Page 33 of Angel

He shrugged like it wasn’t that big of a deal. “About a year ago.”

Angel’s eyes narrowed. He still wasn’t looking at her. His eyes kept glancing towards her driveway where her trike and Traverse were?—

Her eyes widened as she gasped out, “No!” Angel put her hand on his chin and forced him to turn towards her. “No, tell me you didn’t. You did not sell your Mustang to buy Bree and I our cage.”

Again with that damn shrug. “You needed it. I knew with the house and her medical expenses that you wouldn’t be able to afford a new cage too and I was not going to see the two of you driving around in some piece of crap cage that could easily break down. I overheard you asking Grumpy to look into options for you and I…” He cleared his throat. “I knew I would get a pretty penny for my Mustang. It was vintage with all the original parts.”

Angel felt like her heart was both cracking and swelling. He’d love that Mustang! He used to wash it everyday—shirtless—to keep the shine pristine. He turned down others who asked to drive it. He didn’t allow any food or drink in it.

A year? He’d sold it a year ago and she hadn’t noticed. Was she so self-absorbed that she hadn’t even realized he’d sold his beloved vintage car to buy her a new one? Coffee was one thing, but his cage? She recalled seeing him in his truck with the club’s construction logo on it more frequently, but figured he’d been coming or going to work.

Tears filled her eyes and Angel raised a hand to her mouth in shock. “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know?—”

Cage quickly took her into his arms. “Shh… It’s fine. I don’t regret selling it. I am not upset or resent doing so in anyway.”

“I didn’t even know! For a year!” Angel wrapped her arms around his waist. “How could I not have known?”

“Well, you’ve been avoiding me for one.” He pulled playfully on her earlobe. “You think I haven’t noticed?” When Cage turned his head, she felt his lips against her temple. “All joking aside, though, you’ve taken on a lot in the past year, Sweet Angel. It’s understandable that you didn’t pick up on some of the changes around here. Hell, sometimes it felt like I had to come here with the excuse to see Bree just to see you.”

Angel let out a low groan. That only made her feel worse. “I’m such a bitch.”

Cage shrugged. “Maybe, but I’m pretty sure I’m equally an asshole. I’ll put up with your bitchiness if you put up with my assholiness.”

Angel snorted. She lifted her head and stepped back from him. “I’ve been completely unfair to you.”

“I haven’t exactly made it easy on you either,” he admitted. He nodded towards his hog. “How about you drive and I just keep the back of my shirt covered up?”

She grinned and agreed. “How come I had to get all pretty and you get to wear the same outfit you’ve been in all day?”

“Because I’m hot no matter what I wear and you— Ow! Ow! Ow!” Cage’s pain was muffled by his laughter as Angel twisted his nipple over his shirt. “I’m sorry! Uncle! Uncle!”

Angel gave his nipple one last sharp twist before letting go. “Want to try that again?”

Cage wrapped an arm around her waist. “You’re beautiful regardless of your outfit, sweetness. And where we’re headed has a bit of a dress code. I have a dress shirt in my saddle bag.”

Angel crunched her nose. “A dress code? What the fuck, Cage?”

He just grinned at her. “Trust me, you’re going to love it. Let’s get going. We’re running late.”

Bree watched from Cassie’s bedroom window as Cage and Angel pulled out of their driveway. She didn’t believe in God or any higher power, not after what she’d been through, but she desperately hoped that this date went well.

She turned her chair around to face her friend, who was lounging on her bed. “Well, they’re off!”

“I don’t get why you’re rooting for them so much,” Cassie said skeptically.

Bree pushed herself over to Cassie’s bed. It was a little high for her to easily transfer herself, but still doable. “Because, if this date goes well, my mom’s going to start dropping even more of her guard around him.”

“People can have fantastic first dates and still break up years later.” Cassie pointed to her blank television on the wall. “There are thousands of movies with that exact theme.”

Bree hoisted herself up onto the mattress. “Don’t be such a pessimist! I need this date to go well.”

“Why?” Cassie repeated. “When we first met, you were doodling ‘Cage and Bree’ in your notebooks with little hearts around them.”

Bree winced, her face flushing. “You know that wasn’t actual love. Cage saved my life and I latched onto him.”

“Exactly,” Cassie said with a bit of triumph. “Now you’re rooting for him to become part of your family? It doesn’t make any sense to me.” Cassie poked Bree in the shoulder. “I know you. I see how you flinch every time Lila calls Bulldog,” she leaned forward and said more gently, “Daddy.” Bree still winced. “Why are you pushing so hard for Cage to take on that role?”

“Because it’s different,” Bree argued. Unlike Lila who had called Bulldog and Abby ‘Daddy’ and ‘Mommy’ from nearly the beginning, Cassie still referred to them by their names. She likely always would. She didn’t call them ‘Uncle’ or ‘Aunt’ like she did the other club members and their ol’ ladies, but she also didn’t see them as her parents. Cassie’s reasons were her own, but Bree knew she was happy here.

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