Making the Cut (30 page)

I hopped off the bike and started towards the door when Cade pulled me back.

“You okay with them now baby?” He asked nodding towards the house.

My heart melted a little with his concern, maybe he didn’t love me but my biker was still pretty sweet to me.

“Yeah, I’m good actually. I just reacted a little crazy this morning, got so much going through my head it just threw me. I’m actually really happy for them, but where does that leave Brock? I know Amy cares about him, and he’s obviously into her.” If his behavior today was anything to go by, he definitely cared for Amy and he was pissed at the turn of events. He spent the entire day drinking and barking at anyone that dared talk to him.

Cade let out a sigh and looked up as if asking for divine intervention.

“Babe, I hate dealing with this chick shit. I know Amy has Brock tied up in knots, and I can’t have my brother unfocused. She needs to sort her shit.”

I nodded, feeling protective over both my brother and my best friend, not wanting either of them to get hurt. But I also didn’t want this fucking this up for Cade and his brother.

“This is a tangled web, you regret hitching your horse to my wagon now?” I asked half joking.

Cade grabbed my neck, eyes serious. “I thank the gods every day I wake up next to you baby, this shit will sort itself out. Nothing would make me regret putting you on the back of my bike.” He declared fiercely before kissing the bejesus out of me.

“Now lets get this over with.” Cade walked me to the door.

Amy and Ian were sitting in the kitchen, suspiciously far apart. I felt the tension in the air. They both looked up as we walked in.

“Gwen!” Amy came running over, hugging me tightly after I stepped away from Cade.

“I am so sorry you had to find out like you did Gwennie, we should have told you awhile ago but things were fucked up.” She blurted in a rush, looking upset.

“I’m sorry too Amy I should have never pushed you this morning, that was a bitch move. I was just taken by surprise, but I’m happy, if you two are happy?” I glanced between Amy and Ian who were not even peeking at each other.

I gave them a look. “Things changed? You looked pretty into each other this morning.” I teased, but neither of them cracked a smile.

Ian stood. “Look sis we’ve just got some things to sort out, which is between the two of us before you say anything.” My brother knew me too well, I had just been about to interrupt to play couples therapist.

“I’ve got something to tell you, all of you if you want to sit.” He continued.

My curiosity peaked. “Okay lets go sit out by the pool though, it’s a nice night and I hate discussing anything at the table, it brings back bad memories of the conversations Mum and Dad gave me in high school.”

Ian laughed, remembering the many interventions my parents staged during my wild child phase, some of which he experienced via speakerphone while he was on tour.

“Oh and drinks, I need a glass of wine.” I added, I had switched to water after one mimosa today and now I felt like I needed some relaxation in the form of vino.

“Got it babe.” My wonderful man was way ahead of me, pouring a glass of wine for both me and Amy.

“Did I mention I love him?” Amy said seriously.

I gave her a playful shove. “Back off sister, you are already making out with my brother, stay away from my man.”

She laughed. “Right, I don’t want to have to have another boxing match in the front yard.” She tried to make the mood light, but her glance was darting to Ian who was watching her unsmiling. His brooding was interrupted by Cade.

“Beer?” He held out a bottle towards Ian. I held my breath, it may as well be an olive branch. I watched as Ian paused, then begrudgingly took the beer.

Yes! Amy and I exchanged a no look high five, we were best friends after all and she was watching the exchange thinking the same thing as me.

Ian scowled at us. “Girls outside now.” It was disturbing how much my brother ordered us around like Cade did to me.

We sat down outside and I gazed over at my brother expectantly.

“Well??”

“Jesus Gwen, you have barely got your ass in the chair. Same as when you were little, no patience.”

I rolled my eyes. “I can’t help that I’m a naturally curious person Ian, it’s what you love most about me,” I ignored his snort. “Now spill.”

He took a tug of his beer before looking between Amy and me.

“My next tour of duty ends at the start of next year.” He began, and my heart started bounding hoping this was going where I think it was going, I nodded frantically for him to go on.

“After thinking about it, and all the shit that’s been going on, I’ve decided it will be my last tour. I’m getting too old for this shit anyway.”

I let out a squeal and leaped out of my chair to hug my big brother.

“This is so freaking awesome Ian!” I exclaimed giving him a kiss on the cheek while he chuckled.

“Seriously, soon I will be able to stop checking every news site in the morning to see what new horrors are going on in the world and worrying which one you are experiencing.” I looked him in the eyes with a tear running down my cheek.

“Come on Ace, no tears you know I hate it when you cry. Plus you should be happy about this it’s what you and Mum have been nagging me about for years.”

“I am happy you dork! I’m just emotional. Oh my god! I have to tell Mum, she will be so happy, I’ll call her right now.” I jumped up, turning to run into the house to get my cell when Ian stopped me.

He glanced at his watch. “Ace, its 430am back home right now.”

I waved my hand, “Mum won’t care, she’s an early riser.”

Ian gave me a look. “I’ll call her Gwen, just wait a second. Jesus.”

“Okay Okay.” I conceded, watching my brother stare over to Amy who hadn’t said a word since the announcement.

“Ames?” He said softly, eyes full of love it almost made me cry. She scowled at him, eyes red and angry glare marring her face.

“Fuck you Ian.” She shot, venom lacing her voice before pushing her chair back and storming back inside.

I was not expecting her to react like that. Ian obviously didn’t either. He drained his beer and pushed back his chair with so much force it toppled over as he followed Amy back in the house.

“Well shit.” I exclaimed after the door had slammed. I glanced over at Cade who was reclined back in the chair, legs straight, crossed over each other. He even sat like a fricking alpha male. I skipped over to him, jumping on his lap so I was straddling him.

“How cool is that? Ian coming home, aside from Amy’s reaction, this is awesome!” I kissed Cade excitedly.

“Great news babe. Happy my girl is going to have one less worry on her hands.” He deepened our kiss and all other thoughts left my mind.

“Thanks for letting me leave early Gwen you rock!” Rosie stated as she checked her cleavage in the store mirror.

“It’s nothing, I’m not going to twat block you if the guy is as hot as you say he is.”

Amy turned, a serious look on her face. “Oh he is, like seriously you could cast him in marble and create a piece of art out of this man.” She got a dreamy look on her face and I laughed.

“Go!” I ordered, “And have wild sex with this guy.” Rosie ran up and kissed my cheek.

“Don’t worry I intend to and don’t tell my brother I’m on a date. Now he’s the ultimate twat blocker, I couldn’t lose my virginity until I was 19 cause he had the guys beat up anyone who freaking kissed me.” She ranted angrily before replacing her scowl with a smile. “Got to go my Greek God is waiting!” She sang before all but skipping out the door, which was no mean feat in six inch heels. I smiled, wondering if she was serial dating to get Luke out of her mind, I scolded myself, I mustn’t meddle. Oh who was I kidding? Of course I’m going to, but first I’d see how her date goes.

I busied myself with tidying the store, it had been a long busy day and it was still an hour till close, I wanted to get out of here ASAP. And also with Dwayne sitting outside on his bike, like he had been for the past three hours I doubted he did either.

It had been a crazy week. Ian had left two days ago, which sucked, I hated saying goodbye but it was so good knowing I wouldn’t be doing it for much longer. The last days of his stay had been relatively uneventful, Amy was still refusing to talk to him after some fight they had which she wouldn’t tell me about. It was getting annoying her reluctance to tell me anything when I was dying to know what was going on. We were best friends, she was morally obligated to tell me everything. Ian was the same, telling me it was between him and Amy no one else.

Apart from that tension, we enjoyed hanging out, almost like old times. He was even making an effort with Cade, who wasn’t around much but they still got along when they were together. I was happy whether it was for my sake or not I was glad. Things between them got even less tense on Ian’s last night. We were about to go to Valentines to dinner, with Amy even agreeing (grudgingly) to come. When Cade had announced he ‘had to have a word’ with Ian and instructed us to go and drink cocktails before dinner. This had made me immensely curious and slightly pissed at being ordered around but Cade had given me one of his no nonsense stares. Amy and I had spent two cosmos discussing what they could have been talking about before they arrived, Cade (gasp) smiling, which was a rare occurrence for my hard ass biker. I had grilled him later that night what they were talking about but he refused to tell me, only saying, “It was guy shit babe, nothing for you to worry about.”

No matter how much I tried to persuade him, he said no more. Which had me sulking because I was even more curious. The next morning, I had gotten up to see Ian leaving Amy’s room. He gave me a cheeky grin and a shrug when I looked at him questioningly. All I knew was Amy emerged, looking grim and refusing to come to the airport. Ian instructed me to wait in the car, while they said their goodbyes, which he refused to tell me what was going on during the car ride to the airport. No one was telling me anything around here! I turned into a blubbering mess at the airport like usual.

“No more crying Ace, won’t be much longer and you will be wishing you could drop me off at the airport.” He joked and my tears stopped and a huge grin erupted on my face.

“You’re moving to the States?” I squealed.

“Nothings set in stone just yet, but me and some of the boys are planning on opening a security business in LA.” He explained, grinning too.

I jumped up and down, slightly dramatic. “LA is only two hours away, this is awesome!”

“Alright Ace, calm the theatrics people are staring. Oh and, you’ve done okay with Cade, he’s not a total asshole. I’ll be worrying about you a lot less knowing your with him.” He ground this out as if it was physically painful to admit and I smirked at him.

He gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Got a flight to catch, see you in no time Gwen. Love you.” He turned to the boarding gate with his duffel thrown over his shoulder.

“Love you too! Be careful, don’t get shot.” I ordered him, a few people gave me sideways glances. Ian turned and gave me a salute before disappearing around the corner.

As soon as I had arrived home from the airport, red eyed from shedding a couple of tears on the way home, Cade had been waiting on his bike. The men were all with him. He had explained the situation with the Spider’s had gotten worse and he was going to have a man on me at all times. I argued this, finding it hard to swallow that I would have someone following me all the time, it was creepy.

“Don’t fucking argue about this Gwen. You don’t have any say. You think I’m going to even let there be a slight chance of you being in danger? I’m not having anything ugly ever touch you again. When I’m not with you, you have one of the boys with you. No more discussion.”

I had caved, obviously. It worried me a lot that Cade was putting a guy on me, I wasn’t worried for myself, I knew the boys would take care of me, but that meant Cade was in a lot of danger, I didn’t like that at all. He needed to speed this process of getting the club clean.

I had hardly seen him during the next few days, he’d crawl into bed with me late in the night. He would make love to me then fall asleep with his arms tight around me, not releasing me until the morning, when he made love to me again before leaving. It was not a fun situation, I missed him, and worried about him. The cling of the bell brought me back to the present. I smiled as a pretty young girl walked in.

“Hi sweetie, how’s it going?” I called to her from the counter.

She didn’t reply, her face blank as she approached me, setting a gift bag in front of me.

“This is from Rico.” Was all she said before turning to leave.

“Wait!” I called to her, rounding the counter, grabbing the bag.

“I think you have the wrong person, I have no idea who Rico is.” I held the bag out to her.

“You Gwen?” She asked and I nodded. “Its for you.” She turned and walked out.

“That’s weird.” I said to myself. But never one to not open a present, I took the wrapped box and set it on the counter. I ripped open the box and screamed.