Page 120 of Tattooed Love

“No, Troy can take me.” Amber’s head shot up, and looked at her brother.

“They can’t,” I said; my voice was firm. I was not letting her get out of this. I grabbed my helmet and held it out for her. I noticed the draggers she shot in Troy’s direction but he was not going to help her. Shrugging his shoulders at her, he followed the rest of boys into the clubhouse with the bags.

“So?” I nudged the helmet out to her. Stubbornly, she pressed her lips together firmly, not liking the idea but she didn’t have a choice.

She snatched the helmet from my hand and put it on. With a small smirk on my face, I straddled the bike and kicked the engine to life. Amber placed a hand on my shoulder, and slid on the back seat behind me.

She loosely placed her hands around me, trying her best to avoid touching me.

I took off quickly, and braked suddenly, sending Amber sliding firmly into my back forcing her to wrap her arms around me tightly.

“You’d better hold on,” I shot over my shoulder to her. I smiled smugly, taking off again. Amber didn’t let go of me, or push away from me. She was holding on tightly, just the way I liked it.

***

Amber jumped off the bike as soon as I pulled up to her front door, like it was burning her to be close to me. She quickly walked to the front door, and I nearly dropped the bike trying to get off to catch her in time.

“Amber, wait!” I walked up behind her.

“What Jackson?” She spun around, pursing her lips and crossing her arms. Jackson? Don’t tell me we were back to that!

“Did Cole talk to you?”

“Yes.” She cocked her head to the side, her eyes glaring holes in my face. “I didn’t know you actually were scared of Cole.”

“I’m not.” I said as I clenched my jaw.

“Whatever, it doesn’t matter.” Her hands fell to her side, no longer holding them in a tight cross. “We’re over. Thanks for the ride.”

“Wait,” I said as I grabbed her wrist. “I’m sorry,” I said. Sorry usually works, doesn’t it? That’s what I’m meant to be saying in this situation, right? Fuck, women were difficult. This is why I didn’t do relationships.

“Thanks?” She didn’t sound sure. “But it doesn’t make a different Jackson. We just aren’t well, you know… right together.” She moved uncomfortably.

She was as strong as nails. She thought we weren’t right together? I couldn’t think of anyone more perfect for me. “We ARE right together,” I said. I hated talking about emotions; she was torturing me.

“Don’t lie to yourself Jax,” she said, her face softening slightly before her head dropped. “You should go. I’ll see you later.”

“So what? We go back to being friends?” I snapped. Couldn’t she just take me back already? She knew I hadn’t meant it.

“We were never really friends,” she pointed out, and then pushed open her front door, closing it in my face.

Why was she going to make this harder than it needed to be? Lighting up a cigarette, I straddled my bike. She was going to make me work for her. Christ, just another thing I had to do, although Amber was worth it.

***

“GET OUT!” I roared, as some idiot attempted to pull me from my drunken slumber.

“You have to get up!” Troy grunted, “SCHOOL!”

“Piss off,” I scoffed into the pillow, and rolled over the crushed beer cans scattered across my bed. The whole weekend I had slept, and drank, and slept. I hadn’t left the bedroom, let alone the Shield’s house.

“It’s Monday. Don’t want to break your parole.” I heard the smug tone in his voice. Stupid blood parole!

“Bloody hell,” I slowly dragged myself out of bed. My head was splitting.

“Amber’s already left,” Troy said, standing with his annoying smug look. I wanted to kill him. “You’re going to be late.”

I said a few curse words under my breath as I searched the floor for clean clothes. “How’s Amber?” I picked up a black t-shirt and pulled it over my head.

---