Page 101 of Has-Been
“It’ll sound weird coming from you, but I’ve said it before. That’s who I am now, not just here, but everywhere. You think you can do it?”
I passed him his coffee and we moved over to the sofa, sitting beside each other on the sofa and angling to face each other.
“I mean, I can try, but it’s a lifetime of calling you by one name, and as good as my intentions are, I’m going to slip up.”
He shrugged, mock scowling at me.
“I’m taking no offence, by the way, from the fact that you waited until your precious boyfriend said it before you took it seriously. You know, I’ve only said it like a dozen times,but oooh Has says…”
I slapped his shoulder, and pulled a face at him.
“Is this going to be a problem with you two? I know you didn’t want me here, but I’m here to stay, Se…Stitch. Ugh, that feels so weird.”
My brother looked away for a moment, his jaw clenching, the familiar stubborn expression on his face.
“Please.”
“I wanted you safe, and away from club shit, and instead you’re right in the thick of it, and you’ve been in danger more times than I want to even think about. That’s because this asshole can’t keep away from you. If he’d just stayed away, you’d be safe and away from here. You’d be back at school, and not worrying about all this crap.”
Idiot. I slapped his arm harder this time.
“That’s crap and you know it. If I wasn’t here, and this person was still out to get club members, there’s no guarantee they wouldn’t have taken me from my old house just to get to you. The only difference is that you might never have known until it was too late. Being here, contrary to what you might think when you’re being a stubborn ass, is where I’m safest. Where you and Has can both watch over me.”
Seth caught my hand and squeezed it, but this time there was guilt on his face.
“We both failed though, sweets. We were both too stupid or arrogant to keep you as safe as you should be. And now… what, you gonna be his old lady? My little sister is going to be a biker’s old lady?”
“It’s good enough foryourold lady, Seth.”
“Jesus. Look, just don’t let him hurt you or something. He does anything you don’t like, and you come to me, okay? And don’t stay with him out of guilt or anything, if you’re not happy. You come first, always.”
I shot him a smug look. “Funnily enough, that’s how Has feels too.” He nodded and then grimaced, closing his eyes for a moment.
“Jesus, sweets. Oversharing isn’t going to be a thing, okay? He’s one of my closest friends, and you’re my fucking sister.”
“And I’m going to behisold lady, Seth.Stitch. Oh god, this is too hard!”
“You’ll get the hang of it. I had to get used to answering to it, sweets. And look, I’m not saying don’t make a life for yourself with Has… if you had to fall for one of these fuckers, I’m just glad it was him and not one of the uh… less uh… well, more uh…Jesus. I guess I’m trying to say he’s one of the most decent. Even though I tried telling you otherwise, he’s a good guy and I trust him. Of course, I never thought I was trusting him with my sister, so I’m probably going to have an issue with it for a while. I’ll try though, okay? He’s at least one of the level headed ones, and not prone to rages like some of them. Or me, I guess.”
His phone buzzed, and he reached down to the table and tapped the screen, to answer on speaker.
“I’m with Elise, Reacher. Everything okay?”
“Not fucking really, no. We just had to pull Has off Ice before he fucking killed him. You wanna get down to my office, and help me deal with this shit?”
Oh god. He really just said that.
“Is Has okay?”
Reacher groaned. “I can’t promise that, because I’m planning to knock their heads together. I thought this shit was over with those two.”
The call ended abruptly, and Seth stood up, tucking his phone in his pocket.
“I should get down there and, uh…shit… You’ll lock up after me, right?”
“I’m coming with you, dammit. What if he’s hurt?”
Has-Been
