“It was nice talking to you too,” I mutter as I make my way back to my room to throw some clothes on.
“Ten minutes and I’m leaving,” booms through the flat.
I pull on a skirt and t-shirt before running a brush through my hair and shoving my makeup into my bag to do at the studio. I’m not sure pushing his patience by doing it right now would be wise.
“Right, let’s go then,” I announce, walking through the living room and pulling the front door open.
Spike pushes from where he was leaning against the kitchen counter, staring at his phone, and walks over.
At the last minute, his eyes lift and find me. They instantly narrow, a deep frown line forming between his brows.
“You’re not wearing that,” he spits.
“Err… I think I am.” I jut my hip out and rest my hand on it, the cut making it smart a little.
His jaw pops as he stares at me. “This is the worst fucking idea ever,” he mutters before blowing through the door. I assume I’m meant to follow, so after pulling the door closed, I run down the stairs after him.
He doesn’t say a word to me as I climb on the back of his bike, suddenly understanding his issue with my skirt, and he speeds off into the city toward Zach’s studio.
After parking out front and allowing me to get off, he kills the engine and immediately takes off for the building I haven’t been inside since I had my latest ink done.
As I walk through the front door, the place feels totally different. I was a nervous wreck during my only two visits here. I was terrified to tell Zach who I really was, terrified that he wouldn’t believe me and that I’d be sent away like I didn’t exist. That was the only time in my life I’ve ever been that nervous. The knowledge that my only living family member—that I know of—could turn me away like I was nothing has butterflies erupting in my belly. He probably thought I was a weak and timid little girl back then. I’m hoping he’s learned that isn’t who I really am now.
Thankfully, that didn’t happen. Zach saw something within me—a little bit of him, maybe—and he took my words seriously. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express how much his faith in me meant that day. After I lost Mum, I didn’t think I’d have anyone close again. Yes, I had Jodie, but I knew that at some point she’d finish college and move on. She’s a beautiful, intelligent woman, and any man would be lucky to have her. Unlike the rest of the arseholes I’ve met in the shitholes Mum moved us to, she doesn’t deserve to be there or to have been dealt the shitty hand she has.
“Kas!” Biff says excitedly as she walks through a door at the back of reception. “It’s so good to see you. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” I say and immediately wince, hearing Spike’s warning not to say those words. “It’ll take more than last night to break me.”
“That’s good to hear, but you don’t need to put on a brave face around me.” As she passes me, she runs her hand down my arm in support. “I know the guys can be a little…”
“A little?” a deep voice prompts from behind me, and when I turn I find Titch standing in the doorway, wearing an amused smile.
“A little… rough around the edges, hard to talk to, arseholes,” she explains with a smile while Titch shakes his head at her.
“You wound me, sis. Wound me.”
“I told you to stop calling me that.”
“What?” he asks innocently. “You’re officially my little sister now.” He throws his arm around her neck and messes up her hair.
“In-law, Titch. In-fucking-law, and you’re barely a month older than me and a hell of a lot less wise, so knock it off, would ya?”
Titch turns his amused eyes on me. “She’s just pissed because Danni has told her how much better I am in bed than Zach.”
“Stop talking right fucking now,” Zach booms from behind me.
“Jesus, I think I might have made a mistake agreeing to this,” I say with a laugh.
“Nah, you’re already part of this fucked-up family, kid. You may as well embrace it fully.”
My teeth grind at his use of the term ‘kid’ again, but as he pulls Biff into his arms, he looks too damn happy for me to rip him a new one.
“Where’s your mentor? Still got his knickers in a twist?”
“Something like that. He stormed straight down there the moment we arrived.”
All three of them follow my finger and look down the hallway toward their rooms.
“You’re fucking up his head good and proper there, girl. I’ve never seen him like this,” Titch says—much to Zach’s irritation, if the colour of his face is anything to go by.
“Don’t listen to him,” Biff whispers in his ear, but the second she’s finished she swallows nervously. It’s good to know she’s kept my secret, although it seems to be killing her. I wonder how long that’s going to last.
“He just doesn’t like having a female housemate. I’m ruining his game, I think.”
“Well, if he should find it while you’re still there, you’ll know about it. The nights I had to listen to his fucking headboard banging.” Titch rolls his eyes as my stomach twists uncomfortably.
It’s not news to me that Spike’s bedroom door may as well be a revolving one, but knowing it and hearing someone else describe it are two very different things.
“She’ll be out of his hair soon,” Zach says. “We’re gonna find her a place of her own.”
“Really?” Titch asks, his brows shooting up almost to his hairline.
“Why is that so shocking?”
“N-no reason. I’m just surprised.”
“Okay well… I’ve got a client heading in at ten. I need to sort my shit out,” Zach says, kissing Biff on
