Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“How do you know that?”
“My dad, coward that he is in your eyes, he knows a thing or two about the club. A girl picks it up from time to time.”
“So now you know all club business.”
“Not at all. I have no desire to either.”
“You always felt you were better than the club,” he said. The words sounded sharp, angry.
“No, I don’t. I’ve never thought that at all. Why would you think that?” She frowned at him.
“Because of the way you are. You’re rarely around the club, and when you are, you’re always on your own. You never mingle or try to join in. A miss goody-two-shoes who doesn’t know a fucking thing about trust or loyalty.”
Her mouth went open, and he’d clearly shocked her. “Wow, just wow.”
“What’s that?”
“You don’t have a fucking clue, that’s what. I can’t believe you’d even think that. I can’t process everything right now. I need to, like, have a break or something.” She got to her feet, and he reached over, forcing her to sit down. He held her in the same place where her other bruises were, and he cursed as she hissed from the pain.
“Shit, I’m sorry.”
“Why can’t I leave?”
“You think what I said was wrong?”
“It is wrong.”
“Please.”
“Look around you, Alfie. I don’t make friends. I don’t mingle well. Half of the guys at the club want nothing to do with me because I’m Kurt’s daughter. You think it’s easy for the daughter of a coward? He spends so much time trying to impress you people that he doesn’t see what it’s doing to his family. My mother is sick of it. I don’t think I’m better than you, or Ian and Riley, or anyone else. I’m just me. I’ve never been good at thrusting myself into these kinds of situations. I don’t have friends. I’m done talking about this with you.” She grabbed her bag and tray.
This time, he didn’t force her to sit down.
He watched her leave, throwing her lunch into the trash before leaving the main hall.
No one followed after her. No one fucking cared.
Getting to his feet, he carried the rest of his food over to his buddies.
“Didn’t go well? I thought you were the kind of guy women loved to get your dick wet with all of your smooth talking to the ladies.”
“Clearly, I’ve got to work at this one,” he said.
He finished his pizza and listened to the people at his table talking about bikes and pussy, but the truth was, he couldn’t stop Chloe’s words from ringing in his ears. Had she even tried? Had the club even tried? It made no sense for them to push her aside. Sure, the club treated Kurt like shit, but that didn’t mean Lily or Chloe were treated that way. At least, from what he’d seen.
Chloe had no friends. She never had, not that he could remember.
Why did he have a feeling something that he was about to do was so damn wrong?
****
Kurt couldn’t cook.
Chloe sat opposite her father at the local diner. He’d ordered himself a big steak, and well, she’d gone for a garden burger. It was the only thing she liked at the diner.
“So, how was school?” he asked, digging into his food.
“It was okay, I guess.” She’d not had another encounter with Alfie after the confession she made at lunch. She was pleased about that.
She didn’t like talking about her lack of social skills.
“What’s your favorite class?”
“Dad, are you really going to talk to me about school? You’ve never cared before.” She wasn’t saying it to be harsh to him, but she knew there were other things he wanted to talk about that were more important to him than her school.
“You’re right, kid. I’m sorry. I know I should be a better dad and want to know everything going on at school, but how’s your mother?” he asked.
“She’s doing okay, I think.”
“Just okay?”
“Dad, she’s hurting.”
“Do you think she’ll take me back? I mean, I forgot you once?” He laughed. “It’s not the end of the world.”
Pressing her lips together, she wanted to not say anything, but he was clearly deluded. “Dad, it wasn’t just one time. Every single time Mom asks you to do something, you either have club business or you forget. The club has been coming first a lot lately. You’re never home. You don’t pick up her milk. Do you even realize you missed your anniversary?”
“What?”
“Back in July. Mom planned a big meal for you guys. I was going to hang out with friends.”
It was a big lie. She’d had every intention of staying home, just being in her room alone. She’d told her mom she’d leave as soon as Dad arrived. Only, he never did. The food had gone cold and her mother sobbed while watching a movie.
As far as Chloe knew, he’d never made up for it, if he even knew.