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He gets me into my room and stands me by my bed. “What do you need me to do?”

“Can you stay here a second while I go to the bathroom, in case I need help?”

He nods. I cautiously make my way into the bathroom and brush my teeth. I pee right quick, wash my hands, take my hair out of the bun and put my pjs on. When I get back in the room, Cotton is sitting a cold Coke on my bedside table from my little fridge. He also has my cold eye mask that I use beside it.

He has my phone on the charger right beside it. “Okay, butterfly, what else do you need?”

“Just the lights out and to lie down. I have the AC set to sixty-eight, and that helps.”

He moves over and pulls my blanket back and tells me to lay down, then helps me to get my eye mask on. I lay on my right side facing the door and him, putting pressure on the side that hurts the worst.

“Get some rest, Butterfly, I’m going to take your keys with me, if you need anything call or text me. I can get back in here to you that way, okay?”

I agree to that and close my eyes. The last thing I remember is feeling a kiss on my forehead.

Three

Cotton

Walkingaround the building and seeing Saige on the ground sick like that scared me. Carrying her to her room, it felt so good to have her in my arms. Like she belonged there. Her scent of coconut and vanilla nearly drove me mad with want. Once I helped her get settled in bed, I stayed with her until I knew she was going to be okay and she was sleeping. I leaned down and kissed her forehead, smoothing her hair back. I hadn’t seen her with her hair down in a long time. It’s sexy as hell. Hell, everything about her is sexy. I could sit and just watch her sleep all night and be happy. I slowly shut her door making sure that it’s locked and head down the hall to my room. Tires is coming out of his room as I walk by. “Hey, man, I gotta go get a drink. Want to go get one with me?”

“Not tonight, man. I just left Saige’s room, and before you get the wrong idea, she’s down with a bad migraine. She got sick outside and couldn’t even stand up. I helped her in and got her settled. I told her to text me if she needed anything, but she was out before I reached the door. Besides that, I have to work on the books for the garage. I brought them home and am going to work on them in the room. I may be out later for a drink.”

“Thanks for taking care of Sis. I know how you feel about her, so I know you wouldn’t take advantage of her. Even if she would let you,” he says shaking his head.

“What the hell do you mean by that?”

He looks at me shocked. “Really? Come on, Cotton. Saige has been in love with you since she was fifteen. That’s why when she does go out with someone, she lets them know right away it’s just as friends.” I run my hands through my hair, looking at my best friend. “You really didn’t know?” I just shake my head no. “Well what you do with that knowledge is up to you. Just don’t hurt her.”

“I won’t.” He punches my arm, taking off to the bar. Once I get into my room, I grab a drink from the little fridge I have in there and turn my laptop on. I pull up everything I need to work on the books for the garage and get to it.

I look up from the laptop and realize that I have been working on the books for almost three hours, but at least they are done and done right. I shut everything down, getting up to stretch. It’s going on eleven at night, and I am worn out. Saige hasn’t texted so I am hoping that she sleeps throughout the night, that her migraine is gone in the morning. I decide to head to bed when there is a knock at my door. I open it up to see one of the club whores there. “What do you want, Dayna?” This bitch has been obsessed with getting into my bed since I got voted in as VP. She is trouble with a capital T, and I don’t trust her. I also don’t mess around with any of the club whores.

“Oh, Cotton, I was hoping that you wanted to have a little fun tonight. You have been working so hard and not playing any.” She sticks her bottom lip out in a pout trying to look sexy.

“No. I don’t want to have any fun with you tonight or any night. I’ve told you that already. And you know the rules. You’re not to come back here to the living quarters unless someone brings you straight to their room. You do it again, you will be banned.”

“You can’t be serious, Cotton. I’m not doing anything wrong. I just wanted to spend a little time with you. We can get to know each other better.” She is trying to put her hands on my chest to rub it, but I stop her.

“I am serious. Now get your skank ass back out to the bar where it belongs.” She gives me a look that if it could kill, I would be dead. She starts to argue with me when I see a Prospect walking through. “Prospect take this whore to the front gate and don’t let her back in here tonight. Make sure she leaves. “

“Yes, VP.” She screams and fights him all up and down the hall. Ah hell. I get the keys out of my pocket and go open the door to Saige’s room. I peek inside and see that she’s still asleep. Good. I lock her door back and head back to my room. Taking a quick shower, I get in bed and dream about Saige all night.

The next morningwhen I walk out to go to the garage, I see everyone going about their business. Saige is with Sloane at a table, talking about going out to Myst tonight. I overhear their plans and look up to see Loki smirking at me. He nods towards the girls and rolls his eyes. I laugh. Yeah, he can act like he doesn’t want to go, but I know better than that. That boy has it bad for Sloane. I see Pyro making his way over to the table and all humor leaves me. I see the way that he is looking at Saige, and I don’t like it. I think since they are going to go to Myst tonight, I need to let Tires know so that we can watch out for them. I just don’t trust that little prick.I head on out the door to go to the garage to get some work in and talk to Tires.

When I get to the garage it is to find Tires in the back, painting a custom build we’ve done. It is amazing to see the details that are going into the design. It is black, with pin striping on it in blood red, the club emblem at the gas cap. It’s bad ass. It’s for Barq, the Pres of the Black Forrest charter. “Hey, Bro. It looks great, man. Almost done?” I ask.

He gives me a chin lift, “Hey, Bro. Yeah. Just putting the finishing coat on it. Should be ready for pick up tomorrow. What’s going on? You have that look on your face, that things are going on that you don’t like.”

I laugh without humor. Yeah, he knows me. “Saige, Loki, Sloane and Pyro are going to Myst tonight. Pyro was practically drooling and eye fucking your sister at the table, I don’t like how he has been acting. He’s on something.”

Tires looks at me shaking his head, “Are you sure that he is on something, and that you aren’t just jealous that he is going out with Saige?”

I clench my fists and jaw. “Don’t go there, man. You know how I grew up, what went on. I know that look when someone is using.”

He throws his hands up in defeat, “Hey, man, I wasn’t meaning that. I know what happened. I guess we need to go, watch from the shadows.” I nod as I head out towards the front to answer the phone. It’s going to be a long day I realize, when I pick up the phone, and hear a long-winded customer.

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