Alex, Carlos, and Oscar are there to celebrate with him along with Alex’s new girlfriend. She kisses Crash on the cheek, he nods, and then she goes back to Alex. I have met her once and she seems really sweet.
Valarie moves to him, trying to kiss him. My heart freezes in my chest waiting to see what he does next.
Biting my thumbnail, I frown when I see Crash stepping away from her, which causes her hands to fall back at her sides. He looks angry at her and she looks pissed, but also embarrassed. Crash says something to her, and it does not look good, before he steps away from her and rejoins his brothers.
Surely, he would want a kiss from his girlfriend after he won the race— it is what they used to do. Hell, they would go and have very loud sex, which I hated, so I left because I never wanted to listen to that.
Alex’s words spin in my head:It is not what it seems. Hang in there, Bumblebee.
What did he mean? It is not what it seems. Fudge. My head hurts.
Are they together or not? Does this have something to do with the crew who tried to hurt me, and apparently beat up Val? Is this a game to her, and she needs Crash to help her crew out?
I know that the Rugged Skulls MC are not into the dark side of the law, but they are not squeaky clean, either. They do what needs to be done; I have heard the rumors.
Is Crash hurting me for my own protection? He did say that the club would handle the people who tried to run me off the road, rather than my cousin. Hell.
I sit on one of the loungers and bury my head in my hands. So many scenarios run through my head. So many reasons why Crash would do this. Why couldn’t he let me in, talk to me, and tell me what they have planned, to save me from this freaking pain?
Club business staying inside the club is a thing to keep the members safe, and thanks to TV shows and books, I get how a club works, but he could have given me a heads up. This pain could have been avoided if that is what is going on.
Or, I am just searching for ways to forgive him.
Maybe.
I need to sleep; my body feels heavy, and my head foggy. Reaching across the floor, I pull my blanket over me and curl up, letting the sounds around me soothe me into a slumber.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CRASH
“Oh, fuck, someone turn that drill off,” I moan, rolling over to avoid the sun blazing through my open blinds.
What the hell happened last night? I sling my legs over the side of the bed, my feet hitting the cool wooden flooring of my room. My head is cupped in my hands, my elbows digging into my bare knees.
Prying one eye open, I see I am only in my black boxer briefs with my dick rock hard. In a panic, I look at my bed behind me and see no one there. Oh, thank fuck.
Walking into my bathroom, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I take a leak, and wash my hands.
Leaning my hands on the vanity, I look at myself in the mirror and wince. My hair is sticking up in all directions, and my eyes are bloodshot, which is no doubt from the amount of alcohol I drank last night.
I tried to drown out the image of Stevie heartbroken in my head. It played on a loop over and over again. I squeeze my eyes shut when I remember a part of last night where I wanted toleave and go find her. To beg her for forgiveness for the shit that I pulled, but the guys stopped me.
Stumbling back into my room, I pull open a drawer and pull out a pair of grey sweatpants, and clean boxer briefs. Once I am dressed, I walk to the kitchen in search of some food and coffee.
I need some carbs to soak up this alcohol from last night.
Stepping into the room, I see the prospect sleeping on top of the bar. Flame is across the pool table with some chick sleeping across his legs.
Heels sound from behind me, and I grin seeing Dorian walking my way.
“A good night?” I ask.
“Always,” she says with a wink. “Tell Forge I had to get home; I have some clients I need to email.”
“Will do.” I salute her, the she walks away.
Going into the kitchen, I dig through the refrigerator for some frozen burritos. Then pop one in the microwave. Making my coffee while that heats, I can’t stop thinking about the shit that went down last night.