Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology: Second Edition by Elizabeth Knox (top 5 ebook reader txt) 📕

the stairs. They look happy and so much in fucking love that it makes me jealous. Something I’ve never been before. I mutter without thinking, “Why can’t I find love like that?”

“I’d tell you the truth but it would feel like a donkey kick to the balls,” Wolf informs me, then lifts his long neck. “You know who will never let you down? Mr. Samuel Adams.”

I lift my shot glass and clink to his bottle. “And Mr. Jack Daniels.” I’m quiet a moment before speaking again softly. “Sex and love are fucking complicated, aren’t they?”

“That they are, brother.”

“I’m not normally a jealous man, but when I think of Sara with someone else . . . I fucking want to lose it.”

“You got it bad, bro.”

Crash walks up. “We playin’ or what?”

“Give me a minute,” Wolf glares at him.

“Don’t get cranky with me, asshole. You’re holdin’ up the game.”

Wolf ignores him, his attention back on me.

Lucky me.

“So, that’s it. You’re just gonna let her go?”

I arc a brow. “Let her? This is the twenty-first century, brother. Women can do what the fuck they want, or hadn’t you heard?” Bitterness drips from my words, but I can’t help it or maybe I just don’t care enough to bother to hide my pain.

They exchange a look, and Crash takes the stool next to Wolf. “Depressed and annoying, there’s a new combo.”

“Thought you two had a game to get back to,” I say pointedly.

“It’ll wait.” Wolf folds his arms and leans forward on his elbows. “Brother, didn’t you learn a fucking thing from what happened with me and Crystal?”

“Can’t a man drink in peace around here?” I toss my third back.

“What the fuck crawled up his ass?” Crash asks.

“Sara’s flying home,” Wolf informs him.

Crash eyes me, lifting his chin to me. “Thought you two had something.”

“They do,” Wolf answers for me.

“So why’d he let her leave?” Crash asks Wolf, cutting me out of the conversation like I’m not even in the room.

“Cause he’s a dumbass.”

“That goes without saying. I was hoping this chick rubbed some sense off on him.”

“It’s not osmosis, Crash.”

He ignores Wolf’s smartass comment, his eyes on me. “Is the MC the problem?”

I shake my head, because I really don’t think it had anything to do with her leaving.

“You do something stupid?” he asks.

I cut him with a glare.

“This is Green we’re talking about, Crash,” Wolf replies. “Of course, he did something stupid.”

“What’d you do?” Crash asks.

“Nothing. Why’d I have to be the one that did something?”

“Cause you’re Green.”

“Fuck off, both of you.”

“Did she do something, then?” Crash asks, totally not fucking off.

“No, okay. Drop it.”

“Fine,” Wolf replies, holding his palms in the air, “but tell me one thing.”

I cock a brow and glare at him. “Just one? You promise?”

He grins. “You’re a fucking dick.”

“Love you, too, brother.”

“You did ask her to stay, didn’t you?”

I stare at my shot glass, the amber liquid glowing in the dim light of the clubhouse. My silence is answer enough.

“You dumbfuck,” he breathes.

“What stopped you?” Crash asks.

Besides my gut-wrenching fear that I’d ask and she’d leave anyway? Like hell I’m going to admit that to these two, so I stay silent.

“You had something, man. We all saw it.” Crash nudges Wolf with his elbow. “Didn’t we?”

Wolf studies me, like he’s on to me. “Yep. If ever there was a sweet little gal made for you, it’s her.”

“And we had our doubts there was anybody that’d take you on, shithead,” Crash adds, rubbing salt in my wound.

“Hit a man when he’s down, why don’t ya?” I grunt.

Wolf chuckles and lifts his chin at me. “Don’t act like you didn’t dish this shit out when it was us sittin’ where you are.”

I let out a long breath, and actually rub my hand over my chest as if that’ll stop the aching from the hole that I know will never again be filled. “Sorry about that.”

“What the fuck are you doin’?” Crash asks, a pissy tone in his voice. “You gonna just sit there?”

I glance up at him, wondering what the fuck he means.

“Man up and ask her, bro,” he snaps, pointing a finger toward the door.

Wolf looks at the clock behind the bar. “What time’s her flight leave?”

“Four.”

“You got time. She’s probably still in the TSA line. You hurry, you’ll catch her before she goes through security. ‘Cause, that happens, you’re fucked.”

“Just call her for Christ’s sake,” Crash growls.

I stare at him a moment, paralyzed by the thought of what to say.

“Dude. Come on. If you ain’t got the balls, I’m ashamed to call you brother.”

I pull out my phone and call her, no clue what to say, except one word. Stay. It rings and goes to voicemail. I disconnect, not wanting to put it in a damn message. How pathetic would that be?

“She didn’t answer?” Crash asks.

I shake my head.

“Fuck, Green, just haul your ass over there. It’s not that far,” Wolf snaps.

I nod and push away from the bar. They follow me outside and watch as I swing my leg over my bike and fire it up. I spit gravel as I peel out, their laughter following after me.

I roar up the street and through an intersection. I’ve got the right of way and the cross street has a stop sign. I barely see the blur of something in the corner of my eyes when I’m broadsided by a pickup truck. I fly up over the hood and roof. The last thing I see is that black pavement coming at me.

18

Sara

I’m waiting at the gate, thinking about Irish.

My heart aches, and I miss him already. This weekend reminded me of all the reasons we clicked so well in high school. All those feelings are still there: the companionship, the deep friendship, the attraction, maybe even stronger than before because we’re both older now and life has taught us each lessons. I realize more than ever how precious those feelings are. They don’t come along every day. Finding someone that is truly your soul mate