Page 122 of 12 Months of Mayhem

“Not a chance. I’ll put you down when we’re off of this fucking beach.” Zayne is the opposite of calm and this just proves my point. Outside of a miracle, I’m not sure how I made it to the car without hurling all over his back.

He slides me down his body and holds me in place because it’s clear that I’m in no position to stand still after that shake up.

“I told him we were…” I stop again because I don’t know what we are.

“We were what?”

“That’s it. I don’t know what we are. I said we’re a situation because for the life of me I can’t think of a better freaking word.”

“I can’t either. Did you tell him you’re done seeing him?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now get in the car.”

“You could ask.” He picks me up, opens the door and puts me in the back seat of the car then goes around to the other side and sits in the seat beside me. I catch Theo’s smile through the rearview mirror when Zayne reaches over me to pull the seat belt out for me to put on. “Zayne.”

“Charli.” He mocks me, daring me to start the fight I’m about to. I decide I don’t have the energy to start this with both Zayne and my brother in the car.

“I’m not dealing with you tonight.”

“That’s funny.” My brother chimes in.

“What is?”

“The fact that you think you have a choice.” Zayne answers for him.

“Can we not right now?” I glare at Zayne telling him to stop, hoping he realizes we need to have our talk without anyone else around… especially my brother.

He reaches for my hand and intertwines his fingers with mine. There’s just enough streetlight shining through the windows for me to see Zayne looking over at me when Theo begins to drive.

Zayne rubs his thumb in a circle against the side of my hand, calming some of the crazy swirling around in my head. I lean against him and he moves our joined hands so that he’s got his arm around me and we’re still interlocked. It’s easy to rest my head on his chest and let my eyes fall heavy before we get there. When Zayne starts to move, I open my eyes and see that we’re not at the cabin. We’re at a house.

“Where are we?”

“Our place.”

“What do you mean, our place?” I must be half out of it because he’s not making any sense.

“I mean, I bought a place and I’m making it ours.”

“How long have you had this?” I’m frozen in place trying to comprehend what Zayne is saying.

“I just bought it before I moved back. It still needs furniture… but there’s a bed. I’ve been waiting for you to pick out the rest.”

I’m stunned silent. How can he go from ghosting me for years and then come back and tell me he bought us a house as if we’ve never been a part. My brother drives away as soon as Zayne and I are both out of the car.

“You can take your time. Don’t overthink it right now. I just wanted you to myself tonight and the cabin is too busy for what I have planned.” He gestures toward the house. “This will just be one of many steps in our future. It doesn’t have to be the first step.”

“Zayne. There’s just so much…” He pulls me into a hug, his arms wrapped tightly around me and mine falling into place around his back.

“I know… but we have forever to figure it out. I want you in my life, Charli. It’s always been you.” Tears fill my eyes while he whispers against my ear. “I don’t ever want to go without you again and it won’t always be easy but I can promise you will always be the one I search for in a room full of people. You’ll always be the one I crave in my bed, in my arms and on my dick. I want to go to sleep with you every night and wake up next to you naked and wrapped up in the sheets with me.” I let the thump of his heart racing keep me grounded against his chest and let him share everything he wants to say. So often we stop communicating because it’s easier to have sex than it is to open up about true feelings.

“I want you to walk beside me in life. I’m President of the club now and I want you involved in that part too. Of course, I would die to protect you and will do what has to be done to keep you safe.” I kiss his shirt where his heart beats and work to collect my thoughts while they fly at me at warp speeds.

“The club tested me tonight. I had a choice to save half the club or come to the bonfire to get you away from a guy that they claimed was in town from a different MC. One that hadn’t done anything yet but could potentially be a problem. I chose the club after I thought about everything, knowing they were in immediate danger. When we got there, I found out it was a setup from my father. I’m not sure in every scenario that I’d do the same, so I’ll need you to cooperate at all times. We have to communicate and I’ll always have you tracked.”

“It goes both ways.”

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