Tears threatened to spill as I listened to my bestie tell me something I was quickly forgetting. The overwhelming need to control something in my life was starting to consume me, a familiar and unwelcomed notion.
Being away from Cole sucked, but I could handle it. It wasn’t as if I haven’t ever been alone before, but the scrutiny from Creed … that I wasn’t sure of.
My job meant the world to me, but Cole was my future. I was so freaking in love with him, the very thought of losing him brought an ache to my chest. And a sinking feeling in my stomach that wouldn’t quit, other than the hunger pains.
Hearing the voice of Memphis at the front of the shop, I said a hurried goodbye to Thayer, promising to catch up with her soon, then hung up.
Hastily dumping the sandwich and wrap into the bin, I took a few seconds to hide it further in the bottom of the waste bin, covering it with an old newspaper and a few empty drink bottles, old tricks resurfacing.
Twisting my hands together, I yanked my hoody from the back of the chair and quickly put it on to cover the thinness of my upper arms that was appearing again. To me it was noticeable, and obviously to Thayer, others I wasn’t sure though, so it was better to be safe than sorry. I didn’t do well with uninvited questions about my weight at the best of times. Giving them a visual and a reason to ask, not a good idea.
Jogging out to the front, I stopped short when I saw half of the Flock standing with Memphis. Thanks to my friendship with Wren, Devon, Peyton and Addy, I was spending more of my free time at the compound with them, which meant I was getting to know the older ladies of the Souls. So far, I was holding my own, but damn if they weren’t an intimidating group of women. I thought Thayer was bad, she had nothing on the Flock. Shit, they would chew Thayer up and spit her out.
“Hey there everyone,” I called out, grimacing at the wobble in my voice.
Four heads turned my way, and four sets of eyes travelled over my face, down my body and back up again, this time narrowed and wary. Memphis stepped forward with the help of Rainn, who was whispering something in her ear.
Rainn scared me, she out of all them, didn’t come at you with gentle bullshit. She called it like it was, and so far, I had escaped her method of interrogation, but I had heard stories about it from Devon and Wren.
Like I said, Rainn scared me.
Casting a worried glance over the ladies, I forgot to school my expression, as Memphis lifted her hands to my face and traced her fingers over my lips, forehead and cheeks, she even touched my neck, down to my collar bones and back up again.
“We need to talk. Now!” Memphis declared, taking her hands away and folding them across her chest.
“Umm, I am sort of working, boss,” I hedged, shifting my feet nervously.
“That’s why I am here,” Mia chirped, stepping forward, “I am taking your spot while Memphis, Rain, and Charlotte take you to lunch.”
A chill ran down my spine, a feeling of dread prickled.
Oh shit, they are going to make me eat.
“Ah, I have already eaten lunch—”
“Let’s go, Oaklee. Don’t start this talk off with lies,” Rainn cautioned, her green eyes firing sparks at me. Reaching around Memphis, Rainn wrapped her fingers around my upper arm, gently squeezing.
“Yeah, right,” she drawled, letting me go, then putting an arm around my shoulder, guided me to the door, Charlotte moving past us too, I assumed to take care of Memphis. Her dog was nowhere in sight, so I had to guess where we were going was not animal friendly.
“Where is Jasper?” I asked, pulling back from Rainn in a pathetic attempt to stall.
“Home with Creed and Willow,” Memphis said from behind me, “he is having trouble with his hips; Addy said he needs to rest for a while.”
“Creed knows you are here?”
“Nope, and we don’t have long before he figures out where I have gone, so let’s get this moving.”
With that, I was propelled through the store and out to a waiting car, driven by one of the prospects I noticed from the Club.
No bones are sticking out; your face is … ah screw it. Stop lying, Oaklee.
“Are you and Cole involved?” Memphis asked me the second Charlotte situated her at the picnic table. Her hands coming straight out to take mine in a firm hold.
The women brought me to a secluded park, far enough away from town that it would take Creed or any of the other men a while to get to us.
A bad thing for me.
Dropping my head, I looked down at the scarred, wooden tabletop, absently reading the graffiti.
Want a good time? Call Debbie for head.
Charming. Good for you, Deb.
“Oaklee?”
“Yes,” I whispered, confirming her suspicions. “Yes, we are involved.”
“How involved?”
“From head to toe and everything in between involved,” I answered truthfully, finally getting the courage to look at Memphis.
“I love him, desperately.”
“And my son? He feels the same way about you?”
“Yes. He does.” My chin lifting, a move I learnt from my man.
Nodding, Memphis pursed her lips, her head turning to the woman beside her. Charlotte was the softest woman I had ever met; her generous, caring nature and her empathy gave me one ally, I hoped. Smiling softly at me, Charlotte looked to me, then back to Memphis and to me again. Her kind eyes holding a hint of disappointment.
“Sweetheart, I know you aren’t aware of everything about the Club, other than your job as Memphis’s personal assistant. So you are to be excused for this little indiscretion, but now you need to be informed that we don’t like sneaky, underhanded behaviour.”
“Sneaky? Underhanded?” I screeched, shocked and quite a bit hurt.
