Page 18
Joelle
It was a pity the journey didn’t take longer.
Joelle couldn’t remember a second of it because her eyes had been pinned to the back of Diamond the entire time.
She knew they wouldn’t work for many reasons, but it didn’t alter how captivated he made her feel. In another life, they could have been perfect together.
And then she saw him on that impressive machine, handling it like a pro. No wonder she was a trembling idiot when she parked next to him. He swung his leg over the seat, pulling off the half helmet. And then he came for her with a steely stride.
“I’m not going in there.” She told him when he opened her door. He gripped her hand and brought her out, and like a puppet, she let Diamond take her without the slightest struggle. He could lead her to hell, and she’d go without question.
“You don’t have to.” Over her head, he whistled, blistering the air with a shrill noise, and seconds later, footsteps jogged closer.
“Whatcha need, Diamond?” the guy asked. He wore a similar leather vest over a white t-shirt, but his vest stated he was a prospect.
“Go tell Sonya to come out to me.”
Oh, great. Joelle rolled her eyes and pulled her coat tighter around herself.
“This way, you don’t think I’ve instructed her on what to say to you,” he stated in a strained voice.
“I don’t care, Diamond.”
“Yes, you do.”
She did. Ugh, she cared too much.
They remained silent, though his eyes roamed over her face, and Joelle watched as the woman from earlier came out of the main entranceway, smiling as she swished her hips from side to side. The smile dimmed when she clocked Joelle standing with Diamond. Her walk got sassier as she approached.
She smiled up at him, pouting her pink lips. “Price said you needed me, Diamond.”
“Are we dating?”
She turned red. “Excuse me?”
“Answer the question, Sonya.”
“Why are you asking me this?” she said, then shot Joelle an accusatory stare.
“Answer.” His tone was deeper, rougher.
“Is this because she took off earlier? It’s not my fault she can’t take a joke, D.”
“Explain.” He demanded from the other woman.
“She came asking about you earlier.”
“And?”
Sonya huffed and rolled her eyes. A hand on her jutted hip. Still sending Joelle hate-filled stares.
“She clearly complained to you about me claiming we were getting married. It was a joke . Anyone would know that. Her humor is lacking as fuck.”
“You lied. Are we getting married?”
“No.” she pouted.
“Are we dating? Are you my woman?”
She took longer to answer but fired Joelle a stare that would have curdled custard. “No, I’m not his woman or his girlfriend, but we have fucked.” This part she sent with a smirk toward Joelle before asking Diamond. “Can I go back inside now?” A scowl etched lines around her mouth.
“You can apologize to her.”
Joelle finally spoke up. “That’s unnecessary.”
Rather than expressing gratitude for Joelle’s reassurance to the other woman, she glared at her even more intensely. Well, no sisterhood here, even though Sonya lied.
“Fucking apologize, Sonya. Now.”
“What the fuck for? Because Rainbow Brite here can’t take a fucking joke, and she ran off with hurt feelings? Bikers need a bitch with a backbone. All she had to do was tell me to get you; she would have known already. But no, she ran off and cried to you.” Under her breath, she murmured, “fucking bitch.” It wasn’t something Joelle could mishear. It was loud enough, and Diamond growled.
But that’s where she’d had her fill of this woman.
She would’ve let all the lying go, but no one called her a bitch. She cut in front of Diamond and went up to Sonya.
“Call me a bitch once more and see what happens.” She threatened.
Diamond’s arm came around her waist, and he pulled her away and tucked her into his side.
“You will tell her you’re sorry for fucking lying to her right now, Sonya. Or your ass is out of here for good.”
The other woman’s eyes widened and pooled with worry.
“You can’t do that.”
“Can’t I? I’ll take every goddamn last thing away from you after this stunt you just pulled. Now fucking apologize.”
“Fine. I’m sorry.” She huffed and then turned around and strode back toward the entrance.
“Well, how fun was that?” Joelle snarked. “Just what I wanted to do with my morning.”
“Would you have believed me if I’d told you she’d lied?”
Joelle shrugged. “As I keep telling you, it doesn’t matter. I need to go now.”
“I don’t think so,” He lassoed her wrist. Not tight enough that he was hurting her, but unless Joelle wanted to yank her arm, Diamond wasn’t letting go, so she jutted her chin to stare at him.
“I have to go, Diamond.”
“Why did you come looking for me?”
“I’ll tell you another time. After this Sonya saga, I’m maxed out on drama.”
His eyebrow shot up, and she laughed.
“There’s no need to panic. I’m not stalking you for your body, far from it. I got the hint super clear when you ignored my messages. I deleted your number and blocked you, if you must know.”
He smirked then, and the whole sternness of his face changed. “Who’s lying now, Bluebell?”
“I am. But only so I can leave already. I have very important things I need to do at home.”
One: Freak out. Two: Ask Google where to buy diapers. Three: Freak out because she didn’t know how to change a diaper.
One facial feature she’d become accustomed to in their brief acquaintance was the one he was giving her now, as if to tell her he had all day to wait for the answer he wanted.
“Why did that woman lie about you?”
“Who knows why women lie?”
“Maybe so. But you know why that one lied.” She pressed. If they had slept together, Sonya wanted more.
“Why did you come looking for me, Joelle?”
Joelle let out an annoyed sigh, her lips pursed. She would have preferred a quieter setting to break the news, but since she hadn’t come here willingly, she blamed Diamond for the situation.
“Fine. I planned to tell you somewhere quieter when I wasn’t annoyed, but whatever, you won’t let this go. I’m pregnant.” She said, rolling her lips inward.
Oh no. She hadn’t even softened the blow by giving him the birds and the bees talk, about when daddy bees jack off on mommy bees, and then somehow it made baby birds.
His jawline was so tight she didn’t want to know what he was thinking.
“I’m...”
“Shut up, Joelle.” He gruffed and pressed a fingertip on her lips.
Okay then.
Fine.
Great.
He was taking the news almost as well as she had.
Now, they could both be in misery.
It sure loved company.