I stare at her for a few seconds and realise that she’s dead serious. I finish my drink in three huge gulps, put some money down on the table, and walk out. She isn’t getting a cent from me. She doesn’t deserve it. She isn’t my mother. She’s a woman who gave birth to me. There’s a difference in my eyes. If my dad wanted her to have something, he would have put her name in his will.
He didn’t.
The fact that she didn’t even come to my dad’s funeral, but decided to come when she needs money, says everything I need to know about her. She isn’t someone I want in my life.
She’s toxic.
And I’m better off without her.
*****
“You should have let me come with you,” Xander says for the second time.
“It was something I needed to do alone, you know? I faced her and now it’s over.”
He makes a sound in his throat and kisses the side of my neck. “I hope she leaves town now.”
“Me, too,” I reply, trying to ignore the pain over the person my mother turned out to be. A shit one.
“So, I was thinking,” Xander murmurs, “I could do two weeks with you and two weeks back home. I could start working on cars too, to keep me busy while I’m here. What do you think?”
I don’t like the sound of him leaving for two weeks every month, but the idea seems logical and reasonable. “I’m going to miss you.”
He gently plays with my hair, resting his arm on the headboard of my bed. We’re both naked and wrapped up in each other’s arms. “I know. We could try it out and see how it goes. Nothing is set in stone. We can make it work for us.”
“Okay,” I reply, knowing what he says is the truth. We aren’t in a rush. I can’t even explain the overwhelming urge I have to be around him, an urge I’m sure is reciprocated. Well, he’s here, isn’t he? He’s changed his whole life for me, and I never want him to leave. I meant what I said, if he wants me to move to Perth with him, I will. I would miss Channon, but I would miss him more, so it’s a no-brainer for me.
“Are you happy here?” I ask, raising my face so our gazes connect.
He smiles gently. “I don’t think I’ve been happier.”
Then his lips are on mine, and my fingers are tangled in his hair.
And all is right in the world.
*****
It’s Zach’s birthday, so Xander and I are at the clubhouse. This party is a lot different from the other one I went to, mainly because of the women. There are more of them and they’re wearing fewer clothes. I put down the massive chocolate cake on the table. It has a picture of a naked pin-up girl on it, since Zach is a perv and that’s what he asked for. Xander is carrying two full trays of cupcakes and other treats I made for the occasion.
“I feel weird walking into a bikers’ clubhouse holding cupcakes,” Xander murmurs, chuckling to himself.
I smirk at him. “Zach has the biggest sweet tooth. Women and chocolate—that’s how you get him.”
A woman walks by wearing, I kid you not, pasties over her nipples and a skirt. I narrow my eyes on Xander to see if he’s staring at her.
“You better not be staring at her tits.”
He puts the trays down on the table and lifts his hands up in the air. “Come on, what do you want me to do? There’re only so many places I can look, and there’re women everywhere. You know I don’t want anyone except you.”
I know it, but I just want to annoy him a little. I didn’t even see him looking at that woman.
Pursing my lips, I arch a brow at him. “Fine, but that means I get to look, too.”
I see Rake walking towards me with a smile on his face. “Trillian without Zach—looks like I got lucky.”
Xander steps next to me and pulls me in by the hips. “She’s mine, so not so lucky.”
Rake crosses his arms over his chest. “This dude? Not even a fuckin’ biker? I’m disappointed in you, Trillian.”
I smile because I can see the playfulness in Rake’s eyes. “He rides a bad ass bike. He’s just not in your MC.”
The two of them start talking about bikes until Arrow walks up to us.
“Trillian,” he says with a chin lift.
“Hey, Arrow,” I say. “This is Xander.”
“Trillian’s taken,” Rake says, sounding upset.
Arrow grunts. “I’m sure you’ll find someone else to keep you occupied. We gotta go. Sin needs us.”
Then they’re off. Rake blows me a kiss as they depart.
“Want to tell me how you know bikers from other chapters?” he asks, frowning a little.
“Bikers seem to like me,” I tease, batting my eyelashes at him.
He studies me for a moment before he lifts me in the air over his shoulder. A squeak escapes my lips as he slaps me on the ass and carries me outside where everyone is sitting and drinking.
“Put me down, Xander!” I laugh, pinching his tight ass.
He puts me down and takes a seat, pulling me onto his lap. “You don’t want to look at anyone else, Trillian. All you can see is me.”
Cocky bastard, but he’s right.
Zach walks over and plops down in the chair next to ours. “Is April coming?”
I glance at him in suspicion. “Why?”
He shrugs, running his hands through his hair. “Just asking, Trillian.”
“Is something going on between the two of you?” I blurt out. “Both of you are staying close-lipped about it.”