Fighting to Stay by Kasey Millstead Read Free Book Online Page B

says.
    Roam.
    His name is Roam?
    Roam .
    Christ, even his name is sexy and mysterious.  Roam .
    “Doin’ alright, darlin’.”  He looks to me again.  “A word?”  He asks.
    Before I can tell him to go to hell, his cell rings.  He looks at the screen and then at me.  “Sorry, sugar.  Gotta take this,” he says apologetically.
    Pfft.  Don’t be sorry.   I don’t want to talk to him anyways.
    He puts the phone to his ear and barks, “Roam,” as he’s walking away.
    “You slept with Roam… Twice?   Damn that man in fine! ”
    “He’s fine, but he’s an ass,” I tell her.
    “Roam is…” She pauses for a minute before continuing.  “Lace, I’ve never known Roam to be in a relationship.  Don’t get attached, okay?”
    My jaw drops.  “Jenn, did you not here me when I said he was an ass?  Did you not hear me when I told you that he told me our little bathroom romp was a mistake?  You don’t have to worry about me getting attached to Roam , trust me!”
    “I would trust you, Lace, but I know you.  I know he’s under your skin.  Whether you want to admit it, or not, he’s gotten to you. ”
    “That’s not true,” I defend myself.
    “Babe, it is true.  Why do you think you all of a sudden you can’t stand him?”  She doesn’t give me a chance to answer before she answers for me.  “Because he hurt your feelings in that bathroom.  If you weren’t getting attached, there’d be no feelings involved to hurt.”
    Damn I hate it when she makes sense.
    “There’s no point in me liking him, Jenn.  Up until five seconds ago, I didn’t even know his name, and he made it clear that he had made a mistake.  Not to mention the fact that he’s obviously moved on.”
    “Christa’s a club whore, Lace.  Most of the guys have had a turn with her,” Jenn tells me gently.
    “Well he didn’t much look like he regretted fucking her, like he did me,” I snap.
    She raises her eyebrows at me.  “Sorry,” I mumble.
    “It’s cool.  Just be careful.  I don’t want to see you get hurt, and I don’t want you to leave again.  I like having you here.”
    I wrap my arms around her and we sit like that for a while until Jenn pulls away and sits upright, looking intently towards the gate.  That’s when I hear the rumble of the Harley pipes.
    Thirty seconds later the gate swings open and five bikes ride in.  Jenn jumps up and races over to one of them, flinging her arms around Switch.  I sit and watch as a pang of jealousy shoots though my body. 
    I turn away and my eyes flit past the gate.  That’s when I see the shiny black SUV crawling down the road.  I narrow my eyes and watch as they come to a stop.  I can’t see inside the vehicle because the windows are so dark.  For a few seconds, nothing happens.  Then the windows roll down and the sounds of automatic weapons being discharged fills the air.  I hear the tires screech as I jump off the picnic table and run for cover, screaming.  Bits of dirt and grass kick up from the ground and my ears are filled with the sound of bullets flying.  I run down towards the open land behind the clubhouse and fling myself down on the ground behind a pile of scrap metal.  In the near distance, I hear something explode and the air is filled with a thick cloud of smoke.  Bits of debris rain down all around me and I curl myself into a ball.  I’m shaking so hard, I can barely link my fingers together around my knees to hold myself together.  I’ve never been so scared in all my life.  Not even when my dad was at his worst, was I ever this petrified.  All my instincts urge me to get up and run away as fast as I fucking can, but I know that would be suicide – I can still hear bullets flying.
    Oh my god.  I hope Jenn is okay .  I don’t know where she is.  I didn’t see her when I ran for cover.  I hope she’s safe.
    Suddenly, the gunfire stops and everything is eerily quiet for a split second.  Then, people start yelling.