Page 45 of Living Without

Chapter Sixteen

NARY

Kelsey had calmed a little when she saw me. She calmed even more and sat down on the bed with me when the woman I didn’t know kicked huge Dallas in the shin and he did nothing to her in return, well, except shout in her face. Once he stalked from the room, most of the other bikers left along with him. All the way, teasing Dallas. Not Saxon though. He stood just inside the door leaning against the wall. His eyes were on me, warm, and yet, I saw the storm brewing in them. The storm started when he’d heard what had happened to me, and I knew if Dallas hadn’t interrupted us, the storm could have taken over Saxon.

Then again, I wasn’t sure if Saxon would have let that happen. He seemed changed. His hot head and bad-tempered attitude seemed under control when I was around. Yet, in the past, I was the one who’d brought it out in him.

My mind spun in confusion.

What exactly was going on in that mind of his?

It was something to worry about later. Right then, I wanted to take care of Kelsey.

“You okay?” I asked.

Her gaze took in Saxon, Dad, the woman I didn’t know, Josie, and Low. Dallas must have gone on a screaming rampage over a woman crying, calling for all the reinforcements he could get.

“Y-yes, I’m sorry. I was confused when I woke,” she whispered.

“Honey,” the new woman started, “Dallas would freak anyone out. Don’t worry about it.” She moved towards the bed, her hand out in front of her, and once I took it, she said, “I’m Melissa by the way. Julian, my gay BFF, got me here to help look for you. Only, because of the screwed-up situation, I couldn’t make any deals because I’m a woman. So I got Mason, Gypsy’s president from the Rebel Wayfarers MC in America, to help us out.” After she shook Kelsey’s hand, she moved back a step.

“Thank you, we appreciate everything,” I told her. So that was how Gypsy came about. His accent had told me he wasn’t from Australia. My family had gone above and beyond to find me. It was something I doubted I could repay, yet I hoped to one day.

“Pleasure is all mine or else I wouldn’t be here to torture Dallas.” She smiled.

“Are you and he…?”

“Hell no!” was shouted from the hall.

Melissa snorted and said, “He wishes. But I’m not going to be around for much longer.”

Josie stepped up, her hand to Melissa’s shoulder. “I hope you’ll stay for a little while still. I would love to hear more stories of my brother-in-law.”

“I’m sure I can think of some more. Too bad his little one got sick and he had to leave. I would love to have embarrassed him more.”

Low laughed and shifted closer to the bed. “Julian never gets embarrassed.”

Melissa rose her brows. “You’d be surprised.” Her eyes went to Josie. “Hey, where are your men? I thought they always stuck to you like glue?” She glanced back to Kelsey and added, “The men here are mighty fine, don’t you think?”

Kelsey shrugged and ducked her head, a blush lighting her cheeks. I was sure there was one man she thought fine, only he wasn’t a Hawks man. Which worried me. She trusted Gypsy because he’d saved her and killed a man who had hurt her. She clung to him like he was her security blanket, so what would happen when he left to go home?

It worried me, among other things.

Looking at Low and Josie, I watched them talk to Melissa as Kelsey listened on, and was appropriately shocked to learn about Josie’stwomen. My friends seemed normal, which made me think I was stupid to have thought they would’ve treated me different. Actually, I had been stupid. They’d gone through their own hell and came out on the other side, which gave me hope Kelsey and I would be okay.

Their eyes met mine. I smiled sadly and said, “I’m sorry for earlier.”

“Don’t you dare, girl. We totally get it.” Low nodded.

“We really do.” Josie smiled. She glanced over her shoulder to Saxon and Dad and asked, “Can we have some girl time, please?”

Dad snorted. “Knew it was only a matter of time. Gonna go see your mum, Nary. You good?”

“Yes, Dad. Thanks.” He gave me a chin lift and walked out. My eyes moved to Saxon, who was still leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

“Pretend I’m a girl.”

My heart warmed. He didn’t want to leave me.

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