Page 100 of Broken

“Thank you for telling me.” My words are genuine. My mind is a complete muddle though.

Garrett surprises me by taking my phone off the counter where I left it earlier. He holds it to my face to unlock it, then taps around.

His phone buzzes from his back pocket. Did we just exchange numbers? Keep your shit together. Garrett hands me the phone back, waiting for me to say something.

“Thanks?”

He laughs, breaking the tension. “Come on.”

The ride seems to be over far too fast. I’m getting too comfortable riding on the back of his bike. Knowing what I now know about him and the motorcycle club, it hits a little different. It doesn’t make me want stop this.

I’m too confused to figure it out.

At my apartment building, he comes inside to make sure I get in safely. It seems a little overkill, but it’s nice he’s concerned about my safety. I’m not sure what this change is in him. My stupid heart is making more of it than I should.

A man gets off the elevator when the doors open. Garrett stiffens up beside me. God, he needs to relax, not everyone is a threat. I nudge him out of the way so the man can pass. That’s odd, he is staring at Garrett too. Do they know each other?

The man carries on without a word. Perhaps he’s intimidated. Garrett is scary when you don’t know him. I give him a quizzical look as he watches the man leave the building. When he sees, he shrugs and looks away sheepishly.

Part of me says he has no right to be jealous, but another is excited. At my door, he stands right behind me as I unlock it. It’s not like he is about to kiss me goodbye so I step inside.

“Lock the door.”

“I always do.”

He stares, waiting for me to do it. With a roll of my eyes, I close the door. Then lock it. The doors are sturdy but I still hear him walk away, his heavy boots thumping on the thin carpet. Leaning my back against the wall I stare at the framed drawings.

I learned a lot about him tonight, there is more to know. He gave me his number, he told me about a piece of him he doesn’t like. In Garrett world, that has to mean a lot.

Stop it, Calliope. I need a reality check, big time.

It’s time for a talk with the girls.

I had to get away from my apartment so we’re at Sin’s place. When I asked to meet up, she agreed far too eagerly, calling me a multitude of rude names for avoiding her. Even if it meant late afternoon drinking after Ruby and I shut up the coffee shop.

Jericho doesn’t live with her, a fact that confounds everyone given how close they are. The place is all ours. Sin made two jugs of margaritas, which we’ve been throwing back while we caught up on Jericho’s family.

The tension is building. It’s shocking Sin has lasted this long.

“Okay, we’re caught up enough, and missy over there is going to be too smashed to keep up if you don’t start talking.”

“Hey,” Ruby pouts at Sin’s assessment.

“You’re a lightweight, Rubes. Don’t try to deny it.”

“You’re too heavy-handed with the tequila,” she rolls her eyes. “And I am fine.”

“Best margaritas in Maryland,” Sin points a finger gun at Ruby. “However, back to my sneaky little friend over here,” she leans both elbows on the counter and rests her chin on one palm. “Did you think you were going to get away without telling usyou’ve been getting dick from one of the hottest, but most closed off, grumpy ass men I’ve ever met?”

“Nope, nothing gets past you, Sinclair.”

Ruby giggles.

“After that encounter at Shane’s party, you said you were too embarrassed to face him again, so what gives?”

“What encounter?” Ruby asks, her head bouncing back and forth.

“Miss ‘Nosy Pants’ snooped, and Garrett caught her sneaking a peek at his drawings. He got mad, then he got horny, kissed the shit out of her almost gave her a five-finger thrill, then got mad again and ran off.”

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