Page 7

7

Bee

Talk about out of the norm.

I'm at a freaking farmer's market.

When I think about a good time, this is the last place that I would picture myself going, hell it's the last place I'd picture anyone going to have a good time. For as long as I can remember, my good times all revolved around having a drink.

I've been with Rye the last three days and I haven't even had one. He got me through the worst of my detox but even now it's still hard.

Thankfully, I wasn't too far gone. There were times when Rye thought he was going to have to take me to the hospital to get through the worst of it.

I'm happy it didn't need to go that far.

But now I'm here, at a farmer's market, looking at one hundred different flavors of jam.

"You seriously come to this every time it's here?" I turn to look at Rye who is holding a small whicker basket. It looks so out of place in his massive hands.

"Yeah, every second and fourth Sunday of the month. I may not always buy things, but it's a good way to keep in touch with the local businesses." He shrugs and picks up a jar of jam before paying the lady at the stand.

"I guess that makes sense." I turn to look around at the picturesque farmer's market only to have Mojag standing not more than three feet behind me. "For fucks sake! Make a noise. You scared the shit out of me!" I yell at him and Rye instantly grabs hold of my arm to pull me back.

I hold my ground though. "It's alright. This is Jag, my brother-in-law."

Rye relaxes and let's my arm go. I don't want to admit it but it feels good to know that Rye is ready for whatever comes his way when it comes to trying to protect me.

"Who's that?" Jag's gruff voice comes out hard, almost like a threat.

Rye comes to step up next to me his chest puffed up a bit but he doesn't say anything waiting for me to do the introductions. After the past few days that he and I have spent together it feels weird to label him as just my friend but that's what he is. We haven't even kissed yet. I guess he was telling the truth about not wanting to fuck me. It feels strange not to weild that power over a man. Usually I can bat my eyelashes and get man to do just about anything I want them to do, not with Rye.

"This is Rye, a friend of mine." I glance up at him just to make sure I'm not saying something he didn't expect.

"Good to meet you." Jag puts his hand out to shake Rye's and I watch the exchange. Two powerhouses, strong silent types. For some reason, I think the two of them would really hit it off. This could be the start of a blossoming bromance. Just the thought makes me giggle. Rye looks down at me confused but I'd rather not bring him into my mind right now.

Jag focuses his attention on me, "You know you're going to have hell to pay right?"

I groan, and my entire body nearly deflates. I knew this was coming. I've been out of communication with the club for the past three days.

"Where's Free?" I ask knowing that Mojag will know where my sister is at all times.

"She's by the donation truck."

"Donation truck?"

He points toward the east corner of the farmer's market, and all the way at the back I see a large box truck. Lined up next to it are several familiar bikes. How could I have missed that.

"If I were you I'd go handle that before they start burning shit down." Jag laughs and walks off. It's only a second before I lose sight of him. He's probably in the shadows somewhere watching everyone. The man is like a ghost.

"Everything straight?" Rye asks, his eyebrow hitching up.

"Yeah, it's just time for me to pay the piper. You want to come meet my sister. She may try to kill me." I laugh but I'm really worried about that. Free's temper is renowned.

There's no point in delaying it. I grab hold of Rye's hand and beeline straight in the direction of the donation truck.

"You fucking bitch! I should fucking kill you!" Free yells the second she sees me.

"Sis, wait." I finally drop Rye's hand and put my hands up to deflect any blows she throws at me. She's not usually violent but I can tell by the anger all over her face that she's not past that point.

"Wait my ass! You didn't show up for the run. You left your phone and your wallet. You were talking crazy to Sugar and Addison. You were fucking gone for days and didn't think to pick up the damn phone!" Free yells in my face. Rye is still standing right next to me and even though he doesn't say anything I can feel him tensing up next to me.

He knows what I've been through over the past few days. Calling anyone was completely out of the question.

"Bee." Vexx calls out from me as she jumps down from inside the donation truck. "You better be a figment of my fucking imagination."

All of the girls find their way in my direction and they surround me. The anger is real, but I know it's all coming from a good place. They were worried about me. This is my family. I can't believe I actually thought they'd abandoned me.

"Where the hell were you?" Vexx demands.

I smile softly looking at all of them, "I was detoxing."

It's almost as if everyone stopped breathing. I can't hear a sound.

Instantly, the anger I saw in all their faces drained away. I keep my eyes trained on my sister now. I'm surprised when her face crumbles and she races to wrap her arms around me.

"You did? Oh god. You did?"

"Yeah, I'm straight now. No more booze." I pull back and am surprised to see the tears coming down my normally hard sisters face.

"Why didn't you let us help you? We would've been there for you." Sugar reaches around Free and rubs my shoulder.

"I know. Well at the time I didn't. I was so lost in my own head that I was sure that you'd turn away from me. I know that's not true. I just had to go through it. I had help though." I look over at Rye and suddenly he's the center of attention.

"I know you." Riot tilts her head and squints her eyes. "You're the bartender."

"Yeah, that's me. Rye."

Vexx doesn't even address him, instead she grabs hold of my hand and pulls me away from the group. She's the president of the club. She can chose to strip my patch from me and I'll have to live with that.

"You sure everything is right with him? Did you know him before all this? I don't want him taking advantage of you."

I smile, of course Vexx wants to know I'm okay, "He's probably the best man I've ever known."

Vexx nods her head, "That's good to hear. I was starting to think you'd never settle down."

"I wouldn't say I settled down. The man won't even touch me. It's annoying." I scoff and Vexx laughs.

"So you're back with us? Nothing feels right with you gone."

"I'm here Vexx. I'll always be here. Just tell me where you want me." She's giving me another chance and I'm so grateful.

"Well right now I need you going around asking for donations. We've got the woman's welfare drive next month and we could use the help."

"I'm on it!" I pull her into a quick hug before turning to walk back over to where I left Rye getting the third degree from Free and the rest of the girls. I'm sure if I left him there for a second longer Free would've forced him to give her his social security number.

He's not flustered, though. It's impressive.

"Let's go to work." I pull him away from everyone.

"What are we going to do?" Rye questions.

"Well, you're going to help me get some donations for a woman's welfare drive the club is putting on."

"Sounds good to me."

He's so open to helping me, so open to just being there for me. It's such a fucking turn on.

Everything feels like it's going so perfect. For the first time in a long time I'm happy.

I walk over to a small booth ready to start on my spiel about Eve's Fury and what we do for the community when a familiar voice stops my heart.

Slowly I turn around and all the pain I've been trying to push away comes rushing back like a freight train.

I'd never thought I'd see him again.

It's Cage.

He's here.

And once again, my heart feels like it's being ripped to pieces.

"Cage?" I say out loud almost as if I can't believe what I'm seeing. No, not almost. I can't believe it. I never thought I'd see him again. When he was pulled away in the cop car I did my best to erase him from my life.

Honestly, I can say it was the moment I realized that alcohol could be a great friend. Not great for me but it worked to get my mind off him. I can't blame it all on him but I can say without a doubt that he was one of the main reasons for the start of my downward spiral.

"Bee, wow." His eyes open up a little wider. "Out of all the farmer's markets, in all the world." He smirks at me and I can feel the very beginnings of the butterflies trying to go ham in my gut.

This man has a direct line to my desire. He could sneeze and make me horny.

My eyes drift to the side and I see a woman standing next to him. I'm glad he's her problem now.

"Right. Nice to see that you've got out." I look away as if I'm trying to find someone else. I don't want him to think I'm too interested in anything he has to say. He broke me. I don't want him to know he has any more power over me.

"Yeah, recently actually. How are things with you?"

"Good. Perfect, actually." I lie.

"You selling?" He gestures to the other stands in the area.

"No, my club is here trying to get donations for a woman's drive." I gesture to the large truck in the back of the area. I don't see any of the other girls around so I'm assuming they are out doing what I'm supposed to be doing right now.

"Your club?" He raises his eyebrow, those dark eyes piercing into me.

"Yeah, Eve's Fury. We're a motorcycle club." I explain. Usually when I tell someone this I'm waiting for some type of snicker or sly remark but I know Cage knows the power of an MC. He knows exactly what comes along with it. When I see the slight expression of him being impressed, I do a little dance on the inside. I don't know why I'd be happy with him being impressed but I guess I just want him to know that my life didn't end when he left me.

It almost did but that's not what where talking about.

A deep sigh to my side reminds me that I've forgotten something very important. Rye is still here standing next to me obviously feeling like a very uncomfortable third wheel. I wonder if that's how the woman feels as well.

Neither one of us, Cage or myself, bothered to introduce the people that we were standing with.

"Oh, sorry, I was caught off guard." I grab hold of Rye's shirt and tug him forward a little. If anything the man deserves the respect of at least being introduced. "This is Rye."

Cage nods once, puts his hand out and shake his hand. "Cage."

"Good to know you." Rye is respectful but I can tell from the way he's looking at Cage that he's sizing him up.

If I'm real, I'm not sure who'd win in a one to one battle between the two of them. Cage is all raw, crazed muscle but Rye is dormant, untapped bear like strength. It would be a great fight.

Not that I want that to happen...well at least not very much.

Cage takes the time to introduce me to the woman he's standing next to and I shake her hand.

Part of me feels bad for her like I know what kind of devestation he can bring to someone's life and I hope she's doing what she can to protect her heart. I'm not here to be her savior though. I've got my on shit to deal with.

"Anyway, I've got other vendors to talk to. It was nice to see you." I give Cage one last smile, one that I'm sure doesn't reach my eyes before I turn and walk away.

Somehow it feels like I'm closing a door to a part of my life that has held me in a noose for so long. It's freeing and every step I take away from Cage feels lighter than the last.

"You good?" Rye asks.

I thought I'd done a good job at hiding my true feelings, but just like everything else it seems like Rye has seen right through me.

"You remember that guy I told you about. The one who left me in a hotel after I basically professed my love to him."

"The one that was taken away by the cops?" Rye's head twitches as if he wants to look back but thankfully he doesn't.

"Yup, that's the one." I sigh and shrug.

"Damn, well, at least there's no hard feelings. Right?" he slows his pace.

"Not at all. We're both on different paths in our lives. I don't know what demons he's fighting but I wish him the best as long as I'm not part of the battle." I let my head fall back so the wind can brush against my skin.

If this were any other day I'd be searching for the nearest bar so I can erase all the memories that are surging through my body. Seeing Cage is overwhelming too say the least.

Rye reaches up and places a soft hand on the back of my neck, massaging the small space where my hair meets my skin and instantly all the tension leaves my body. I don't know what it is about Rye that simply connects with me but it just feels so good.

"You're so fucking strong. It amazes me." He whispers and I have to gulp down a lump in my throat. He barely knows me but the fact that it seems like he genuinely means that strikes a chord in me. How long have I wanted someone to see me as strong. As something more than just a wild child?

When the fuck did this happen.

"Yeah well, it took a long time for me to get this way. I had some help along the way." I wink at him and he chuckles slightly.

I stare into his eyes and see something more there. Something all of me wants to identify but I know what that will open me up to. I'm not sure I can handle it. Slowly, I move away from his touch so I don't hurt his feelings. What I need right now is some space. I need to get my mind right before I even attempt to look for something more with anyone.

"Let's get these donations!" I clap my hands together forcing some enthusiasm into the atmosphere.

"I'm right behind you." Rye gestures with his hand that I should walk ahead of him.

After all the headache I've already brought into his life I wonder how long he'll be behind me, supporting me, encouraging me.

I definetely know I don't deserve it but it's good feeling.

When it's gone I'm not sure how I'm going to cope.

I'll have my family at Eve's Fury, I'll have my sister, Free, but I already know that life without Rye is going to be much harder than I want it to be.