Time Will Tell (Maybe #3)(2)

When my dad died two years ago from cancer, I was left alone. I do have family scattered around the country, but none of them live close to where I live, and I don’t really want to move. My house belonged to my father and he loved it. I couldn’t bear to sell it or leave it. My dad worked hard to pay as much as he could on the house, so the mortgage is extremely low. And thanks to Dad’s insurance policy he left for me, I was able to pay it off completely. Between selling cakes, working part time at an ice-cream parlour, and the money in my bank from the insurance payout, I’m doing okay. Pretty well, even. But I’d trade it all just for one more day with him.

Grabbing one of the extra cupcakes I made last night for my neighbour, Zach, I take a bite and slowly walk into my room. Today is Friday and I have two classes to attend before I can come back home and worry about what to wear tonight to April’s.

A knock at the front door has me stopping to change directions. Licking the icing from my fingers, I open the door with my right hand.

“Is that one of my cupcakes?” Zach asks, eyes narrowing on my fingers.

I smirk, then bring the cupcake to my mouth and finish the last bite. “So what if it is?”

Zach grins as he pushes the door open and walks inside, heading straight to the kitchen. I close the front door and follow behind him. “You only made twelve!”

I laugh. “You’re so damn spoiled, Zach. Are twelve cupcakes not enough for you?”

He picks up one and takes a huge bite, half of the cupcake disappearing into his mouth. “Yeah, if it was only me eating them. Every f*cker comes and takes one.”

He places some money on the table and I look at him in disapproval. “Don’t start with me.”

“Just shut up and take the money, Trill,” he says, licking icing from his mouth.

“You know I don’t charge family,” I say quietly.

And Zach was the closest thing to family that I had.

He and his dad have lived next door for the last four years. Zach and I became friends, and the two of them had kept an eye on me ever since my dad passed away. An extremely unlikely friendship, considering Zach’s dad, Grim, is the president of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club. Zach is my age and also in the MC. I call him the biker prince whenever I want to piss him off. He’s wearing his cut right now, on top of a tight white t-shirt and worn jeans. He’s an attractive man with reddish brown hair and clear pale blue eyes. When I’d first met him, I’d had a little crush on him. But our relationship soon changed into one of friendship and I couldn’t even think of him any other way.

“I know you don’t expect me to pay, Trill, but I want to,” he says. “April’s birthday thing tonight, yea?”

I nod. “Yeah, you going to come out?”

He rubs his hand through his messy hair. “I’ll be around. Gotta keep an eye on you, after all.”

I scowl. “I can look after myself.”

He chuckles and pats me on top of my head. Like a dog. “You have no street smarts, babe. You’re a good little innocent girl.”

I flip him off. “Just because you don’t see me twerking every weekend doesn’t mean I don’t have street smarts.”

Zach starts laughing. Hard.

My lips tighten. “You’re picturing me twerking, aren’t you?”

He slaps at his thigh. “Yes, I am, and it’s f*cking hilarious.”

“Hey, I’m a decent dancer!” I say, offended.

“You’re a good dancer. Well, I’ve only seen you dance once at your birthday. But I didn’t see you shaking your ass or looking like you were f*cking someone on the dance floor.”

My eyes widen. “Who dances like they’re f*cking?”

Okay, maybe I’ve seen that in video clips, but never anything that bad in a club.

“Women in general,” he replies, smirking. “Trust me.”

“Maybe they act that way around you,” I say, my eyebrows furrowing. “I’ve seen how stupid women get around you.”

He flexes his biceps. “I have my charms.”

I roll my eyes. “You think you have your charms.”

He scoffs, eyes dancing with amusement. “I think you’re the only woman in town who’s immune.”

“That’s because I’m the only woman in town who knows the real you,” I fire back, proud of my wit.

He puts his palm over his heart. “Innocent little Trillian, my ass. You have a sharp tongue.”

I laugh, my shoulders shaking. “You’re the one who calls me innocent. I’ve never referred to myself like that.”

He pulls me into him and kisses me sloppily on my cheek. I push him away and quickly wipe my cheek. “Zach!”

“You love me.”

“You’re okay,” I mutter.

“Every time I leave this house I feel like my ego is that much smaller,” he grumbles.

I shake my head, fighting a smile. “Then my work here is done.”

Zach is easy to be around—at least he is with me. I saw another side of him once, but I have a feeling that side comes out more often when he’s with his club.

“Remember I told you about my friend Xander?” he asks as he takes an apple out of my fruit bowl and takes a bite.

“Yeah, I remember,” I say. “Your childhood friend. You guys see each other once a year, don’t you?”