“I’m supposed to drive back tomorrow.”
“Give me till then.”
“To do what?”
“Prove you belong here with me.”
“You’re absolutely mad, you know that?”
“Mad about you.” I pull her back into my side and hold her. She doesn’t fight me or try to argue but Jules is stubborn. I know her. She may think she’s changed but deep down she’s the same ol’ Jules. The girl I’ve always loved.
Her belly rumbles.
“You hungry, baby doll?”
“I could eat.”
“Get dressed. I’ll take you out for breakfast then drop you back at Pam’s so you can get ready.”
“Roane.”
“No ifs or buts about it. You said I have one day.”
“I never agreed to that.”
“I didn’t ask. I’m telling you.”
“You’re impossible. You know that don’t you?”
“Don’t act like you don’t like me being a bossy asshole. It’s been years, but I still know how to wet your panties. Now get dressed before I change my mind about the chains.”
“Fine. You win.”
“Get used to it.”
She shakes her head and slides out of bed, picking her clothes up off the floor. I still haven’t forgotten about them bruises on her back. Whoever the fucker is he’s as good as dead.
Chapter 7
Julie
The man has lost his mind. I pull my jeans up and tug the sweater I had on last night over my head. He needs to get some food in him to soak up all the liquor. Once he gets awake and is thinking clearly, he’ll get over whatever this is. Last night was perfect. Too good to be true. What are the odds of reconnecting with my high school boyfriend and things still burning bright as they did back then if not hotter? I can’t afford to be impulsive.
The idea of Roane and I getting together after all these years is an attractive fantasy, but he can’t know that we’d even be compatible or want the same things. Sure, I’d love to move here, but I need time to figure things out, and I can’t just go hopping into a relationship with the first guy I’ve fucked since Sam. I ty to push Sam back out of my head. I do need to move out of our apartment, but I can’t depend on Roane to save me. That’s not fair. The last thing I want is him and his club going after Sam and getting into a world of trouble. I’m not bringing my troubles to their door. I’m a big girl. I’ve gotten this far on my own.
Roane comes out of the bathroom with his toothbrush hanging out of his mouth. “I’ll be ready in a few.”
“Take your time.” Part of me wishes I could pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist and that I could disappear with Roane. Nothing in my life has ever been easy. I don’t expect it start now. I sit on the edge of the bed and try not to imagine a life with Roane. A life where I’m his woman and I get to see my sister whenever I want to. I gave up on that fantasy years ago. That was child’s play.
“Ready?” He shrugs his leather vest and jacket on.
“Mhmm.” I get to my feet and slide my heels back on. Roane is staring at me like he wants to kiss me, but he doesn’t make a move. Maybe he is finally coming to his senses about this. I follow him downstairs. Remnants of last night’s party are scattered about along with random bodies on couches. Some are even on top of the pool tables and on the floor. We maneuver around them careful not to make too much noise.
When we get outside, he pulls his keys out and hits the unlock button on his truck. Like a gentleman he opens the passenger side door for me. I wait for him to get in the driver’s side feeling like I did when we went on our first date. Nervous but excited. I was fifteen and he had recently gotten his driver’s license. My Mom agreed to let him take me to the movies. It was such a big deal. It was my first time alone with a boy in a car. My first time going to the movies without the supervision of my sister.
Roane drives us to the drive-thru of Suzi’s Hamburgers. I get an order of biscuits and gravy and he orders a BLT sandwich. “Hope you don’t mind if we take breakfast to my place, I need to check on the shop.”
“Shop?”