Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“I’m not getting married ever, Skylar.”
She huffs, giving me an almost menacing frown. “I wasn’t proposing, dummy. I was just saying—”
“You can’t get married without permission unless you’re eighteen.”
“Oh? Well, it’s not like it matters. The point is, I’m old enough to make a living and take care of myself—”
“Is that right? So, you’re saying Mommy and Daddy aren’t footing your college bill?”
“They offered but—”
“Exactly,” I mutter, interrupting her. “I’m done with this conversation, Skylar, and I’m done with you. I need to get back to the club.”
“Yeah, I heard. You have a date. Apparently with your own fan club. If I’m guessing, I’d say the leader of that crew would be Layla.”
I hide my wince as I hear the pain in her voice. I wasn’t aware that Skylar was that knowledgeable about the club. I guess I should have known better.
“That’s right,” I confirm. “I’m going to have a real woman take care of something you started when you didn’t have a right to.”
“I could take care of you, Torin. I want to,” she whispers, letting go of her pride.
I close my eyes, my heart aching. “Just go, Skylar.” Some of my pain leaks into my voice. She’ll know this is hurting me too, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
“Torin, I’m only nine months away from being eighteen. If that’s what you want, you just need to wait for me.”
I don’t answer her. I’m practically holding my breath until she finally decides to walk away. I look into my side mirror to find her staring right at my back. Helplessly, I watch as tears roll down her face. I can’t wait to make sure she gets inside safely. If I do, I may forget everything and kiss her tears away. I take off down the road at breakneck speed, making it to the club in record time. I immediately park and go inside, marching straight to the bar and grab a full bottle of Jack. I look around, scoping the place out.
Layla is standing there beside Cherry. Skylar wasn’t wrong. Layla usually is my woman of choice, but tonight, I can’t. My gaze settles on Cherry. Her hair is a darker red than Skylar’s, but maybe if I get drunk enough, I can pretend she is the woman I really want. The woman who isn’t quite a woman or a kid for that matter.
No, she’s just everything I’ve ever wanted, and will never have.
Chapter 5
Skylar
Skylar’s Eighteenth Birthday
“Is the princess ready?” my older sister, Thea asks.
I smirk. I love my sister. The two of us aren’t very close. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that I annoy both her and my big brother, Mattie. Most everyone thinks I’m a bitch. I get it, and in some ways, I’ve earned it. I can be the stereotypical mean girl. What others don’t realize is that the two of them have teamed up to be this dynamic duo. There’s no room for me. Not to mention, they cast huge shadows that no mere mortal could possibly live up to. So instead, I try to act like I don’t care what they do. I mean, there’s no competing with them. Mattie is the golden child. If you listen to my father, my big brother can do no wrong. He’s even proven himself as a leader in my father’s motorcycle club—Savage Brothers. Dad’s forever talking about how proud he is of Mattie. I even hear it from my uncles, Dragon and Dancer.
There’s talk of Mattie taking over the club one day if Dragon’s boys don’t straighten up. Just last night, Dad said if Dragon and the other original members stepped down today, and it came to a club vote, Mattie would be voted in by almost a unanimous vote. I’m proud of him, even happy. I’ve told him that, and I mean it. I doubt he realizes it though, because I tend to walk off when everyone gets into a family discussion about Mattie or Thea’s accomplishments. It’s a bratty thing to do, I know. The thing is, I never get the same treatment. Mom is the only one that came to my high school graduation. Dad and Mattie were caught up with shit at the club and Thea was in New York. Mom and Dad fought over it. I heard them and silently cried because it truly did hurt. Dad later apologized, admitting he forgot it. I almost wish he hadn’t. It might have hurt less if he had just said there was no way he could break away from stuff the club had going on to be there. Knowing it didn’t matter enough that he forgot Mom’s reminder that morning cut a lot more.
Still, I let it go because I love him. I want my father to be proud of me, but I don’t see it happening. Which means it gets harder to hear him brag on Mattie and Thea. The same could be said for my mother—at least to a certain extent. She and Thea have a connection that I’ve never been a part of. It’s like they’re best friends. She loves me and tells me often, but other than when we talk medicine, there’s a struggle to truly connect. I keep trying and I’m adult enough to admit that some of the issue is me. I have some resentment that I can’t seem to get rid of, no matter how hard I try. That’s the real reason I’m pre-med. I want to make Mom proud. I mean, I’m enjoying it, but I chose this path because of her.