5. Skylar

Chapter 5

Skylar

Skylar's Eighteenth Birthday

"Is the princess ready?" my older sister, Thea asks.

I smirk. I love my sister. The two of us aren't very close. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that I annoy both her and my big brother, Mattie. Most everyone thinks I'm a bitch. I get it, and in some ways, I've earned it. I can be the stereotypical mean girl. What others don't realize is that the two of them have teamed up to be this dynamic duo. There's no room for me. Not to mention, they cast huge shadows that no mere mortal could possibly live up to. So instead, I try to act like I don't care what they do. I mean, there's no competing with them. Mattie is the golden child. If you listen to my father, my big brother can do no wrong. He's even proven himself as a leader in my father's motorcycle club—Savage Brothers. Dad's forever talking about how proud he is of Mattie. I even hear it from my uncles, Dragon and Dancer.

There's talk of Mattie taking over the club one day if Dragon's boys don't straighten up. Just last night, Dad said if Dragon and the other original members stepped down today, and it came to a club vote, Mattie would be voted in by almost a unanimous vote. I'm proud of him, even happy. I've told him that, and I mean it. I doubt he realizes it though, because I tend to walk off when everyone gets into a family discussion about Mattie or Thea's accomplishments. It's a bratty thing to do, I know. The thing is, I never get the same treatment. Mom is the only one that came to my high school graduation. Dad and Mattie were caught up with shit at the club and Thea was in New York. Mom and Dad fought over it. I heard them and silently cried because it truly did hurt. Dad later apologized, admitting he forgot it. I almost wish he hadn't. It might have hurt less if he had just said there was no way he could break away from stuff the club had going on to be there. Knowing it didn't matter enough that he forgot Mom's reminder that morning cut a lot more.

Still, I let it go because I love him. I want my father to be proud of me, but I don't see it happening. Which means it gets harder to hear him brag on Mattie and Thea. The same could be said for my mother—at least to a certain extent. She and Thea have a connection that I've never been a part of. It's like they're best friends. She loves me and tells me often, but other than when we talk medicine, there's a struggle to truly connect. I keep trying and I'm adult enough to admit that some of the issue is me. I have some resentment that I can't seem to get rid of, no matter how hard I try. That's the real reason I'm pre-med. I want to make Mom proud. I mean, I'm enjoying it, but I chose this path because of her.

My mother is a doctor, one of the best in the region. She works in the emergency room in triage. They pay her big bucks to stay there and not switch to numerous other jobs that she's been offered through the years. I know there's no way I can make my dad proud as far as following his career. They don't exactly have female members in their club—unless you count twinkies and I think Dad would have a stroke if I became club candy— not that I ever would . I shake my head at that silly thought. He'd really die if he knew that what I really want is to become an old lady to one member in his club. Seriously, Dad shudders at the thought of me ending up belonging to a biker. He's even made the club mostly off limits to me. He says he would have to kill one of his brothers for touching his baby. You'd think he'd be like that with my older sister, but nope! I think he secretly hopes Thea ends up with Dragon's oldest, Dom.

I'm kind of ashamed to admit that this is one reason I throw so much attitude Mattie and Thea's way. I don't understand why Dad wants one way of life for them, and another for me. It's a moot point where my sister is concerned, anyway. There's no romance in the cards between her and Dom. It's just not happening. Thea might care about Dom, but she acts like she hates him. At the same time, Dom has his head stuck so far in Gabriella Cruz's ass that he will probably stink of it for the rest of his life.

I know I have anger issues, thanks to Dad's double standard, but that's not the reason I don't want Dom to be with my sister. He is supposed to be totally hung up on Gabby, but he flirts and looks at a lot of women. He has for years. It has made Gabby totally insecure. She tries to act like she doesn't notice, but I have seen her cry when Dom flirts with other women. Honestly, it has made her more or less— desperate. I used to like her, but I can't handle being around her now. You'd think Dom would realize what he's done to her. Nope—he's clueless. Thea has everyone convinced that she hates Dom. I'm not buying it, though. Maybe it's because of how I feel about Torin, but I can easily see the way my sister panics when Dom turns his charm on her. I'm pretty sure even Dom thinks he disgusts her. Nothing could be further from the truth, but I'm not going to give away her secrets.

I love Thea. I want the best for her, even if I am bitchy to her sometimes. I'm just upset because I'm forced to live my life in her shadow—even if it's not her fault. I want someone to see and want me . No, that's wrong. I don't want someone . I only have eyes on one man.

Torin James.

Once he found out my age, he has purposefully hurt and ignored me. I thought it might change with time, but it really hasn't. He talks to me when he must, but he treats me like a kid—not a woman he wants in his life.

That's why tonight is so important. I'm praying it will be a new beginning for us. I know I'm going to do everything in my power to make it change. I'm eighteen. He can't say I'm a kid. I'll be going to college.

Now, I'm not weak. I refuse to turn a blind eye to how he's treated me. I have a plan. Once I get him to give into the passion that the two of us can create, I plan on making him crawl. If he truly wants me, he's going to have to make the past year up to me.

"I think I'm ready," I finally answer, as I look at my sister. She's the strongest person I know. I'd love to be able to open up to her about Torin, but I know she'll just laugh at me and tell me he would never want someone like me. She's wrong, though. I know it. I just need to push him over the edge.

"Skylar, you look beautiful," Thea exclaims.

I glance back at the mirror. I think I look good. Still, thinking about Torin, and how much I want him to notice me tonight makes me panic. I'm scared it will just be another instance where he acts oblivious to me. I've given myself two years to either make Torin give into what we have between us or get over him. Although, if I have to go past tonight seeing him and knowing he's sleeping with other women and turning away from me, I think it might break me.

Tonight is that important.

"You think so?" I ask, turning my attention back to my sister. As I respond, I stare at the way my cream dress hugs my body. As a woman that is not stick thin, I'm usually scared to wear clothes that flaunt my curvy figure. Tonight, though, I want to show Torin that I'm not a little girl. I want him to see me as a woman. This dress is the first step to proving that to him. There's no way he can look at my body tonight and think I'm just a little girl.

"You do. You'll be lucky if Dad doesn't throw his cut over you and make you come back home to change, though."

"I'm not changing. This dress isn't showing anything. Besides, it's just dinner at the new steakhouse the club has opened. Only family will be there," I point out.

"Well, family and members of the club, since this technically is their grand opening," she qualifies. "Why did you insist on having it there, anyway?"

"Well, I wanted Dad, Uncle Dragon, and Dancer there. This just seemed to be the easiest answer since I knew they'd want to be at the grand opening anyway."

"You're right. I just figured you'd rather have your birthday dinner at the Gondolier. You love that fancy Italian menu, and you know it."

"Mostly I like their desserts and I'm pretty sure that you can tell—thanks to my dress—my ass can't handle that," I joke.

"Oh, please," Thea says, rolling her eyes. "I'd love to have a curvy body like yours."

"Says the chick with the killer modeling career."

"Whatever," she laughs. "If you're ready, let's get going. Everyone else is already there waiting for us."

"I could have driven myself, Thea."

"I wanted to take you. I'm dreading tonight."

"Dom?"

"I don't want to talk about him, Skylar."

"He's not worth your time, Thea. He's a boy trying to be a man. You need someone?—"

"I don't need anyone. I have Deke. You promised to forget that I was ever hung up on Dom."

"I don't talk about it with anyone but you. Besides, all I'm saying is that you could do loads better. I've only met Deke a couple of times, but Thea, you have to know, you can do much better than him, too."

"Let's change the subject," Thea grumbles and I shrug, letting it drop, and following her out of the room.

Someday, my family may listen to me. Thea should. It's clear I have better taste in men than she does. Torin is a real man. He's hurt me, but I know that if he would just give into his feelings for me, that would stop.

I just need him to admit he's mine.