Battle Hearts (Storm MC Reloaded 3)

“Sometime in the next month.”

“That works for me.”

“Good.”

“How long are you in town?” I wasn’t aware he was coming. We’ve got nothing happening here that needs his assistance.

“I leave tomorrow. I’m only here to check out a bike for Holly.”

I respect King for many things; the way he loves his family is at the top of the list. “You wanna come over for dinner tonight? I’ll fire up the barbie.”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

We agree on a time and he leaves. I shoot Birdie a text.

* * *

Me: King’s coming for dinner.

Birdie: What time?

Me: 6pm

* * *

She calls me. “I don’t know what we have in the fridge that I can cook.”

“I’ll pick something up to cook on the barbecue.”

“The house is a mess, Winter. Like, seriously, there’s shit everywhere.”

“King won’t give a fuck.”

“I’ll give a fuck. I’ll finish up here as fast as possible. Maybe come get me in about half an hour so I can go home and clean.”

“I’ll clean the kitchen when we get home.” She’s exaggerating when she says the house is a mess. There’re a few breakfast dishes to be cleaned.

“God no. I’ll do it, and trust me, a lot more than just the kitchen needs to be cleaned.”

I stretch my neck again. I don’t know if it’s this conversation or something else, but I’m feeling tight as fuck again. “Suit yourself, but the offer’s there.”

“Don’t get pissy with me; I’m not the one who made these plans.”

Fuck. “I’ll see you in half an hour.”

“Bye. Oh, and bring that packet of gloves from the kitchen with you. I’ll need them.”

She ends the call without waiting for my response. It seems her sparkly mood has disappeared and I wonder who I’ll get when I pick her up.

20

Birdie

* * *

I pull my dress over my head and throw it on the floor before searching for something else to try. Locating another dress, a looser one that might actually fucking fit, I slip it over my head and check myself in the mirror.

“Jesus! I look like a fucking whale.” I yank this one off, too, also throwing it on the floor.