“You didn’t see him last night,” Trista laughs. “He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her, he was eye-fucking her from across the room. I’ve never seen him like that, it was kind of cute,” she says with a big smile.
“It wasn’t cute when he was having sex with that woman,” Taylee snaps.
Pressing my lips together, I try to collect my thoughts. I’ve been that woman, maybe not with the club, but in other situations. That woman was just doing her duty, but I know Taylee doesn’t see it that way, especially when it comes to the man that she has feelings for and wants for herself.
“Sometimes it’s the way of our world,” Trista says gently. “You have to decide if you can live with someone’s past, with their current actions, then you have to talk to them to see what they want for their future.”
I almost laugh, because I know what Trista went through with Taz. He was a total fucking asshole, kept her as a secret while he did whatever the hell he wanted, and only chased after her when she finally had enough of his shit and left.
I gave her props for not running back to him the second he snapped his fingers, even if I personally think she gave up the kitty far earlier than she should have. Though, I’m not really one to talk, because I get it. Hawk looks at me funny and I’m practically whipping my panties off instantly.
“Do you think he can live with mine? With my past?” Taylee asks her, voice barely above a whisper.
Reaching out to her, I wrap my fingers around her hand and I squeeze. Thankfully the technicians have stepped away, our time here is done and all we have to do is wait for our toes to dry.
Focusing my gaze on hers, I press my lips together before I speak. “Taylee, trust me when I tell you that no other man will accept your past more than these men will. They have seen it all, been through it all, and the women that are part of their group, us, we have too.”
“Almost all of us, Taylee. Almost every woman who belongs to a Beast has been through some serious shit. And yet, they find a way to love us because of it. Or maybe it’s because we’re so strong and what happened to us hasn’t brought us to our knees, it’s made us all stronger.”
“I don’t feel strong,” she breathes.
Shaking my head, I squeeze her hand again. “You are the strongest woman I know, Taylee. I have seen what you’ve gone through, and trust me when I say, it takes a strong woman to go through what we went through and come out breathing, let alone able to function.”
“Am I functioning though?” she asks.
“You’re here with us, you’re waking up every day, and you’re attracted to a man. I would say you’re not only functioning, you are fucking succeeding.”
Her eyes fill with tears and I reach forward, wrapping my arms around her in a hug. A few minutes later, after we’ve wiped our tears, fucked up our mascara, had to have it fixed, and paid our bill, we leave the spa.
“I didn’t realize Eagar had a spa like that,” I point out as we’re walking toward Trista’s car.
“I think we’re going to have more stuff like that soon. I think this little town is going to get its shit together, or maybe we’re just going to force it to,” Trista says with a laugh.
“God, I hope so, especially if I’m going to be staying here.”
We drive toward the clubhouse, chatting with each other, our moods lighter than when we left and I feel really good. I feel great, actually. I’m not perfect, I’m not healed from what happened, but I have hope and I feel light.
Once we arrive at the gates of the clubhouse, I’m surprised to see so many cars in the parking lot. “Is this party going to be huge or something?”
Trista glances to the side, her lips twitching. “This is your branding, babe.”
“My what?” I breathe at the same time Taylee hisses in the back seat.
“You didn’t know?” Trista asks.
Shaking my head, I look straight ahead. The cars and bikes are triple the amount that was here when we left this afternoon. They’re all here, they are all here for me. They are here to watch a hot fucking brand sear my skin.
“Is that what I think it is?” Taylee asks quietly.
Trista clears her throat. “It is. That’s how the men claim their women in the club. It basically means you’re married in their eyes. Then later maybe you’ll really get married?” Trista asks, turning to me as she shifts the car in park.
Pressing my hand to my stomach, I try to quell my nervous jitters at the idea of what is about to happen. The pain that I will no doubt feel. It’s unfathomable, unimaginable. I shift my thoughts to the question that Trista asked.
“Would it bother you, if we got married, if we started a family?”
This is something that I haven’t really asked her or talked to her about. She has mentioned me having children with her father, but she’s never really said if it would bother her. She acts as though it doesn’t and wouldn’t. But she’s my best friend and I don’t want anything to jeopardize that—ever.
“Never,” she breathes, reaching across the car and grabbing my hand. “He needs someone who grounds him. He needs someone who loves him. You do both, and I just want the both of you to be happy. It doesn’t bother me, not at all.”
“I’m glad, because I love him, Trista. I really love him.”
Trista smiles, then the door flies open and I turn to the side smiling at the sight of that man standing in front of me.
HAWK
Fuck me.
Gorgeous.
Avah is pretty dressed up or
