My breath hitches. “Screw the food, we’re going home. To bed. Now.”
I step closer to his bike, and Xander starts chuckling. “Let’s say bye to April first.”
I pull his face down for a hungry kiss, showing him just how badly I want him right now.
“Fuck, Trill,” he groans. “You can’t kiss me like that in public. Do you have any idea how badly I want you? So bad it hurts. I don’t think I’ll ever stop wanting you.”
What does one say to that? Instead, I kiss him again.
Then I go and say goodbye to April.
Then we ride home. I unlock the door and let us inside.
We don’t even make it to the bed.
Chapter Sixteen
Xander
One Month Later
I know I can’t stay here forever. I have to go back. I have my friends, my family, and my business that are all being neglected, and it isn’t fair on them. While Trillian is at work or school, I help fix things around the house for her or I hang out with Zach. I also pay the bills even though we fought about it more than once, but that is something I won’t budge on. I’m living here, so I’m paying, there’s nothing else to say.
“You gonna stay in Channon now, boy?” Grim asks, sitting back with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.
I sit back on the outdoor chair in Zach’s backyard and strum my fingers. “I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. I could always get someone else to run Dad’s shop, and I could go and see Summer and Mum every month, but it’s a big decision, you know?”
Grim nods. “It is a big decision. You know you have us here, too. Wind Dragons are looking for new recruits if you’re interested. I think you’d be an asset to the club.”
He’s mentioned this to me before. I rub my lower lip with my index finger, considering. My dad had been in an MC when he was younger. He somehow got out when he was fighting to get visitation with my sister, but still remained friends with his club brethren. I don’t know how that worked out, but I heard him telling someone that he had to do something for them to get out.
“What exactly does joining the MC entail?” I ask, wondering if I want to take this route.
Grim chuckles, which turns into a cough. “You want me to give away our secrets before you join?”
I lean back in the chair. “Is the club clean?”
“We don’t do anything illegal,” he replies, smirking. “Well, that’s a lie, but nothing too bad.”
“Good to know,” I reply dryly.
“If you move here, what are you gonna do about work? The club owns A & B Mechanics. You could work there. You would have passed it just as you drove into town. It’s one of the legit businesses.”
“I would still get the profits from Dad’s shop even if I lived here,” I say, running my hand over my hair in contemplation. “But I’d need something to do with my time. I don’t like being idle. I’ve already fixed up everything in Trill’s house and worked on her car. I was thinking of buying her a bike and doing it up for her next.”
Grim whistles. “That serious, huh?”
I turn my face to look away. “That serious.”
“She’s a special girl,” he muses. “Rex is practically panting after her.”
My jaw tightens. “Don’t remind me.”
Grim grins and blows out smoke from his cigarette. “Let me know what you wanna do. You know I’ll always take care of you, any way I can.”
I nod. “I appreciate it. When’s Zach getting his ass home?”
“He’s probably getting fucked sideways back at the clubhouse.”
I shake my head. “Have you seen Zach around Trill? He’s like a whole different person.”
“He’s protective of her. She’s like a sister to him.”
“There’s something about her that brings out my protective side as well. She’s just so sweet, you know? How often do you come across a genuinely good person like her? Especially one that looks like her.”
“Not very often,” Grim replies, smiling fondly. “She’s a good kid. Was very close to her dad, kind of like you were.”
He glances at me, as his smile turns sad. “Messed up both of you to lose them so soon.”
“At least I have Mum, you know? She didn’t even have that,” I murmur. “Did you ever see her mother?”
Grim shakes his head. “We moved in a couple years after her mother left. Heard she was a bitch though. Beautiful, but lazy. Entitled.”
“Nothing like Trillian, then,” I comment, knowing she’s the opposite of all those things.
“Ian did a good job raising Trill. He loved her to pieces and raised her right. She wasn’t spoiled or anything.”
The back sliding door opens and Zach walks out. “There you guys are.”
He’s wearing his leather cut over a white t-shirt and dark jeans. “Want to go for a ride, Xander? I have business to take care of about an hour away from here.”
Grim stares down his son. “You still didn’t take care of that?”
Zach scowls. “Doing it today.”
I stand up. “Trill’s got classes until five, so I’m free.”
“Sweet,” Zach replies. “Let’s get going, then. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good, long ride.”
“Heard you were having one just before you came here,” I smirk.