Page 6 of Running from Drac

I shouldn’t blame her for my fuck up, but for some reason, my head wants to make it all her fault. It’s easier than looking in the mirror and seeing the guilt in my own eyes.

Poppy disappears into the bathroom behind her, then reappears in a T-shirt and jeans. Her hair is down and brushed until it reaches that achieved smoothness where every strand looks like it’s made of black silk and could be woven into a royal’s clothing. She fishes out her cute retro eyeglasses from her tote bag before sticking her nose straight into her e-reader. That girl is always reading.

“I’m going to take a shower and wash off.”

Pippa throws me a condescending smile. “You should. You smell like sex.”

“Bitch.”

She shrugs. “Takes one to know one.”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she pretends to be offended by my smell as I walk by her.

I take a quick sniff of myself and grimace; I really do smell like sex. I can hear them both whispering and snickering behind me, but I do my best to ignore them. I’m the one who lashed out at them. They have every right to be angry.

“Be back in a bit.”

Once behind the door, I collapse onto the floor. The guilt of me cheating on Eddie hangs across my chest like a hundred-pound weight that’s forcing my body to the ground.

The guilt’s not even the worst part. Not remembering the guy’s name, or what happened last night, is what bothers me the most. Sure, he was hot, but I’m not the cheating type—not unless I’m heavily under the influence of something like drugs or alcohol, apparently. Plus, it takes more than a pretty face to turn my head. A guy has to make me laugh too. That’s one thing Eddie has always been good at… making me laugh.

Man, I’ll probably never see him smile or laugh again.

The shower doesn’t help at all. I think more water leaked out of my eyes than it did from the faucet above my head. I’m angry with myself, and how I acted.

Eddie may have cheated on me in the past, but two cheats don’t make a right. This is not an eye for an eye or a fuck for a fuck type of situation. We’re both adults, and yet neither one of us knows what it’s like to be completely faithful to the other.

Maybe I should take that as a sign that we’re not meant to be because there’s no way in hell he’s ever going to forgive me for this.

How the hell should I tell him? What will I even say?

Looking down at my hand, whatever hint of a smile I had instantly fades when the absence of silver around my finger is replaced by a tan etching of its silhouette against my skin. Thecute little heart engagement ring Eddie placed on my finger eight months ago is gone.

Shit, I lost my ring too?

Could this trip get any worse?

Chapter Two

Eddie

The roar of motorcycles invades the shop as a group of men in matching leather cuts cruise down the road past the building.

Fuck, I’d give my left nut to be a part of a club like that.

A powerful hand claps me on the back as my father comes to a stop next to me, following my trail of vision. “Seems like you’re getting the itch,” he says with a smile. “I got it too, Son.”

“Yeah, but you actually ride, Dad. I’m still trying to save up for my own bike. All I have is that beat-up Chevy you gave me when I got out of Juvie, and these stupid pipe dreams of me being able to ride one day.”

He blinked, but only one eye moved.

My father started going blind in his right eye about two years ago. My mother joked that it was to keep him from looking at other women, but it was because he messed with the wrong person and they poured chemicals into his eye. Just one eyethough, the bastard was gracious enough to give him at least partial vision after my father refused to pay him what he was owed. It should’ve kept him from riding, but my father gets on his bike every damn day, stating that it was a man’s natural calling to become one with the road.

That’s the kind of freedom I want. The ability to hop on a bike and not have to worry about if it’s going to break down at every stop sign. I just wish Amber were more supportive of it. Motorcycles terrify her.

“Tell you what, Eddie. How about you and me make a deal? Once you and Amber are settled down and married, I’ll help you get your own bike, and we can start a club together. I can see the twinkle in your eyes every time those damn Raging Misfits ride past here, and you and I both know I love to ride. That’s why I know this is the next step for us. You’re already working towards your dream of owning your own business, so creating a motorcycle club would be the next logical step in getting you there. I used to be in one back in the day, but after I had you, I had to get out, knowing it was the only way I could protect you and your mother. Now that you’re grown, you’re old enough to protect yourself. Hell, you can even invite your friends to join. God knows, you and those assholes are practically attached at the hip.”

Rich and Wesley pick that exact moment to walk up to us. Rich is doing his best to hide his scarred face behind a mop of shaggy brown hair, while Wesley throws a wrench up on his shoulder, standing between us like he owns the shop.