Page 28 of Blaze

Clark nods and confirms, “She’s clear,” and he mutters, “Good, that means so is he. I did threaten her to tell him, but she’s not very reliable.”

“How are you two talking so calmly right now? I’ve made myself the other woman!” I cry, and Trick glares my way that has me flinching, and he winces as Clark slaps his stomach.

“You’re not the other woman,” Trick says softly, “He doesn’t want her, Blair, he just feels obligated because he’s known her most of his life. He knows if he claimed her, he’d never have to fall in love and break someone like his father broke him, his wife and his brother.”

I shake my head, and Clark says, “Blair, he gave you his shirt. In our world, that is him claiming you.”

“He gave it to you? Or you put it on, and he couldn’t be fucked to take it back?” Trick demands.

I flinch again at his hard tone, which again prompts Clark to slap him, and I clear my throat to stop my chuckle.

I admit, “He put it on me when I was asleep. I woke wearing it. He’s spent three weeks basically stalking me, but the past week, nothing.”

“That’s because he’s gone for a ride after the club run, which explains why he needed to ride. He wants you, Blair, but he’s scared he’s going to hurt you,” Trick says and Clark mutters, “Instead, he tore open her abandonment issues...”

Trick curses while I flinch yet again at her words this time.

I didn’t realize I was that transparent.

“Look, I know this is easy for me to say, but please, don’t shut down. Not yet, at least. Speak to him about El, speak about everything. If he gave you his shirt, then he wants you,” Trick whispers and takes me into his arms and hugs me, and I sniffle while my heart still pounds from the fact that I thought I had an STD after my first sexual experience.

“Fight for him,” Trick says quietly, “Show him he is worth fighting for, and I promise, he’ll never hurt you by leaving you.”

“That is a lot to ask for,” I choke as my tears fall.

Clark grips my hand, and I close my eyes as confusion swims. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to fight for him—for a man, whether Trick wants to believe it or not, is taken.

Chapter 13

Blaze

I groan as I pull up outside the garage of my house, the light blue building is my pride and fucking joy because I bought it without anyone's help, especially not the club’s. I slowly climb off my bike and walk to the wrap-around porch needing a fucking bite before I head out again and let Cage know that I’m back, but I freeze seeing a figure sitting on one of the rocking chairs my brother bought for me.

“Ms. Hallows?” I question with concern, and I walk over to the woman, who gives me a kind smile, though it is tight, which heightens my concern.

I’ve been gone longer than I thought I would be, and I know Blair would think the worst, but I needed that week.

After the run, Crusher, much to his annoyance, did the route back with the van acting as Road Captain which I am really fucking grateful for. While I carried on going in the opposite way, my head a fucking mess, my phone blowing up from Elenor, who for some reason decided not to message, just call, and I’ve ignored every single one of them.

I told her I was going to be away on club business when I left so she wouldn’t blow up my phone, but it didn’t stop her. Especially yesterday and today, calling more times than I can fucking count, and I’m pissed. She’s proven ten times over that she’s not old lady material making me feel like a fucking idiot believing she’d stay outta my business. That and Halsy texted a voice message of my fuck buddy for over ten years, someone I grew up with, promising to get the where abouts of our shipments for the Chargers if they pay her triple. So now, not only have I been fucking the same woman as our enemies but she’s also a traitorous cunt.

I already knew what I was going to do before I left, I just needed to wrap my head around it when I swore I’d never make a woman my old lady who I could love, and Blair, I could fall head over fucking heels in love with her. Even though it's been a month, I’m already halfway there.

She’ll want kids, the house with the picket fence which to be fair I have that part, but she’ll want a relationship, a marriage. I needed to clear my head and see if I could give her that, and I think I can, I just need time and maybe her understanding. I also need to convince her to try because according to this delightful woman before me, she’s just as closed off as I am.

“I’m sorry to just show up,” she says as she stands. “I spoke to Cage, and he mentioned you should be back around about now, but I uh,” she sighs. “Today is Blair’s twenty-fifth birthday.”

Ah fuck.

“Where is she?” I ask without hesitation, and the woman's eyes tear up.

“At home, she refuses to celebrate after she received a card and an envelope with her name on it in the mail,” she chokes, and I nod, knowing she’s probably struggling.

“Okay, let’s go,” I murmur, and she half smiles as I hold my arm out for her and help her down the four steps.

It’s time to claim my girl, the club can wait.

***