Page 10 of Saint (Soulless Outlaws Motorcycle Club #1)

Ophelia

After we stood, I watched a man who wasn’t as big as Saint but wasn’t a slouch either slowly walk over to where Soraya stood and knelt.

The big man said, “Think I’m going to call you Peaches.”

But it was the shocked open mouths that had me looking up at Saint and realizing that he felt that way, too.

What on earth?

Soraya’s brows scrunched, then she asked, “Why’s that?”

“Cause when you laugh, your cheeks get pink like peaches.”

Soraya giggled.

And after the past seven years, there was nothing I would ever do to stop anyone from making her giggle and smile.

Even though I didn’t know a single thing about this man.

My little girl’s happiness was totally worth it.

Saint

After I picked my jaw up off the floor, literally, I watched as Kettle stood, then turned and walked away.

Oh, words were about to be shared about the man who never talked.

But he just talked to one little girl.

I gestured for the two of them to head to the door, and at my side, we walked out of the clubhouse.

Once she got Soraya buckled in, I went with my gut and didn’t question what I was about to do.

I leaned in and said, “I’d like some more of those brownies. Can I still have them?”

She nodded and then giggled.

I winked at her and said, “Sleep tight, princess.”

She smiled, then yawned.

After I caught Ophelia’s eyes, who gifted me with that beautiful smile of hers, I closed the door, and then I said, “Let me take you out to dinner.”

She looked at Soraya, then back up at me, and sighed, “I can’t.”

I moved forward a few steps, placed my hand atop her car, and asked, “Why not?”

She sighed, then looked around us, and then back up into my eyes, and said, “I just got out of a seven-year-long relationship.”

I nodded, “I get that. You wanting to protect yourself. But I know that I’m not the only one who’s feeling this.”

She bit her bottom lip, and man, but I would love to tug at that lip with my teeth.

But now was not that time.

Not when I didn’t have the right.

And not in front of her little girl.

“I made a promise that I was going to put Soraya first after we left. I plan to keep that promise. And yes, I feel it, too. But how would that look? I get out of one relationship, not giving myself time to heal, and jump into another one?”

I was silent because I felt she wasn’t done talking.

She asked, “Does that make sense?

I nodded, then shared, “Something I’ve learned. As long as something makes sense to you, then it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”

She sighed, “Okay, let me think about it. Okay?”

I nodded, “You got it. But do me a solid. Yeah?”

She tilted her head to the side and asked, “And that is?”

“Give me your number,” I told her.

Then she smiled, and as I put her number in, I texted her so she would have mine.

Me – You're gorgeous.

Ophelia – You’re blind.

I chuckled.

I had perfect fucking vision.

It was as I watched them drive out of the clubhouse parking lot that I felt a sharp pang in my chest.

They weren’t supposed to leave.

I was supposed to be in that car.

Getting them to where they needed to go.

Being the first line of defense.

But that time would come.

Oh yes, it surely would come.

It wasn’t until I could no longer see their taillights that I headed back inside.

And for the next hour or so, I fielded questions left and fucking right from all of them.

That night, as I lay in bed in my house that had finally been finished, I closed my eyes, and all I could see was Ophelia in my kitchen, Soraya at her side, making unicorn brownies.

Something I would be asking for on every birthday.

I saw Ophelia curled up on my couch with a book in her hands while the fire blazed on.

I saw a swing in the backyard where Soraya spent most of her time.

Mostly, I just saw them in my life.

And what a life that would be.

Just before I fell asleep that night, my phone chimed with a text.

I flipped it open and smiled when I saw Ophelia’s name. I felt a smile form on my face.

Something I only seemed to do when it came to them.

Ophelia – If you were being serious, I’m going with my gut. I’m off for the next two days. So, whatever works for you.

The moment I read her text, I called Nuke.

He answered shortly thereafter and said, “Saint?”

“Need the next two days off,” I told him.

I heard him blow out a breath, which was a sign that he had a cigarette in his mouth.

He asked, “Care to explain?”

I smiled, “Taking Ophelia out on a date.”

One. Two. Three...

“You're doin’ what now?” he asked.

I explained myself to him again.

“When I woke up this morning, that was the very last thing I thought would ever come out of your mouth. Hell, if I’m bein’ serious, I never thought I would hear those words. Least of all comin’ from you.” He said.

I sighed, “Yeah, well. The right one comes along... You know it. You feel it. You do everything in your power to keep it.”

“Preach, brother. Alright. See you in a few days.” He said, and then we hung up.

Then I texted Ophelia.

Me – Pick you up tomorrow at 6.

Then I fell asleep for the first time in my life with a fuckin’ smile on my face.

Ophelia

Saint – Pick you up tomorrow at 6.

I read that text.

I read it again.

And then I read it again.

Then I was throwing the covers off and ransacking my closet.

What in the world was I going to wear?

When I had told Lilly about everything and the things that were said, she had encouraged me to say yes to dinner.

Telling me that she knew I wasn’t the type of person who would lay blame on Saint due to rat bastard’s actions.

And she was right.

She had also informed me that men like Saint... they were once in a lifetime.

She knew, because she had found her Harold.

I had also talked to Soraya about it.

She had been adamant about letting Saint take me out to dinner.

But only if he agreed to watch her favorite movie.

I couldn’t wait to see his reaction.

I had just pulled out a pair of jeans and a pretty white one-shoulder sweater and smiled.

That would definitely work.

What didn’t work was the mess of clothes in my room I had gone through.

It looked like Macy’s at Christmas time in here.

I would clean it up tomorrow.

Then I tiptoed out of my room and into Soraya’s, seeing her hair flaring all around her. I smiled, then tiptoed back to my room, climbed back underneath the covers, and closed my eyes.

And for the first time in a really long time, I fell asleep with a smile on my face and one thought... hope.