Time Will Tell (Maybe #3)(31)

He flinches. “Ahh, come on, you can’t throw that in my face, Trill. The difference is, you obviously felt something for this guy to give him your virginity. Everyone before you, I’ve f*cked without emotion. Paula whatever the f*ck her name is, I f*cked her thinking about you. It could have been any woman there. It didn’t matter. You were the only woman I wanted.”

My eyes widen at his admission. I didn’t want to think about him sleeping with anyone else whether he was thinking of me or not. In fact, I didn’t know how to process that bit of information.

I inhale and exhale deeply then decide to change the subject. “Can we talk about this later? Where do you want to go now?”

“We can get something to eat and go back to your house,” he says, tucking my hair behind my ear. “First we’ll go and say goodbye to April.”

“You sure you don’t want to go anywhere else? I don’t want you to have a boring time while you’re here,” I say. “I know we don’t have much to offer compared to the city, but we still have a few fun places to visit.”

“Babe,” he says, grinning. “I came back here this time for you. I just want to be with you. I don’t care what we’re doing. Vertical, horizontal... I just want to be where you are.”

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 f*cked 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.”