24. Lyla

Hopping off Sage's bike brings the air back to my lungs. It's impossible to breathe around him when every inhale has me wanting more. And it's something Kane's clearly noticed given what he did back at the clubhouse just now.

I know how my dad works. He invited that random girl to hang out with Sage to try and prove a point to me. He wanted to irritate me and remind me exactly how Sage is with women.

As if I don't already know.

I've heard the stories. And yes, it bothers me. But I'm the one who walked away from him. I didn't expect him to sit around and not have a life just because I was gone.

I'm sure Kane hoped Sage would take him up on his offer. That if he dangled enough temptation in front of him it would keep him from touching me. But that would require Sage to be interested in doing it.

He didn't. And the reason I know that isn't because I didn't smell a hint of her on him as I rode on the back of his motorcycle. It's because I know him. I feel the truth in my bones.

Sage won't do that.

He's resisting us right now, just like he did when we were younger. But he's not a pathetic waste of space like my father. And it doesn't matter what Sage did with however many women while I was gone. When we're around each other, we're destiny.

He's mine and I'm his.

"That was interesting." I walk up the steps ahead of him, glancing over my shoulder.

"Everything go okay with Kane?"

"I guess." I shrug. "He wanted to make sure you were keeping your paws off me."

"My paws?"

"Paws, claws. Same difference." I turn to face ahead again when his amusement forces a smile to my cheeks.

"You're ridiculous."

"And you love it."

He doesn't respond to that, but he doesn't argue either, so I take the little win.

Pausing at the top of the steps, there's not much space for him to maneuver his key to the door, which forces his body to press against my back.

He still smells like gasoline from the motorcycle ride. And his body heat has my skin tingling.

Sage unlocks the door and pushes it open.

I want to spin in his arms and grab him—remember how it feels to actually trust someone. But laughter from inside Sage's apartment has me stepping forward instead.

Mason's leaning against the island, sipping a beer. And a dark-haired girl is propped up on the counter, laughing at whatever he just said. It takes me a moment to place her, and my heart might as well stop in my chest once I do.

"Reed?"

Her brown eyes flit in my direction. "Lyla."

Sage's sister hops off the counter and runs over to me, wrapping me in a big hug. Reed, Ellie, and I were inseparable, and the fact that there are only two of us now has my heart tightening in my chest.

"I can't believe you're here." She pulls back, smiling at me. "It's been so long."

"Too long," I agree. "How did you even know that I was back?"

Reed glances over at Sage, who's walking into the kitchen. "Someone still can't help but call his sister every time he needs to vent."

"And someone always makes me regret that." Sage plants his hands on the counter, watching us.

Reed shakes her head. She's wearing a bright red sweater that brings out the rosy tinge on her cheeks. It's short, so even with her high-waisted acid-wash jeans, it shows off a sliver of her stomach.

"My brother loves me." She winks.

"He does." Glancing over at Sage, I smile when he smirks at Reed's comment.

If there's one person who brings out Sage's soft side, it's his sister. He was the one who looked out for her after their mom died when their dad was too busy with the club. I still remember having to explain the different types of tampons to him when his dad sent him to the store the first time Reed got her period.

Embarrassing or not, Sage would do anything for her.

"So, how long are you staying?" I hook my arm through Reed's, and we make our way into the kitchen.

"A couple of days." She shrugs. "I have to get back to work at some point."

"Where are you working?" And how horrible of a friend am I that I have no idea?

Sage wasn't the only person I left behind when I skipped town. I buried this part of my life and never looked back. Sage, Reed, the club. They all reminded me of someone I wasn't anymore. They reminded me of the loss of my sister.

It was selfish but necessary.

"I write for an online column. Trends, politics, whatever they need. It keeps it interesting, and I get to travel a lot, depending on where the story takes me. But I'm based out of San Francisco."

"That's incredible." I squeeze Reed's hand, remembering her writing for the school paper. "You did it."

"Hard to believe, right?" Her eyebrows pinch.

"Not at all. You're amazing."

She forces a smile, but there's the slightest disbelief in her gaze. Another reminder of how much the people I knew have changed. Reed was always the confident one of the group, believing she could do anything. But she shrinks with my compliment. It's odd given she's living her dream and has clearly proven herself.

"I'm decent at it." She bites her lip.

"Don't let her lie to you." Sage leans against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. "Reed is hot shit up there. She's just too shy to admit it."

"Reed, shy?" I hitch an eyebrow.

Sage smirks, his dark gaze focusing on me. "Compared to present company."

Shy isn't a word that's often used to describe me. Willful. Headstrong. Difficult. I blame it on the fact that I'm the MC president's daughter, so being born with a spine was a necessity.

"Be nice." Reed wraps her arm through mine, glaring at her brother.

Sage shrugs. "Just pointing out facts."

"Well, thank you for making the trip." I turn to Reed, ignoring Sage and the attention he won't take off me.

I'm not sure if it's because of last night, or what happened in the hallway at the clubhouse, but the magnetic pull in the room is distracting.

"I wouldn't miss it." Reed squeezes my arm. "I'm still trying to process that you're actually here. It's been forever."

"Eight years."

Her eyes gloss over, and the lump in my throat closes off my air. It's easy to not miss people when you don't think about them. And now I'm forced to face every buried feeling; it's overwhelming.

"Well, you're back now." She smiles.

"I am." I take a deep breath.

Sage steps forward, probably sensing his sister and I are on the verge of crying.

"You packed light." He glances at her single bag sitting on the counter.

Reed squeezes my arm once more before turning to her brother. "How high maintenance do you think I am? I said I'm only staying a couple of days."

He shrugs.

"And good thing. Apparently, it's a full house around here."

"Crap." Sage wipes his palm down his face. "Lyla's in the guest room."

"Reed can crash in my room." Mason winks at her.

Sage shoots Mason a glare that burns hot enough to melt iron. "Keep your hands off my fucking sister."

Mason grins. "Just kidding. Chill."

But as Mason takes a sip of his beer and looks Reed over, it doesn't seem like he's joking at all.

"I'm twenty-six, Sage. I don't need you scaring guys off for me." Reed shoves his arm. "Besides, I have a boyfriend."

"An asshole boyfriend." Sage's jaw tenses. "You haven't left that prick yet?"

"Carter isn't a prick." She glares.

"He forgot your birthday."

"Dick move." Mason shakes his head.

Sage once more glares at Mason, even if they seem to be in agreement.

"We aren't talking about Carter," Reed says, smoothing her sleeves as she does.

"Why not? He's not here."

"He's working."

Sage narrows his eyes. "He's always working. And always too busy for you."

"It's fine."

Sage opens his mouth to argue, and Reed holds up her hand. "Just drop it."

"She can crash in my room." I change the subject. "It's a big bed if you don't mind sharing."

What started as a playful conversation turned the moment Carter was brought up. Tension swells in the room as Sage and Reed stare each other down, each seemingly waiting for the other to break.

"Thanks." Reed breaks her staring contest with Sage to look at me. "You sure you don't mind? I can get a hotel room."

"Don't be ridiculous. We have catching up to do, right?"

She smiles.

"What better way?"

Having Reed here feels like home. If sharing a room means I get to spend more time with her these next few days, I'll take it.

"So what's everyone up to tonight?" Reed asks. "We should grab drinks to celebrate the group getting back together."

"You make us sound like a lame-ass boy band." Sage sighs.

"Speaking of bands…" I grin. "Fel told me your buddies are in town. That's why you were at the shop today, right? Making plans for later maybe?"

"No." Sage shakes his head, already shooting me down.

"Your buddies?" Reed asks.

"Enemy Muse."

Reed's eyes widen as she grabs Sage's arm. "You're kidding."

"Fel said the guys are going out with them tonight."

"Well, Fel is wrong." Sage shakes his head. "I told them I can't make it."

"We have to go." Reed ignores Sage's irritation. "It would be ridiculous not to."

I cross my arms on the counter, leaning forward. "I don't know… I've been locked in here since I got back to town. I'm beginning to think Sage doesn't know how to have a little fun anymore."

Mason bursts out laughing, and I'm sure it's because he's more familiar with how Sage was before I got to town. While now, he's pretending he doesn't know how to let loose.

"She just called you boring." Mason nudges Sage's arm with his elbow, still laughing.

But Sage doesn't take his eyes off me. "You want to have a little fun, Lyla?"

"Maybe." Raking my teeth over my bottom lip, his gaze drops to my mouth.

He watches as I wet my lips and press them together. My eyes narrow, and I issue him a challenge, just like I used to do back when we were younger. Just to see how far I can push him.

The cold war is melting, and he knows it.

Electricity pulses.

Even when it dulls, it's still there. And right now, it might as well be sparking all over the room. I'm pushing just to see if he's going to shut me down or give in like he knows he can't help himself.

"All right." He smirks, and it feels a little like a challenge. "We can go."

"Seriously?" I didn't actually expect him to cave, even if it was fun trying to break him.

Sage pulled me out of so many biker parties in my teens, part of me thought he'd do the same.

"Seriously, butterfly."

I swear every time he calls me that he makes the one on my skin flutter between my legs.

"Rock stars." Reed claps, snapping the tension between me and Sage and pulling our attention. "Let's get dressed then. And I need to do something about my hair and makeup."

She grabs my arm, pulling me behind her down the hallway, but I can't help glancing back at Sage, only to find him still watching me.

"Don't worry." I wink. "I'll wear something bright. God forbid you lose me in the madness."

And when I run my finger over the leather choker around my neck before disappearing into my bedroom, I get exactly what I want.

Sage's full attention.