Grinch (Cerberus MC)

Knowing I can’t stay in here forever, I leave my dirty clothes in the bathroom and head out. If I don’t see him soon, the clothes I leave behind will ensure I have a reason to come back. I hate to think he’s avoiding me, but there’s that chance.

He wasn’t talkative at all after we were done with each other’s body last night. I couldn’t get a read on him, but I also couldn’t open my mouth and ask him what he was thinking. How cliché is it for the girl to need reassurance after having sex. I told him before, I knew that we were just messing around. He even came right out and said he isn’t looking for anything, but he sure is attentive when we’re in the middle of getting each other off.

Refusing to think he’s just as attentive with every woman he has slept with in the past, I make my way out of the room and down the hallway, contemplating walking out the back door when I hear voices in the kitchen.

Maybe a teenage Grace would shy away from people, realizing what I did last night, but that’s the coward’s way out.

Several people give me friendly smiles when I walk inside the kitchen, and from what I’m seeing, no one seems bothered or shocked that I’m in a band tee and sweats marked with the Marine emblem.

“Good morning,” Legend says with a quick nod of his head. “Have you met Faith?”

“We met at the—” I pause taking a second to reroute my words when I see Harley at one of the tables with his daughter in his arms. “We met yesterday. Good morning, Faith.”

“Good morning,” she returns. “There’s plenty of breakfast, but I can’t guarantee there’s any coffee left.”

“Some of the guys—”

“And Slick,” Aro interrupts. I can’t tell if he’s reminding Legend that Cerberus is equal opportunity, or if he’s placing some blame on the female Cerberus member.

“And Slick,” Legend continues, “pulled an all-nighter, so they’ve been sucking down coffee this morning.”

“I can make another pot,” Misty offers with an easy smile, but I hold my hand up to stop her.

“I’m just going to have water.”

“There’s juice in the fridge, too,” Emmalyn says from the other side of the room, making me realize nearly every eye in this place is on me. “Help yourself to anything you’d like.”

“Thank you,” I tell them, turning around to take my time, making a small plate of breakfast I don’t really feel like eating.

I’m resisting the urge to run in the opposite direction as I carry my plate to an empty spot at the table. Trenton isn’t in the kitchen, but all of the other guys on his team, with the exception of Boomer, are here, so I doubt he’s doing some form of work.

He has to be avoiding me, and I grimace at the immaturity of it.

“Oh good, you’re here,” Kincaid says as he approaches. “This is for you.”

Kincaid places a brand-new cell phone beside my plate on the table in front of me.

“Thank you. Diane is sending my wallet. I’ll pay you back for it the second it gets here.”

Silence surrounds me, but I can’t look up from the phone. I have no idea why it feels like some form of inclusion, like one more thing Kincaid is providing to prove that I’m not a burden.

“He won’t take your money,” Faith says, leaning in close as conversations pick up around us. “When my house was set on fire, I had nothing. Everyone in the club came together to help me out.”

“I feel—”

“Overwhelmed? Undeserving?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Like part of the family.”

I look up to see her smiling at me, her eyes full of understanding. “Then you’re already a few steps ahead of the game than I was.”

A loud wail echoes around the room, every eye going to Aria as fat tears start to flow down her cheeks.

“I don’t know what’s wrong,” Harley mutters, my heart breaking for him. “Lana always gave her the first bottle. I don’t know if she did something special to it, but it’s been like this every morning. Come on, baby girl. I know you’re hungry.”

The little girl in his arms kicks her tiny legs, screaming and tossing her head around every time Harley tries to get her to open her mouth for the bottle.

“May I?” Em asks as she stands and holds her arms out.

Harley looks reluctant to hand the child over, but the screaming doesn’t show any sign of relenting. He passes the baby to Em and then hands over the bottle. Aria continues to cry, and I’m honestly grateful that she didn’t stop the second she was no longer in her father’s arms. I can’t imagine the pain that would cause. I know it would make him feel inadequate, another pain the man shouldn’t have to bear so soon after losing his wife.