Page 14

CHAPTER

NINE

HARLOWE

I pull up to the apartment complex where Marnie and Oly live.

Looking around, I know that if she had a guy who cared for her, he wouldn’t want her here.

It’s not bad, but it’s not the best area.

It’s also really unkept. The redwood paint is chipped and faded.

The sidewalk and parking lot are full of cracks and frost heaves.

What makes it worse are the curtains fluttering in the apartment below hers.

She’s told me about the guy who lives there.

He’s asked her out numerous times and gives her the creeps.

I wonder if I can ask one of the guys to come by to shake him up, but I don’t want to interfere.

It’s taken Marnie a long time to open up to me.

I’ve been working for her for almost two months.

I’m guessing she picked this place because it’s close to the bakery. Her car isn’t exactly the most reliable. The older Jeep Grand Cherokee looks great from the outside, but the worn interior and its hundred-thousand-plus miles tell a different story.

Just as I’m about to jump out and head inside, the door to their second-floor apartment opens. They come down. Marnie is holding Oly’s hand while trying to carry everything and the kitchen sink that she thinks we’ll need for our day at the lake.

It's the Fourth of July, and I’m taking the girls to Big Lake for a couple of hours before we head to my brother’s place for a barbecue and some time at his lake too. I climb down from my truck and rush over to help her. I reach for the bags, but she points to Oly.

“Can you take Miss Priss, please?”

I lift her up into my arms. “Oh, Miss Prissy, are we having a day?” I ask the three-year-old. She’s such a cutie. I’m completely in love with her. Her long, dark hair is twisted into a braided bun on top of her head. She tugs on one of my braids.

“I wanna my braids down like yours.” She leans against me, tears filling her expressive blue eyes. She’s a miniature version of her mother, except for the eyes.

Marnie’s eyes are a pale golden amber. Her emotions are in her eyes; they always give her away. Her long, dark hair is in a retro rockabilly style, complete with a red handkerchief. She’s always so stylish and beautiful. She has tattoos on her arms and body that make me want more.

By the time I have Oly buckled into the spare car seat I bought for my truck, Marnie is already at the back, loading her things under the tonneau cover. I help her finish getting everything packed.

“Is that it?” I chuckle, and she shakes her head.

“I know it looks like I’m moving in, but when you have a kid, you’ll understand. I have to plan for every scenario.” I notice the extra backpacks that always go with her.

“Those extra clothes in case you spend the night?”

She turns away from me, and I’ve learned that’s her tell. She’s about to lie.

“Yep, just in case.”

“Okay. All locked up.”

“Just a moment.” Marnie rushes up the steps, and I climb into the driver’s seat. Fezzik is nuzzling into Oly and making her giggle.

“No, Ezzik,” she tells him, and he pulls away with a huff and sits on the floor of the truck.

As Marnie comes down the stairs in her high heels, the door below hers opens. A creepy-looking guy steps out and smiles at her. I open my door and step onto the running board.

“Ready, Marn?” I interrupt him, and she climbs into the passenger seat.

“Thank you so much, Harley. He’s so creepy.”

“I’ll have one of the guys come talk to him.”

“Oh no, don’t do that. I don’t want to make things worse.”

“It won’t.”

When I pull out onto the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, heading toward the coffee shop and town, she lets out a deep sigh. “I’m so excited,” she says. “It’s been so long since Oly and I did something away from the apartment.”

“Well, I’ll help get you out of the apartment more often.”

I turn the truck onto the Parks Highway, continuing on toward Big Lake. We pass Wasilla Lake, right in the center of town, packed with people enjoying the sun, heat, and holiday.

“So, how was your date last night?” Marnie wiggles her eyebrows.

“I want fry fries,” Oly says from the back seat.

“No, baby girl. I have snacks for you.”

“Oh kay,” she replies dramatically, as if it’s the worst thing in the world.

“Well?” Marnie pushes again.

“Fine. It was another night of him ending with just a deep kiss and holding me tight. I swear he’s broke or something.” I huff just as dramatically as Oly.

“So, he only got all hot and heavy with you that day you wore his shirt last month and hasn’t done more since?”

“No. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, but I’m tired of waiting. I’m about to jump his bones or go find someone willing.”

I know I’m being ridiculous. I won’t actually find anyone else.

I’m so in love with Crue. We take a ride every weekend, just exploring.

He took me out to Sutton—to the old clubhouse and my parents’ house that my brother still owns.

On top of that, we spend time at his place or my brother’s, watching movies, or I’m cooking for him.

He watches me study and then kisses the shit out of me, but he won’t do anything else.

I’m about to take matters into my own hands.

Maybe if I initiate it, he won’t be able to say no.

“I doubt you’ll find anyone else. You’re in love with Aftershock.”

I glance at her as we pass the clubhouse. The girl who said she had Crue enters my mind. Is it because he now knows I’m a virgin? He doesn’t even talk dirty to me anymore. Oh, he tells me I’m his, but that’s it.

“Do you want me to stop and get fireworks for later at Rylan’s?” I change the subject, and she laughs harder.

“Girl, you got it bad. No, we don’t need to.”

And there she goes again. She never wants to feel indebted to anyone who helps her. I’ve noticed this over the last couple of months. I worry about her past because of this and several other signs.

“Too late.” I pass the Big Lake turnoff and head to the fireworks stands. “Wait here.” I jump out and walk over to the stand to buy several different fireworks displays.

It’s tough to do many fireworks in Alaska during the summer since it doesn’t get dark enough, but I pick out things that will be fun and loud.

I grab sparklers for Oly and a few small things she will like.

When I head back to the truck, I spot my ever-present security detail.

It’s GB today and another prospect with Icarus in a four-door truck.

They decided not to all ride motorcycles since I’m bringing Marnie and Oly.

By the time we pull up to the North Big Lake Recreation Area, Oly, who fell asleep on the drive, is waking up.

“I swim now?” she asks as she looks out at the lake.

“Only with your vest on do you go near that lake, baby,” Marnie tells her as she gets her out of her seat.

We find a place to set up our stuff, and with the guys’ help, we carry everything down to the sandy beach area.

I’m wearing a pair of torn-up shorts, a tank top, and sandals, with my bikini underneath.

Marnie is dressed similarly but in her cute retro style.

She takes off Oly’s T-shirt to reveal a swim shirt and shorts instead of a kid’s bikini top.

It will protect her not only from the sun but the bugs that are notoriously bad here.

Oly’s little pink top and shorts are covered with unicorns, she immediately sits in the sand and starts playing around.

“Want me to take you in the water, Oly?” I ask her as Marnie gets her things arranged.

“Come on, Marnie, don’t worry. Fezzik will make sure no one takes our stuff or spot.

” I order Fezzik to stay and then drop my shorts and lift the tank over my head.

I have on a green bikini that hugs my body and isn’t too revealing, but I know Crue would hate it.

He didn’t come today because some club business came up at the last minute.

I’m not supposed to ask, so I didn’t. I can’t know what the club is up to.

It’s just to make sure the police can’t use me against them.

I glance over at Icarus and lift an eyebrow before turning to pick up Oly.

Marnie is in a red polka-dot, full-coverage bikini.

The halter-style top is cut in a ’60s fashion, and the shorts are high-waisted but cut high on her thighs.

She takes Oly from my arms, and we head toward the chilly water.

No matter how much sun shines on it, most lakes and rivers here are glacial fed, so the water is cold.

We play in the water for a while until Oly’s teeth start to chatter. As I turn to head back up the beach, I’m stopped. I turn around and see Jerry, the guy who always comes into the bakery.

“Oh, hello.” I’m surprised to see him here and glance around. The guys notice I’m backing away from him and start heading in our direction but stop when Icarus takes a call. Damn it. Looks like I’m going to have to shake him off myself.

“Hey, Harley, I thought that was you. Want to come on my friend’s boat out on the lake?” He points to a boat at the dock with several people on it. They are all drunk by the looks of it.

“No, I’m here with Marnie.”

“Oh, she can come too.”

“No, thank you.” I turn to walk away, but he grabs my arm.

“Come on. You don’t need to hang out here with your brother’s friends.” He points to the obvious MC members.

“So, you know who my brother is?” I’m shocked he’s still standing here. He should run off scared, like most guys do.

“That would explain that guy saying you were his. He was just being protective for your brother.” I look over his shoulder and hold in the smirk, but it’s hard.

“I wouldn’t pretend with Harlowe . And if I were you, I’d take her no and my hint and back the fuck away from her,” Crue growls as he walks around him. He holds out his hand so I can finally step onto the dry beach away from where Jerry was keeping me.

“Come on, dude, she’s not into you. She’s not one of those tramps who hang around with you guys.”