Greed

“I’ve been told that as well. Lindsey wanted to know what you were looking for in settling down. I had no idea you wanted to be a family man,” Holly said.

“Why don’t you all fuck off and leave this as my and Lindsey’s business?”

“It’s not just your business though, is it? It’s the club business,” Pike said. “We all need to know what is serious and what’s not.”

Pie rolled his eyes. He knew for a fact they were trying to piss him off. “I don’t need to hear this shit. Call me when the food is done.” He made his way back inside where he caught Raoul and Zoe making out. “Shit, sorry.” He quickly left the clubhouse and went to the front. Everyone was around back, and he climbed up onto the wall, staring up at the sky, trying to relax.

Rubbing at his eyes, he tried not to think of what the guys were saying to him.

“You don’t always have to hide, you know,” Lindsey said, coming toward him. She carried two burgers in her hands. “Did the guys upset you?”

“They were just saying shit, but I’m used to it by now.”

“I don’t know. You looked a little upset.” She held out one of the burgers. “Onions, mustard, mayo, and some pickles.”

“Just the way I like it.”

He took a bite and moaned at the taste. It was a damn good burger. Lindsey moved so that her ass was resting against the wall.

“Do you think I come around too often?” she asked.

“No, why?”

“I’ve seen the way some of the sweet-butts look at you and I figure they’re missing you.”

He chuckled. “There’s plenty of dick around the club to satisfy.”

“Yeah, but when they want your dick? Come on, Pie, when was the last time you got laid?”

He was still chewing his mouthful of burger, but he wasn’t interested in talking about this, not now. “It doesn’t matter. When was the last time you were with someone?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Between work, helping out Kasey, going on dates, it’s been a little hazy on the dating front, you know.”

He watched her look up at the stars as she ate her burger.

In the distance he heard the cheering and celebration of the club.

“You had another successful run, I hear.”

“You shouldn’t hear all these things.”

“Secrets are safe with me, Pie. You know that by now.”

“We got the job done. That’s all that you need to know.”

“Love your need for secrecy. It’s so hot.”

He laughed. “I enjoy this, Lindsey. The sweet-butts, sex, it comes and goes, but being with you, this is kind of fun.”

“Only kind of?”

“Okay, a lot of fun.”

“You’ve got that right.” She sighed. “Isn’t it funny how our lives turn out?”

“How do you mean?”

“You and me. The whole BFF thing. Kasey with a little kid. The club. Me working at a plastic surgery clinic. It’s just … I never imagined my life being like this, you know.”

“What did you imagine?”

“I don’t know. I think it’s that moment at school when you graduate and you’re on top of the world. No one can bring you down. Then in the next breath it’s like the entire world is against you. You’re just part of a system and that system wants you to fail.”

“Wow, if this is what soda does to you, I will cut you off.”

“You know what I mean. I can be real with you. We can all make believe and pretend, but the truth is life can really suck at times.”

He stared at her, getting the feeling that she wanted to talk about something else. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, of course.”

She wouldn’t look at him, and he hated that. Taking her hand, he locked their fingers together.

“If you could be anywhere else right now, where would you be?”

Lindsey turned her head and smiled. “Nowhere. Believe it or not, Pie, I happen to love being with you. I think you’re pretty damn special.” She cupped his cheek. “Whoever gets you, will be lucky.”

He couldn’t look away. Her soft blue eyes called to him. Something was bothering her, he didn’t know what, but he wanted to make it okay for her, to take whatever pain she was feeling and make it all disappear.

“You guys seen my dad?” Matthew said, interrupting the moment when Pie had been about to speak.

Looking over to Matthew, Duke’s son from a previous relationship, Pie was shocked. “I thought you went to go and see Luna.”

“I did, and now I’m back. He in the back?” Matthew asked.

“He’s cooking up burgers,” Lindsey said.

“I didn’t interrupt anything weird then, did I?” Matthew glanced between the two of them.

“Not at all,” Lindsey said. “It’s good to see you.”

“Yeah, bye.”

Pie watched as Matthew walked away and frowned. “What the fuck is his problem?”

“He looks upset. I’m sure the entire club will know before long.”

She stood up, pulling her hand away, and started to stretch.