“Why, because I don’t have a dick?”
His eyes widen. “The fuck? What’s with the potty mouth? Who taught you to speak like that? I’ll spank you if you ever speak like that again, alright?”
“I’m not a little girl anymore, Shane. It’s what you keep telling me. Then why can I not come work with you?”
“Told ya. The club ain’t for girls like ya.”
“But you have plenty of girls there.”
“They are whores, Reagan.” His voice turns harsh. “That what you wanna do for money? Spread your legs for—”
“No! Of course not!” I step back, stung by his tone.
He drags a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched. “Hey, I’m looking out for ya. Why the hell ya need money anyway? I can give you anything you want.”
“I can’t just take your money, Shane. And I... I need to get out of that house as soon as I can.”
He squints at me. “Tell me the truth. She hittin’ you again?”
“No. But she could. Any time. The drinking makes her a ticking bomb. I’ll never feel safe in that house, Shane. I just... I want to save up to get my own place eventually and for college. I started tutoring, but I’m only a freshman, so it’s a little hard. I think I can get a good scholarship, but I want—”
“Wait, you in high school already? How? Thought you start next year.”
“You probably don’t remember, but I skipped a year.”
“Yeah, right.” His lips pucker. “So what, you wanna leave? Leave the city? Leaveme?”
“What? No! Never.” I reach for his arm. “I’d never leave you. You could come with me.”
He laughs with no humor. “Where? College? Can’t do that, baby girl. My life is here. In the MC. I’m gonna run that place one day, remember?”
“You haven’t even earned your colors yet,” I point out. “It’s been months.”
A smirk curves his lips. “Someone learning the MC language now?”
I shrug, trying not to look too pleased with myself. “I’ve been...educating myself on the subject.” Colors are patches bikers wear. It means they’re official, permanent members of the club.
“That’s my girl.” He reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Don't worry. I’m getting them any day now. Prez promised. Before ya know it, that club will be mine, and you’ll be by my side like a queen.”
I twist my lips. “Okay. If you say so.”
“I do. Now,” he pulls out another package from his bag, “got ya one more thing.”
“Really?” I open it to find a swimsuit. A bikini. Red and tiny and— “Shane!” My face burns.
“What? Y’don’t like it?”
“It’s… It’s… Beautiful.” Sexy. Nothing I’d ever wear. “I just…can’t wear this.”
“Why not? You’d look perfect in it.” His eyes rake over me in a way that makes my skin tingle. “Go put it on. We’re going swimming.”
“But it’s January. It’s like fifty degrees out.”
“C’mon, we’re young, and it’s Jacksonville, baby. Look,” he points at the sky, “it’s sunny. We’ll be fine.”
“But I... I can’t swim.” And I can never pull that bikini off. The scars… I don’t want him to see me like this.
“You can’t what? Nah, we gotta change that. I’ll teach you.”