Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Their lifestyle is they’re arms-dealers,” Britney said, getting to her feet. “You’re not going there alone,” she added as she pulled her purse up on her shoulder.
The words arms-dealers played across my mind as I followed Britney out of the coffee shop.
So Callow was an arms-dealing biker.
Yeah.
That kind of checked out.
I’d always gone for the bad for me types.
I mean my first real boyfriend had been the school’s biggest weed dealer. I wondered each time when I passed the dispensary what he was up to now that it was all legal.
Then there was the singer of a rock band.
And, of course, Daphne’s father.
A guy who got kicked out of school after one too many fights, impregnated me that night, then skipped town the next morning.
It just made sense that the first guy in years that I showed the slightest bit of interest in was a freaking outlaw biker.
The drive from She’s Bean Around to the clubhouse was far too short to try to get my thoughts and feelings in order. So I was still frazzled as Britney and I walked up the path toward the door.
The silence behind the door was not helping with my sudden nerves.
Hadn’t Callow mentioned a party?
God, this better not be some sort of trap.
Anxiety had my palms feeling sweaty and my latte and brownie going sour in my stomach. But the fact that my daughter was behind that door was what had me straightening my posture and reaching for the knob.
The scene inside was almost comical.
It was like the second that the men realized there was an underage girl in their club where she didn’t belong, they all panicked and lined themselves up against the wall furthest from where she was sitting on the couch.
For once, Daphne actually looked embarrassed by her actions or by being caught. The pink was high in her cheeks. Even from across the room with her head ducked, I could see it.
My gaze scanned the crowd, finding Callow standing apart from all the other bikers.
“Daphne, go with Britney to the car,” I demanded, tone brooking no argument.
“Okay,” Britney whispered in my ear. “But if you’re not out in five minutes, I’m calling the police.”
With that, she turned to follow my daughter out of the building as all the men visibly relaxed and started to scatter until it was only me and Callow in the common room.
“I’m so sorry about this,” I said, reaching a hand up to run it through my hair. “I dropped her off at the movies,” I added, feeling the need to defend myself. “I saw her walk up to her friends there.”
“Probably caught a ride with that other chick as soon as you left,” Callow said, shrugging.
“Is she here?” I asked, glancing around.
“She was. Dunno where she is now.”
So not only had she brought my kid here, but she’d left her too? That was just lovely.
“Don’t worry,” he said, shaking his head. “I clocked her no more than five minutes after she walked in the door. Nothing happened. Couldn’t have even gotten a drink before then.”
“Thank you. I can’t believe she did this.”
“No?” he asked, lips curving up ever so slightly, his head ducking a bit. “‘Cause I was doing this type of shit at her age too.”
“I was too,” I admitted. “But she was supposed to be better than me, damnit.”
“She’s just a kid. Kids are idiots. Life’s gotta kick them around a little bit to knock the stupid out.”
“True. But whatever happened to, I don’t know, drinking in the woods or someone’s basement? Why is my kid at a biker clubhouse at sixteen?”
To that, Callow actually looked a little embarrassed as he reached up to rub the back of his neck.
“What?” I asked.
“I think she might’ve, ah, come here to find me,” he admitted.
“Oh. My. God,” I groaned.
It wasn’t so much of a ‘My daughter likes older men’ type of oh-my-God.
It was more of ‘My daughter and I have the same taste in men’ oh-my-God.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, not sure what else I could say. “That had to be… incredibly awkward.”
“Hey, at least it was me, I guess.”
He was right about that.
Too many sickos in the world would totally take her up on her little teenage crush.
“Can I ask you something?” Callow asked.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Where is Daphne’s father?”
To that, a little laugh escaped me. “That’s a great question. The last time I was in touch, he was in a prison in New Mexico,” I told him. “He’s… never been a part of her life.”
I’d hunted his ass down after the stick turned blue. And he’d sent me cash in an envelope with a note that said he wasn’t cut out to be a dad.
I had to give him credit for being self-aware enough to realize that. Even if I didn’t exactly have a choice about being a mom.