He hated this. The feeling of insecurity.
Pulling out his cell phone, he sent her a quick text.
Simon: Missing you already.
Tabitha: Always. Sucks seeing you drive away.
“You’ve got to know I’m only worried about you,” Devil said.
“I know, Dad. I know.”
“I never thought I’d have a son, or have to worry, or even feel this way.” Devil’s hand opened up as he pointed ahead of him. “But it did.”
“I get it. You met my mom, fell in love, and you’ve never been apart.”
“I’m talking about you. I didn’t expect to have kids. I only want what is best for you. Always.”
He nodded. “I get it. We’re not going to have one of those father-son conversations that creep me out, are we?”
“I hope not.”
“Good. I don’t think I can handle them. We can only deal with so much bonding.”
“You’re an ass,” Devil said.
Simon snorted. “You want a soda?”
“Nah, you go ahead. Your mom’s making lasagna for when we get home. Don’t go snacking on everything, otherwise, she’ll be pissed at me.”
“Rather you than me.” He tipped the can against his lips, got settled in as his dad turned on the radio, and stared outside at the passing scenery. All the time, his mind was on Tabby. His girl.
The woman he loved more than anything and yet, he got the feeling she wouldn’t want to become his old lady when the time came.Chapter Three“I’m bored,” Tabitha said.
“Then read a book.” Daisy didn’t even glance up from the book she was reading.
“I’m bored with reading.”
“Then watch a movie.” Finally, her friend lowered her book. “Let me guess, there’s no movie you want to watch either.”
“You got it.” She dropped down onto the bed. “I suck, don’t I?”
“Why? Because you’re like most teenage girls and bored? Why don’t you text Simon or something? That’s what you do.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“He’s got this study thing he needs to do.”
“Ah, right, the study thing where you went crazy not too long ago because you thought it meant he was seeing another girl?” Daisy offered her a smile.
“You don’t have to be that way.”
“I’m not being any way, just stating a fact.” Daisy picked her book back up.
Tabitha recalled her deal with Anthony and groaned.
“What is it now?”
“Nothing,” she said. It was hard to get anything past Daisy. Rubbing at her temples, she looked at her best friend. “You know Darcy and Ink decorated their place for Halloween?”
“I know. I seem to recall helping them. I picked up what they needed, remember?”
Great. Daisy went back to reading her book, and Anthony would be pissed with her if she went back on a deal with him.
“So, er, don’t you just love Halloween? I mean with all the partying and the fun. Dressing up. I love it. I can be whatever I want.”
“No.”
“What the hell is the no for?”
“I know you, Tabs. I know you better than anyone. Even Simon. Believe me. I get it. I know what’s going on here and there’s no way I’m going to any kind of party. I don’t want to. Period.”
“Ugh! It would just be for me.”
“No.”
“Come on, what’s so wrong with going to a party?”
“I don’t like to party.”
“You’re being a royal pain in the ass.”
“And we both know the reason you’re upset and angry and pissed off is because you want to go and head out to the Quad.”
Tabitha was going to kill her friend. The Quad was where all the fights happened. She didn’t know if her father or Lash, the current President of The Skulls MC, knew of the place, but she and the gang frequented the place often. Tabitha loved to be able to unload, especially if she’d experienced a shitty day, which seemed to happen more often than not.
“This has nothing to do with the Quad. I need you to go out on Halloween with me, to go to the party, at the high school. Is that such a bad thing?”
“You want to go to the high school where the Dogs will be? Seriously? You know it’s bad enough going through a single day with them without you know, all the crap after school. I’ve seen them hanging out at the Quad as well. It’s like this joint school thing has given them permission to come onto our land. It’s not good.”
She started to smile.
“What?” Daisy asked.
“Just, our land and permission. You sound very possessive all of a sudden.”
“I am. Especially of the club. I’ve seen the way the guys are. Especially Luke and Ryan. They’re pieces of shit.”
“That I won’t deny.” She sighed. “This school thing. I kind of agreed with Anthony you’d be there.”
“Why the hell would you do that?”
“You know, he likes you.”
“Not that again. Please, not that. I can’t stand that. I’ll have to barf if you do that.” She rolled her eyes. “Anthony has a gazillion girls he could date. You’ve seen the way they throw themselves at him.”