Page 24

EMBER

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Bethany asks. I hadn’t realized how much meeting her would mean to me when she’d popped into my life. Barely a senior in high school, hating the world, Bethany entered my life. In doing so, she’d helped me understand what I was feeling.

The day my uncle Tombstone introduced Bethany to me at the clubhouse, I didn’t know who she was and made a complete ass of myself.

See, I grew up in the club from the time I was twelve and have held a grudge against the very men I love dearly.

My uncles, Reaper, is the President, and Angel, is the Vice President of the club.

They were my mom’s brothers. My other uncle, Bethany’s dad, was my dad’s brother .

My family tree is confusing to everyone, including myself, most of the time. Having to explain it isn’t always easy and people ask me if I’m from some backwoods West Virginia bullshit. I can’t stand it, and it’s probably why I’ve been so rebellious.

Well, maybe not. I know why I have. I just hate thinking about it. My parents died in a house fire when I was twelve and for the past six years, I’ve felt the pain as if it were yesterday. I know I shouldn’t, but when you live through a traumatic experience like I have, it’s kinda hard not to.

Glancing at my cousin, I give her a weak smile and nod.

“Yeah, it’s the right thing for me to do, Bethy,” I tell her as I pack up the rest of my things.

I’d come to stay with her a week ago, wanting to spend some time with her before heading to Stonewall University.

I had worked my ass off in order to get away from everyone and everything that hurts in Texas.

My uncles and the rest of the members of the club didn’t like it; however, they understood why I was doing this. To find myself as well as my freedom from the past. Texas hasn’t held anything but pain for me, so hopefully, going to Stonewall will be the fresh start I need.

“Okay, but I wish you were going to one of the schools around here at least, and not five-plus hours away from me,” she says, sitting on the bed in the guest room of the house she shares with her man and his band.

Though, I say house. It’s not just a house.

It’s a freaking mansion where each member of the band has their own wing.

“I know, but unlike the other schools I applied to and got in, I have a full-ride scholarship to Stonewall.” I shrug.

“I get it and understand where you’re coming from. I expect you to call me when you get there and daily calls after that.” God knows I love her, but since Bethany became pregnant, she’s been a total mother hen, even before I got to her house.

I’d driven up from Texas to spend time with her and so she could take me to the train station. I didn’t think I would need my car up there. Living in a dorm, I figured I’d be able to walk wherever I needed to go. If there was somewhere off campus, I could always grab a taxi or an Uber.

“I’ll be back. It’s not like I’m going off to join the Peace Corps, Bethy. I’m just going to college,” I murmur, hefting my duffle bag on my shoulders. My suitcase was already downstairs, ready to go.

“Alright, well then, let’s get on the road before I change my mind and demand you stay here.” And there go the hormones again. She’d tried all week to get me to change my mind. However, nothing was gonna work. I wanted to go somewhere where no one knew about me or my relationship to the MC world.

Sighing, I throw my duffle bag on the floor and flop down on my bed. It’s been an exhausting day of traveling. After Bethany left me at the train station, it’d taken a while to get here. Then, of course, dealing with a talkative yet creepy Uber driver, I finally made it to the dorms.

“You must be Ember.” I lift my head from the bed to see a girl my age sitting on the other side of the room. I’d been so exhausted when I stepped into the room, I just went straight to the first bed and flopped down on it.

“Um, yeah. Hi.” I don’t know what else to say due to exhaustion.

“I’m Cara,” she says, smiling.

“Sorry to have just come in here like this. It’s been a long day and I mean long day,” I mutter.

“Ha, I know what you mean. My brother refused to leave. He and his brothers kept staring every guy down who so much as looked at me.” She laughs.

“Brothers?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow at her .

“My brother’s in a motorcycle club. It’s what they call each other.” She shrugs.

“Yeah, I know. How weird is this? I leave one motorcycle club behind only to become roommates with the sister of another one.” I half laugh, half groan.

“You’re kidding!” she squeals, jumping off the bed and joining me on mine.

Sitting up, I kick my flip-flops off and move back some to sit on the bed with my legs crossed Indian style. “Nope.”

“This is so cool! Here I thought my roommate would be a total bore and we wouldn’t have anything in common.” The excitement that pours off Cara is unavoidable, and I begin to laugh outright.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Having a roommate who knows what it’s like being surrounded by overprotective cavemen isn’t a bad thing at all.” I giggle.

“You got that right. I can tell we’re going to be best friends already,” Cara declares, and I can’t help but agree with her.