UnLove Me - The Angels Warriors MC Complete Trilogy Box Set (3 page)

“Hey, man, it’s lunch. Don’t you normally go meet Monica about now?” Zippo says, coming into my work bay.

“Fuck,” I say, leaning against the car I’m working on. There’s a reminder of how much shit has changed since Eden left me nine years ago. I never planned on getting involved with Monica, but shit happened—hell, life happened.

“What are you gonna do about that, anyways?” he asks, lighting up a smoke.

I let out a breath and shake my head. “Eden’s back. What do you think?” I say, looking up at him. I knew the minute I heard her name that I’d be ending shit with Monica.

He grins. “Thought so. She’s not gonna take it well, though.” He flicks his zippo a few times, watching the flame flicker then fade. That’s about how I feel about Monica right now. Our flame burned briefly, but it fizzled out just as quickly.

“Yeah, I know, but she’s also always known how I felt about Eden. After I throttle the fuck outta her for leaving me in the first place, Eden is mine,” I tell him, walking over to the sink to wash up. I smear degreaser over my hands, knowing it won’t do much good.

“You really just gonna break it off with Monica, though? After all you two went through together?” Zippo asks, sounding somewhat shocked.

I nod. “Yes. I don’t love her. She knows that. We’ll always be connected with the shit that happened with us, but that’s it. How much you want to bet that Eden’s little sister is in her class? She probably already saw this coming. She’s not stupid,” I say. Monica was with me during my rough shit. I got stupid and got into drugs and shit. She was there for me; hell, we helped each other get sober.

At least, if she knows Eden’s back, it’ll be easier. I look at the file again. Eden’s been back a few months, which means Monica’s known and has probably been waiting for me to find out. No wonder she’s been cancelling or just not wanting to get together lately—putting off the inevitable. She knows Eden’s always owned my heart. I finish cleaning up the best I can.

I turn out and hop on my bike, revving it up. “Good luck, man!” Zippo shouts over the engine.

I make the short drive to the school where Monica teaches.  After parking, I text Monica to meet me just outside of the school for lunch, and she just sends a simple one word text back—Okay. That’s it.

She knows why I’m here; might as well get it over with. I tuck my phone into the inner pocket of my cut.

I notice young kids going outside to play, and I spot her, the little girl that looks like Eden. It’s not even so much that she looks like Eden—she carries herself with the same attitude.  She does have her sister’s blonde hair, though. I catch the end of a conversation she’s having with another little girl. “My sister makes the best lasagna ever. She says it was her mom’s recipe. She’s going to teach me to make it.”  She has to be talking about Eden. Her mom always made the best lasagna.

“Hey,” Monica says quietly when she steps outside. Her face is cold and devoid of any emotion. Normally, she has a big smile for me. Not today.

“Hey. I guess you know.”  I shove my hands in my pockets, feeling awkward. I’m not sure just what to say. Do I tell her,
sorry, my ex-girlfriend’s shown up after nine years, and I want her back?

She nods. “I always knew one day it might happen. Always hoped it wouldn’t, but here we are,” she says with a sad smile. Her shoulders droop, and her face sags.

“I’m sorry, Monica. With our shit, what we shared the last few years especially, I don’t want to hurt you. But I need her,” I say, trying to sound as gentle as I can. I never wanted to hurt her. I’ve always been up front with her, always.

A tear leaks out, and she tries to wipe it away without me noticing. “I hope she doesn’t break your heart again, Jas. I really hope not. But I don’t ever want to be someone’s second choice, so if you ever do decide to want me again, it won’t happen, no matter how much I love you,” she says, stepping back from me. She shifts her feet nervously.

“I’m sorry,” I say simply. Not much more I can do than that. I go to give her a friendly hug, but she sidesteps away from me.

“No, you really aren’t, and that’s okay. I should be used to this. You talk in your sleep more often than not,” she tells me. I rub my beard; that’s something I didn’t know. “I don’t think we should be friends either, it’ll be too hard. I need a clean break.” she says, looking down at the ground.

“I never said we couldn’t be friends, Monica. Don’t be that way. You knew this was coming. You said so yourself.”

“Doesn’t make it any easier, Jasper. I almost wish I hadn’t ever known about her, about your feelings for her. At least, then, I could pretend to have a good reason to hate you.”  She shakes her head and looks away from me. “I think you should go now, and please don’t come back. I don’t want to see you. Oh, and if you find yourself heartbroken and snorting your problems away… don’t count on me to pick you up again. I won’t be there to save you next time she runs off on you,” she says bitterly. I know she’s hurt, but damn that was brutal.

Have I done the right thing? Calling them—those bikers, Angels Warriors, is that the best way to protect Glenna? My mind races. Focusing my attention, I continue to clean up the kitchen so that when the MC shows up they aren’t walking into a pigsty. That word—God, that word; I cringe even thinking about the word that brought me so much pain. My father used that word a lot. Guess it stuck with me. I also baked a pie, cake, and some brownies. I don’t know what bikers like or eat, but, this way, I have it here.  While Glenna was in school, I made a quick run to the store to pick up bottles of pop and water. I don’t keep beer or liquor in the house. I don’t want Glenna to grow up anything like I did.

As I put the last dish away, I can hear the sound of bikes coming down the street. Glenna looks up from her homework and smiles. “It’s the Angels, Edie!” she says, smiling ear to ear. Her green eyes are sparkling with wonder.

I take a deep breath and try not to let my nerves get to me. “Whew,” I exhale and mentally prepare myself for whatever is about to walk through my door. “I’m gonna talk to them for a bit, okay? You stay in here and finish up this homework.”  I look over her math homework she has and scratch my head. That stuff looks really hard. 

She nods at me as I smile and rub her head before walking to the front door when I hear the knock. I run a quick look over myself in the mirror near the entryway, hoping I look okay. I sigh, feeling silly, like I need to worry about impressing some biker club.

Pulling in a breath, and making sure my hair is covering my right eye and most of my face, I open the door, and oh my. I’m staring into the darkest brown eyes I’ve ever seen. I feel stupid looking into his eyes. He’s younger than I thought. But he’s huge—must be at least six foot three, not bulky like I was expecting. Tattoos cover his toned arms. Hair is a beautiful shade of dark brown, cut short. The beard- I’ve never been a fan of those on a man, but it suits him. Staring at his mouth, I notice when he starts to smirk. Then recognition sets in.

“Oh my God! Jasper?” I say shocked. It can’t be. Dad told me he ran off with Roni, the school slut, the day after I gave him my virginity. He broke my heart, and never again did I let anyone in. At first, I didn’t want to believe my father, but even though he was an abusive jerk, one thing I’ve never known him to do was lie to me. So, eventually, I gave in and believed it.  When I moved back here six months ago, I was worried about running into him or seeing him. I thought he loved me; guess I thought a lot of things, though. This just got a whole lot of awkward. He looks good, though; he wears the tough biker look well, dressed in a white t-shirt, leather cut, and torn jeans.

He gives me a slight smile. “Yeah, Edie, it’s me.”  He watches me, seeming just as uneasy about our reunion as I feel.

I almost reach out to hug him, but I remember that he hurt me. Instead, I just nod and step aside to allow him in. His face falls, a frown forming. He looks hurt. He shouldn’t have that look; he’s the one that hurt me. Two other large gruff men follow behind him closely—one carrying a file under his left arm. I stare at them closely, trying to think if I know them. They look mean as hell. These aren’t the kind of men you’d want to meet in a dark alley, that’s for sure. I begin to wonder if this was such a good idea after all.

They make themselves comfortable on my tan couch. It isn’t the prettiest thing, but it was cheap, and I needed it desperately. “Do you want a snack or anything? I have some pop and water in the kitchen, too,” I say, fidgeting and trying not to seem so stiff and unnatural. It’s my Jasper—well, he used to be mine, or so I thought for a fleeting moment. I should feel comfortable with him, but those hurt feelings have resurfaced.

I walked into high school, my first day, with a grin on my face, flanked by Hilary and Lilly. Jasper, Mason, and Vinny were already there. They said they’d meet us by the first floor fountains.

My mom and I had gone on a vacation over the summer. I was shocked because, really, Dad normally put a stop to that stuff. But he was all for it. He couldn’t wait to be rid of us, actually.

I hadn’t seen Jasper since I got home the week before. I’d never admit to him that I had a crush. No, I’d never tell him that I wanted to kiss him all over. I was only a freshman, and he was a senior. I doubted he’d want a silly fourteen-year-old virgin freshmen. He should have graduated by that point, but he failed sixth grade, and his birthday came late in the school year. Mason and Vinny were the same age, just a few months difference, and they were all in same year of school. I’d often made fun of Jasper for failing, saying he did it on purpose so he could be in the same classes as his friends.  Since I was now doing my avoiding Jasper year, I really wished he hadn’t failed so I wouldn’t have to try my hardest to avoid him.

Most of the reason why I agreed with Mom about the vacation to Florida over the summer was because I saw Jasper and Roni having sex the day before we left. It hurt.  I didn’t call or talk to Jasper all summer. We got home to find the answering machine was maxed out on messages from him.

He didn’t understand why I hadn’t called him or was mad at him. By the last few messages, he realized I was away with Mom for the summer, but he couldn’t understand why I didn’t let him know beforehand.

Whatever. I wasn’t going to call him back. Hilary was the one to let me know the guys wanted us to meet them.  She was dating Mason.

I was not going to let Jasper bring me down on my first day of high school.
Be Civil, Eden,
I said repeatedly to myself in my head. I could do that.

I smiled at the guys but didn’t make eye contact with Jasper as we spotted them. “Hey, guys,” I said, smiling.

“Hey, you have fun this summer?” Jasper asked, scowling. I avoided his stare, but I could feel his eyes burning a hole through me like lasers.

I didn’t answer him. I flat out ignored him. Only Hilary and Lilly knew why; they both agreed with me that I needed to let my crush go.

I looked to Vinny and Mason and grinned. “Hey, guys, what did you do this summer?” I asked them. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Jasper fuming. Good. Both Vinny and Mason looked confused, but they answered me.

“Uh, good, normal shit,” Mason answered.

“Hung out, boring summer actually,” Vinny said. “What about you?”

I smiled. “I had a blast. Mom and I went to Florida. Talked her into going on some roller coasters. It was totally epic. Of course, though, this weekend, you need to come over and tease her, because she kept making up excuses while in the line for the ride. ‘I have to poop.’ Over and over. Pfft, I didn’t buy it. What a chicken,” I said, laughing.

The boys all laughed, but Jasper didn’t. I made the mistake of looking at him and noticed his eyes shooting daggers at me; I felt naked under his stare. I couldn’t help but notice all three of them checking me out, actually. I guess I blossomed a bit over summer. I had a nice tan from the beach, and I went up a whole cup in bra size.

“Can we talk?” he growled out.

“Nope. I, uh, gotta go. Bye.” I pulled Lilly with me, since Hilary was currently mouth fucking Mason, and we strolled down the hallway.

We didn’t get far before a hand clamped down on my arm. “I said, can we talk?” Jasper said, but not in a questioning way. He might have looked all cute in his black motorcycle t-shirt and dark jeans, but he wasn’t getting to me so easily.

My body tensed. “No, Jasper, we can’t.” I shrugged his arm off me and moved away. Lilly, biting her lip, looked like she wanted to say something.

I heard a loud bang as I walked down the hall. “He just totally trashed that locker,” Lilly said in shock, looking behind her as we moved.

“Immature child is what he is,” I said.

“Maybe you should just talk to him. He looks pissed,” Lilly said quietly.

“Nope. New year. No more Jasper,” I stated firmly.

A week passed, and I was still avoiding Jasper at all cost, to the point I even stopped sitting at the same table as him during lunch.

It pissed Mason off. Two days later, after they realized I was just sitting a few tables over, Mason came to me after school, fuming.

“What the fuck is goin’ on, Eden?” Mason asked.

I shrugged. “I just don’t want to hang around Jasper anymore. Is that a problem?”

His eyes narrowed. “Why not? You and Jasper are best friends.”

“Yeah, well, not anymore,” I said, clenching my teeth.

Mason leaned in close. “Did he do something?” he asked, his voice low.

I shook my head. “Nope, it was just me being stupid.”

Mason stepped back and let me walk away from him. Vinny had the same idea the next day.

“What is your fucking problem with Jasper, Eden?” Vinny asked, stepping beside me as I walked home from school.

“You too, huh? Well, I’m just done with that chapter in my life. That’s all,” I told him.

“Bullshit. You and Jasper, it’s always been you and Jasper. He’s not the only one you are hurting anymore, Eden,” he said quietly.

“Sure. Why don’t you run along now and find some female friends your age,” I said, snubbing him.

Vinny stopped walking, and I continued on my way home. I hated that I hurt his feelings like that, but it had to be done.

Jasper, though, after a week of my silent treatment, had had enough, because I heard a crash while I was talking to Trent. I looked up and saw that he sent a chair flying and was walking over to me.

“Talk. Now,” he spat out angrily, grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the cafeteria.

“Would you stop dragging me? Let me go,” I demand, struggling.

“Nope, no more of this shit,” he said. We made it into the hall, and he shoved me up against the lockers, moving in close with his body pressing into mine. “You’re mine, Eden,” he said savagely. Before I had a chance to say anything, he moved, fast as lightening, mashing his lips to mine, kissing me.

Oh my God, Jasper was kissing me!

When he started grinding into me, I stilled, pushing on him to move away. “What the hell was that?” I said, my voice cracking.

“That was me claiming you,” he told me, smirking.

My eyes narrowed at him. “Claiming me? I’m not yours,” I spat out.

His face shut down. “Eden, you are. This, now, is me and you. No more anyone else. You are finally mine,” he told me, not giving me any room to budge.

I gulped, nervous and scared. I didn’t understand. “Why now?”

He kissed my nose then whispered, “Because now, finally, you can be mine,”

Someone clearing their throat snaps me out of my memory. ‘Angel’ grins and sends a look to the other men in the room, almost knowing what I was just thinking about. He seems to have relaxed now. I wonder if he is remembering all the times he used to come here. We were a couple back then.  Not much has changed since then other than the furniture.

“We’ll get it,” the shorter one says, getting off the couch and walking toward the kitchen.

My body becomes still. “Uh, no, no, that’s okay. I will. Just let me...” I start and get cut off.

“Darlin’, you’re safe with us,” Jasper, well I mean, Angel says.

“I know, but my sister, she’s in the kitchen,” I whisper, afraid that two men unknown to her will scare her. I am sure they are nice enough, but they have a rough edge about them that warns you not to fuck with them.

“She’ll be in good hands. Trust me,” he says softly, trying to reassure me. “Zippo, why don’t you go sit with the kid. Reaper, you grab us some food and drinks.”

The men walk by me and into the kitchen. I nervously look around the room, not sure of what I should be doing. I fidget with my hair, trying to make use of my nervous hands.

“Have a seat and tell me about why you need our protection,” Jasper says, pointing to the chair by the couch. “Then you can tell me why the fuck I haven’t heard from you in nine years,” he says in a low, menacing voice. His dark eyes now seem even darker if that is even possible.

Taking a seat, I pull my legs up and wrap my arms around them. Before I can even say a word, I start crying. My emotions are too strong. So many thoughts and memories are tugging on my heartstrings; seeing Jasper after all this time, thinking about my father, wanting to protect my sister…

“Darlin’ it’s okay,” Jasper says, sitting on the arm of the chair and wrapping his arms around me, hugging me tightly. It feels good being in his warm arms again.  God, he smells nice.