Once I’m at my desk, I send Heidi a quick text to make sure she’s okay. She answers with thumbs up and heart emojis, which puts me at ease.
I work through the stack of papers, pushing all other thoughts away. I’m halfway through when Jake knocks on my open door.
“Nice of you to show up.” He smirks and saunters into the room, plopping into one of the chairs in front of my desk.
I study him carefully. He and Wrath have been business partners and friends for a long damn time. Would Wrath have shared the reason I took off with Jake? Ultimately, I doubt it. It falls too close to club business for Wrath to discuss with outsiders.
Over the years, Jake’s become my friend too. I still don’t feel like talking about it. What would I even say? “Had some things to take care of.”
“Is Heidi all right?” he asks. “The baby? Everything okay there?”
“Yeah, brother. Thanks for asking. She’s good.”
“Okay.” He slaps the edge of my desk and stands. “If you need something, let me know.”
“Thanks, Jake.”
The rest of the afternoon goes by quickly. Wrath dips out early, leaving me to close the gym.
I lock the doors and step into the back parking lot. A bike I’d recognize anywhere is parked next to my truck. Marcel’s leaning on it, staring at the night sky.
“I should’ve known you wouldn’t leave me alone,” I say as I walk up to him.
He drops his gaze to the blacktop.
“You couldn’t talk about this for fucking months,” I grumble, throwing my bag onto the passenger side. “Now, all of a sudden, you gotta hunt me down at work?”
Teller
Maybe ambushing Blake at work isn’t fair. At least I waited until the gym was closed.
“What can I do to fix this?” I ask, fighting all my natural instincts to respond with something snarky.
“What’s there to fix, Marcel?”
He may be trying to hide it, but I sense the hurt and distrust in his question. Wrath’s words return to me. But no matter what he said, this rift goes deeper than the club and our roles in it.
“You’re my best friend. My brother in every way that matters. I should’ve told you when I found out. But I didn’t know how to say it. I wasn’t sure how to tell Heidi. And I didn’t want to make things awkward for you two.”
“Well, at least you finally respect our relationship. So, I guess that’s something.” His words hang heavy.
“Give me some credit. I’m not as obnoxious as I used to be.”
“I guess,” he grumbles.
“Are you mad because I kept the truth from Heidi or from you?”
“Does it matter? I’m pissed I was on death’s doorstep in the hospital, and you lied to my face.”
“I didn’t lie. I just told you a different secret.”
“Yeah, way to throw Charlotte under the bus, you dick.”
I love that he’s so protective of Charlotte. Even if it means he calls me a dick on a regular basis.
“It was the more painful secret,” I say quietly.
“Fuck,” he mutters.