Page 27 of Fang (Lotus MC: San Antonio #2)

I wake up slowly with a smile on my face. Last night was amazing. I never really thought about what my first time would be like, but if I had, I’m sure Fang would have surpassed all my expectations. He made me feel desired in a way I never have before. He made me feel loved.

I turn my head and reach across the bed, only to find it cold. I open my eyes and frown at the empty spot next to me. The only sign that Fang was in bed next to me at one point is the head indentation on the pillow.

Where the hell did he go?

Worry rolls through me. Did something happen?

I roll over again and get out of bed. I take a couple of steps and open one of his dresser drawers. I find a T-shirt and sweatpants. Perfect. After I slip them on, along with a pair of socks, I leave his room.

Quietly I walk down the hall toward the main area. When I step into the opening, I pause. I’ve never seen the club this empty or this quiet before. It almost feels eerie.

“Morning, Cami.”

I look over and see Loyal step out from the hall across from me.

“Morning.”

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yeah, why?” Do I really look that bad?

He shakes his head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” he says, apparently reading my mind. “You just looked a little lost.”

“Oh, lost, no. I was thinking it was weird seeing this place cleared out.”

“Ah, yeah. That’s still weird to me too sometimes. Anyway, what are you doing up so early?”

I look at the clock over his shoulder and shake my head.

“It’s seven. That’s not exactly early.”

He shrugs. “To us it is.”

“Well, I was looking for Fang. Do you know where he is?”

Loyal runs a hand through his hair and frowns. “He wasn’t in his room?”

“No.”

“Well, shit, let me…”

Before he can finish his sentence, the door to the kitchen opens, and Fang steps out. He pauses when he sees us. Something flashes across his face, but he quickly smothers it.

What was that?

“Morning,” he says gruffly as he walks toward me.

“Morning.”

He leans down and kisses me.

“You two have fun. I’ll see you later,” Loyal says as he walks away.

“How do you feel about going and getting breakfast before you have class?”

“I think I’d like that.”

“Then come on, let’s get dressed.”

We go to his room and change, then head out to his bike. For the ten-minute ride, I spiral.

Why did I wake up alone? Does he regret sleeping with me? Are we done?

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t even remember getting off his bike and walking into the restaurant.

“Little dancer, talk to me,” he pleads, pulling me into the present.

“Are we over?” I blurt out.

Fang jerks his head back in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“Are we over?”

“Why in the hell would you think that?”

“Because I woke up alone and then when you saw me you looked at me weird.”

“Baby, come here,” he pleads.

Reluctantly I move to his side of the booth. He immediately pulls me into his arms and kisses the top of my head.

“We are so far from over it’s not even funny. In fact, you asking that is insulting.”

“But…”

“No buts, Cami. You’re it for me.”

“Then what was this morning all about?” I ask quietly.

“First of all, you only woke up alone because I needed a drink. I was hoping I could make it back from the kitchen before you woke up.”

Okay, that makes sense, I guess.

I pull my head back and look up at him. “And with Loyal?”

Something that looks like guilt crosses his face. “For a split second I was jealous.”

I frown. “Of what?”

“You and Loyal. Not because I think either of you would do anything together. That’s not it at all.”

“Then why?” I ask, not bothering to hide the hurt in my tone.

He shakes his head. “Because you two are closer in age than I am. For a moment all I could think about was that on paper you two make more sense. Shit, you probably have more in common with him, and I hated it.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“I know.”

I reach up and touch his face, making him look at me. “No, seriously it’s absurd. We both know I have had more than my share of guys hit on me, but never once have I been swayed. You are the only guy who has ever gotten my attention. You. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I know, Cami. I know, and I’m sorry. Like I said, it hit me one second, and then it was gone.”

“Can I ask you a question?” I mumble.

“You can ask me anything.” He brushes his hand down my cheek.

“Have you ever been in a serious relationship?”

“No, never,” he says with zero hesitation.

Thank God. Just the idea of him being in love with someone else, even if it was before me, makes my skin crawl.

“I’m guessing by the way you’re smiling that you’re happy about that,” he says with humor in his voice.

“I’m just glad that I won’t have to beat anyone for having that part of you before.” I shrug, completely unashamed.

“I love you, you know that?” he asks as he brushes a piece of hair away from my face.

“I love you too.”

A beautiful smile covers his face, and the corners of his eyes crinkle.

I did that. Me. I have a part of him that no one else has ever had, and no one can ever take that from me.

Not Zak, my mom, or any of the girls at the club.

No one. If they try, though? Well, they better be prepared for a fight, because the only way I’ll give this up is if someone pries him from my cold dead hands.

I don’t know what she’s thinking about, but I like it. She just looks so fucking happy, which is better than the worry that was all of her face when we walked in here.

I did that. I made her question where I stand with her, and I fucking hate myself for it.

She took it in stride, though. Cami reassured me that she only wants me when she didn’t have to.

“So you’ve never had a long-term girlfriend?” Cami asks, pulling me into the present.

“As an adult, no. There was a girl in high school that I saw for about a year, but that’s it.”

Jealousy flashes across her face, but she quickly smothers it.

“What happened?” she mutters.

I shrug. “She thought we were something we weren’t.”

“Meaning you thought you were just fuck buddies but she thought you were dating,” she says, hitting the nail on the head.

The waitress gasps, making us look her way.

“I’m so sorry for interrupting. Here’s your food,” she says as she places our plates down before scurrying off.

“Thank you,” Cami says to her retreating form.

“Way to scare her off,” I tease, making her scoff.

“I did not. Was I right, though?” she asks as she unrolls her silverware.

“Yeah, you were right. I didn’t realize we were on different pages until one night she asked me what colleges I was applying for.

She wanted to make sure she applied for the same ones, that way we could go to the same school.

” I cringe as the memory comes back. “She lost her shit and threw a shoe at me when I told her that we weren’t going to go to the same school because I had no intentions of going to one or seeing her past graduation. ”

Cami shakes her head. “Poor girl didn’t stand a chance.”

“No, she did not,” I confirm.

“Is it wrong that I like that you’ve never been in a serious relationship?”

“No, because I feel the same way.”

She hums as she takes a bite, and I can’t help but watch her. Just like I did this morning.

I woke up right as the sun was rising. The rays came through the window because I forgot to shut the blinds before we racked out. She looked like she was glowing. Right there I decided I needed to do what I’ve been putting off. The only problem is, I don’t know how she will take it.

“You have that look on your face again,” she says as she swallows her food.

“What look?” I play dumb.

“Like something’s wrong. What’s up?” She pops another bite of food into her mouth.

“I need to tell you something, but I don’t know how you will take it,” I admit.

She sets her fork down and turns toward me again. “Okay…”

“I need to hire another dancer.”

She frowns. “Okay, you’ve done that before. Especially since you hired me.”

“Not just a dancer, but another headliner,” I clarify.

Cami goes tense. “Are you forcing me out?”

I reach under the table and squeeze her leg. “No, that’s not it at all.”

“Then why? Am I not doing a good enough job?” She looks so vulnerable.

I hate that I’m making her feel this way. How do I explain it to her?

“Baby, that’s not it at all. In no way, shape, or form am I trying to push you out. I’ve been thinking about doing this since before we got together.”

She takes a deep breath. “Okay, tell me why. Explain it to me.”

“On the nights you don’t work, we are dead.

You draw in a crowd, which is great, but it’s hard when you aren’t there.

I need someone for those nights. Then on the weekends, if we could have two headliners, I think business would pick up even more.

Besides, we both know this isn’t a long-term job for you.

There will be times when you can’t make a shift because we have something planned or because of school.

It would be nice to know that someone will be there to cover for you.

Someone that the crowd wants to see and won’t leave because you aren’t there. ”

“Wait, people have left because I wasn’t dancing.” She looks shocked.

I wince.

Shit, I didn’t want her to know that.

I keep my tone low. “Yeah.”

“When?” she asks.

“You know when we took off and ditched?” She nods. “Then. When your time slot came up, people left when Venus took the stage. Half the place cleared out before she even made it a third of the way through the song.”

“That’s…”

“I know, I thought Happy was lying until I pulled up the cameras.”

She bites her lip. “Is it wrong that kind of makes me happy? Like, I hate that for the club, but I hate her.”

“Nah, little dancer, I think that makes you human,” I tease.

She takes another bite of food, so I do the same.

“For what it’s worth, though, I think you’re right. I think you should hire someone else,” she finally says.

“So you’re cool with it?”

She rolls her eyes. “It doesn’t matter if I’m cool with it. It’s business, and that has nothing to do with our relationship, remember? But yes, I’m good with it. If you need help or anything, let me know. I’m here if you need me.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now let’s finish eating and pay. We have to run by the club so I can get my car before I head back to my dorm to change before class.

So that’s what we do. We talk while we eat and just have a normal morning. When we’re done, I pay, much to her dismay. Then I drive her back to the club.

“I’ll see you later?” she asks as she takes off the helmet.

I shake my head. “I’m going out of town on a run. I’ll be gone for a few days.”

“Again? So soon?”

“I’m sorry.”

Cami pouts. “It’s fine. We need a calendar so I can keep all this shit straight,” she says, making me laugh.

“I’ll see what I can do. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She leans in and kisses me one more time before walking over to her car and getting in. I wait for her to pull out of the parking lot before I do the same. Only I turn in the opposite direction and head back to the clubhouse.

“You ready for the run?” Savage asks fifteen minutes later.

“As ready as I’ll ever be, and the club is set for a couple of days. Before we leave, though, what do you think about hiring another headliner?”

Savage puts his hands on his hips. “Fang, I give zero fucks what you do with the club. As long as it’s bringing in money, I don’t care. This is your project and I trust you.”

“Thank you,” I tell him, heading toward the clubhouse.

“You’re welcome. Now do you have the drive mapped out already?” he asks as we walk side by side.

I scoff. “You know I do.”

“Good. Show me.”

As hard as it is, I push thoughts of the club and Cami out of my mind and concentrate on the job at hand. Savage and I have old ladies waiting on us to get back, and I won’t let any of them down.