Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
After leveling a hard glare at each of us, he turns and walks out without another word.
34
CHRISTIAN
“That’s some kind of bullshit. Who does he think he is to come in here and tell us what to do?” I’m tempted to follow the man out, and the younger me definitely would have, but I have more self control these days.
None of the others speak, though Mace’s irritation is visibly apparent. Zipper looks grim, and Hutch looks troubled, before he finally says, “He’s just trying to protect Rose. I’d probably feel the same way if I had a sister.”
“So you don’t think Rose should be with us?” I accuse. I direct my anger at Rose’s brother toward Hutch, but I regret it when I see his pained expression.
“No, she probably shouldn’t,” he says quietly, shaking his head. “Even though we’d never intentionally hurt her, she’d be better off with someone else.”
I turn toward Zipper, unreasonably feeling like the entire situation is his fault, but he doesn’t say a word. He’s already planted the seeds, and his plan to grow discontent is well underway.
As Mace watches Hutch, the fight that was in Mace’s eyes fades away. “She’s Miss Sunshine,” he says, sounding miserable. “I don’t know what she’s been doing hanging out with us grumpy bastards anyway. We’re only going to bring her down.”
“I don’t want her getting hurt,” Hutch says.
“Much as I don’t want to listen to what her jerk brother has to say,” Zipper grumbles, “the truth is that we’re going to hurt her eventually. We’re not right for her.” Seeing that we’re all looking at him, he adds, “You all remember Mariah, and how that turned out. Do you really want things to go down with Rose like that?”
“It wouldn’t be like that,” Hutch says, pushing a cart out of his way with unnecessary force, causing it to bang into the wall.
“Her brother trying to control her pisses me off, though,” I say. “We shouldn’t stop seeing her just because he told us to. No one tells us what to do.”
Zipper glares at me. “Stop being a selfish asshole and think about what’s best for Rose. We wrecked Mariah’s life, and I don’t want us wrecking Rose.”
“Where’s this all going?” Mace asks. “What are we going to do?”
The four of us look around at each other, no one offering an answer.
35
ROSE
My shift at Club Red passes quickly, thanks to a few entertaining conversations with Callie. Her funny interpretations of the strippers’ dance moves are a great distraction from all of the heavy thoughts that have clouded my head after the conversation with Nancy and her warnings about heartbreak.
I decide to push those worries aside for the time being, and am actually in a good mood when I arrive home … until I find Patrick waiting up for me.
“Rose.” His serious tone preempts my greeting, and my stomach drops immediately. “We need to talk.”
I could tell him I’m tired, but there’s no point in delaying this conversation. Dammit. I should’ve known better than to tell Nancy what’s been going on, but maybe part of me knew she’d tell Patrick. Maybe it will be good to have things out in the open.
I take a seat on the couch and prepare for the lecture, and Patrick launches into it without delay.
“I know what’s been going on between you and the … men at the tattoo parlor.”
It’s clear he’s incredibly uncomfortable with the idea of me being involved with four men, and I feel bad about that. I can understand how the idea is hard to take in when you haven’t experienced anything like it before.
“You know that ever since Mom died, it’s been my responsibility to take care of you, and even though you’re older now, I still take that responsibility seriously. When I see you doing something dangerous, I need to step in.”
“Dangerous?” Sure, there’s the very real potential for heartbreak, as Nancy said, but I’d hardly put it under the heading of danger.
“Those men are using you, Rose. They’re toying with you, and once they’re done with you, they’ll throw you away.”
I get back on my feet, too angry to stay seated. Telling me not to see them is one thing; making rude assumptions about their motives is another. “How could you possibly know that, Patrick? Have you even met them? You don’t know them.”
“Yes, I’ve met them, and I know what men like them are like.”
“‘Men like them?’ What’s that supposed to mean?” I know exactly what he means, of course, but now that I know them, I know how unfair it is for him to make assumptions based on how they look and what they do for work.
“They’re not right for you, Rose. You need to stop seeing them. I shudder to think of what Mom would say if she were here and knew you were messing around like that … with … four men. Maybe it’s been hard for you not having her around for guidance, but I’ve always tried to steer you right, and that’s what I intend to do now.”