stiffens and he anxiously fixes the collar of his black shirt. “There is nothing going on with Misty.” He tries to sound convincing, but completely fails. His guilty blue eyes give him away.
“Let’s not sit here and pretend that we have a chance of us working out, Colton.”
We both smile up at the waitress as she drops our food off and asks us if we need anything else. She walks away when we both shake our heads.
“And why is that?” He watches me with hard eyes as I dig into my chicken alfredo. “Because you’re fucking my filthy brother and probably getting gangbanged by his tatted up, biker friends? Is that the kind of shit you like now?”
Taking Royal’s approach, I do my best to stay calm. That seemed to really work Colton up at dinner a few nights ago, and pissing him off as much as I possibly can has just become my fucking goal now. I was going to play it as nice as I could. “Not yet.” I look up and flash him a smile, before taking another bite of my food. “I’m waiting until I can get Royal, Jax, and Blaine at the same time. The other boys were busy the other night.”
Leaning over the table, he slams his fist down. “Dammit . . .” He looks around to be sure no one’s watching, before continuing. “I’m sorry. I know you’re not sleeping with Royal. You’re smarter than that. I’m just upset because I want you back with me. This break is not working for me. I’m completely stressed without you.”
“Am I too smart for that though?” I question, ignoring everything he has just said. “What is your deal with Royal that you think you’re so much better than him?”
He lets out a dickish laugh, as if the answer to that is obvious. “Look at him, Avalon. Open your pretty little eyes and look. He’s dangerous, twisted in the head, and doesn’t care about anything around him. He will hurt anyone that gets in his way. You have no idea of the shit he’s done in the past; shit so fucking dark that I don’t even want to bring it up.”
“That’s the past,” I point out. “He’s not going to hurt me. In fact . . .” I stand up and lean over the table. “He’s done nothing but try to keep me safe. When I’m with him, he gives me his full attention. He doesn’t let me out of his sight, which is the total opposite of you. All you’ve tried to do for the last four months is keep me at a distance and pretend like I’m not even in the same room.”
“That’s not fair,” he complains. “You know damn well that my job keeps me busy.” He reaches across the table and grabs my hands. “Stay away from my brother and come to my place. You can stay there every night if you want to. Hell, you can even move in.”
A feeling of discomfort takes over as he rubs his thumbs across the tops of my hands. His touch is making me feel sick to my stomach. “Colton.” I pull my hands away and sit back down to get away from him. “I don’t want that. We’re done.”
“No,” he says while jumping to his feet and rushing over to my side of the table. “Don’t do this to us. You’re going to regret it.”
He desperately reaches for my hands and attempts to pull me to my feet. “Don’t touch me, Colton.” I keep trying to sit back down, but he keeps pulling at me to stand up, his grip on my wrists tightening. “Let go, asshole!”
Out of instinct, I lift my knee and connect it to his balls. He instantly releases my wrists and doubles over, holding his precious jewels. “Shiiit!”
“Fuck you, asshole.” I reach for my purse and lean in close to his ear. “Don’t ever put your hands on me again. You never did know how to touch me right.”
I look around me and take a deep breath when I notice everyone watching us. “I’m leaving. Just eat your damn food,” I say harshly.
Shaking, I rush out the door and jump into my jeep, slamming the door behind me.
I’m so pissed off right now that all I want to do is choke Colton and scream at the top of my lungs.
Right now, I feel stupid for ever dating someone like him in the first place. Him and that Misty bitch belong together. I never belonged in his world. I just wished I saw that earlier.
Not giving two shits about anything at the moment, I pull out my phone and start typing.
Avalon: I need to see you. I’m on my way to your house.
A small wave of relief washes over me at the thought of seeing Royal. I have no idea what’s to come of it, but it’s the only thing I want to do right now and there’s no way I can fight it.
I need to see this man’s beautiful, broken face, and I don’t care at what cost . . .