Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Chapter 6
Ellie
I was a nervous wreck the whole way to the clubhouse with Gray. I held on to him for dear life since it was the first time I’d ridden, and by the time we got there, I felt like I was frozen in position with my limbs stiff.
“You okay?” Gray asks me.
“Yep, I’m good.” I swing myself off the bike and stand on shaky legs.
Gray wraps his hand around mine. “Shit, I’m sorry, Ellie. I didn’t even think. I should start driving my truck when you’re going to be with me. I wasn’t even thinking.”
He’s always so worried about me and wanting to make me feel comfortable, I feel bad. “No way. I thought it was great for a first time. I just need to get the hang of it, that’s all.”
He looks at me doubtfully, and I squeeze his hand. “Quit worrying, Gray. I’m fine.” I lower my voice and whisper, “The baby is fine too.”
He looks at my belly as if he can actually see the baby in there or something. I get his attention and point toward what I assume is the entrance. “You ready? If you’ve changed your mind...”
He shakes his head and pulls me next to him. “I haven’t changed my mind.”
We walk through the gravel parking lot. “So if you drink tonight, is there an Uber or a taxi I can call?”
He stops and looks at me. “I’m not going to be drinking tonight, and there’s no way I’d leave you in a position to find your own way home. Quit stressing. We’re just going to hang out for a little while. Hopefully some of the wives are here, and you can meet them.”
He waits for me to agree, and when I don’t, he leans down to look me in the face. “Okay?”
I clear my throat, but it still sounds thick with emotion. “Okay.”
Luckily, he doesn’t ask me about it because I don’t want to explain it but right now, after everything, I know I’ve always settled with the wrong men in the past. The men I’d dated before wouldn’t think twice of getting drunk and having me find my own way home. Gray is nothing like that, and I’m finding that the more I get to know Gray, the more I like him.
When Gray pushes the door open, his hand tightens on mine. We walk straight to a man that is wearing a vest that matches the one Gray wears. “Pres, this is Ellie. Ellie, this is the president of the Guardians.”
I’m not sure how you’re supposed to act when you meet the president of a motorcycle club, but I throw my hand up and wave at him a little. “Hey, it’s nice to meet you.”
He nods, and the solemn look of his face turns into a smile. “We’ve heard a lot about you, Ellie.”
He must see the stricken look on my face because he pats the table in front of him. “Gray won’t shut up about you.”
I look at Gray in surprise. “He won’t, huh?”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal.
I meet a few of the other guys, and before I know it, Gray is playing a few of them in a game of pool, and I’m sitting with Tara, Jason’s wife, Allison, who is the president’s wife, and Brandy, Diesel’s wife. There are some other women here, but the girls explain to me that they are not anyone’s ol’ lady; they are the club’s cherries. Some of them are nice, and some of them you want to avoid.
I don’t bother to ask which is which, and before I realize it, time has flown by, and it’s getting late. I make plans to meet up with the others sometime in the next few weeks, and as Gray and I are walking toward the front, I can’t seem to stop the smile on my face. I didn’t have a lot of friends back home, and even though this was my first time here, I already feel like I fit in.
Gray’s arm is hanging loosely around my shoulder. “You seem happy.”
I’m about to tell him I am when a woman stops in front of us. She points at me but is talking to Gray. “You taking the wifey home?”
I recognize her as one of the “cherries” that Tara had pointed out earlier. I look between Gray and the woman, wondering if this is his girlfriend or something, and man it’s so fucked up to even be having these thoughts. I may be his wife, but I have no hold on him.
“Not now, Ashley,” Gray says. He tries to step around her, but instead of allowing him to go by, she puts her hands on his chest.
If I wasn’t pregnant, I would probably put my hands on her, but all I can do is stand here, speechless.