CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Sadie

There is something rewarding about looking after Louis and tutoring Clover at the same time. I thought coming back to the club would be awkward as hell, but Clover is so happy to have me here. To be honest, I'm grateful she accepted me back into her life after the way I treated her. But if there is one thing to be said about Clover, it's that she's stronger than even she knows.

I've just put Louis down for the night into his bassinet while South and Ingrid are over with Bella. Clover watches me as I check his swaddling and gently stroke his cheek. I must admit, spending time with the newborn makes me wonder what life could be like with a baby.

Clover steps up beside me, speaking calmly, "You'll be a great mom one day."

Weakly smiling, my stomach knots. "That's a looong way away. I am working too hard on too many things to think about babies right now."

Clover chuckles. "You're a bit of a workaholic, aren't you?"

I raise my brow, thinking about that. "Maybe… or maybe it's more of a distraction technique. Either way, I like to keep busy."

Clover exhales as we walk out of South and Ingrid's room, holding the baby monitor in my hand. "Hey… I, um… just want to say thank you for coming back. I can only imagine what crap my brother said to you to make you not want to be here. But I feel like I learn more with you than even my teachers at school can teach me. So thank you for not giving up like everyone else does."

My shoulders slump, and I grab her shoulders, then look into her eyes. "No one is giving up on you, Clover, especially not me. I had a moment of panic, and that's on me. It had absolutely nothing to do with you and everything to do with my past. I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye and didn't turn up when I was supposed to. That was unprofessional, and it won't happen again. I promise. I will always be here for you."

Clover's eyes water, but she blinks her tears away before they fall. "You wanna go see what the others are up to?"

"Yeah," I reply, hoping she doesn't mean her brother.

We walk out into the clubroom, and everyone is sitting around casually chatting. Even though I don't mean to, my eyes instinctively search for Maverick, but I can't see him anywhere. It equally relaxes me and, at the same time, makes me curious as to where he is.

We continue moving to a table where Rhyan, Ellie, and Haven are already seated. The three women look up at Clover and me as we sit, each greeting us.

"Hey, you two. Welcome back, Sadie. It's nice to see your pretty face around here again," Ellie states kindly.

I can't help but smile. "Thanks, Ellie. It's nice to be back. I know I wasn't gone long, but everyone is so nice. Not what I was expecting."

Haven bumps her shoulder into mine. "I think the problem is, Sadie, you had us all pegged wrong. Not everyone in the club is an asshole. Well, I mean… Alpha can be sometimes, but I quite enjoy that side of him, so…"

The girls all chuckle, and I weakly smile before turning to Clover. "I'm glad Ingrid called and talked some sense into me. After being here for the last couple of hours and spending time with Clover again, it's not even about the money. I just want to do right by you, Clo."

Clover leans in, hugging me, and I embrace her back. "That means a lot to me, Sadie. You are really helping me, and you're like a real friend too. I was so sad when you left."

I pull back from her, taking her hand in mine. "It won't happen again. And if for some reason I do have to leave, I won't do it without telling you goodbye. I promise."

Clover nods. "Deal."

Haven smiles then signals to the bar. "Navy, can we get some drinks for Sadie, Ellie, and me, please?"

"Sure thing," Navy calls back.

Widening my eyes, I scratch my head. "Maybe just a small one. I have to drive home."

Haven smirks. "So Sadie, we hardly know anything about you. Tell us all the goss."

My anxiety spikes, and my muscles tense. "What do you wanna know?"

Rhyan giggles. "Who was the first boy you kissed?"

Everyone laughs, and I relax.

Okay, they mean general girl talk.

I can do this!

Rolling my eyes, I let out a groan. "That's something I don't want to remember."

Haven lets out a loud laugh. "Oh, now you really have to tell us."

Grinning, I sit forward. Navy brings over our drinks, and then I pick up my beer, taking a long sip. The girls snicker.

I exhale while remembering. "His name was Spencer."

The girls all burst out laughing. "No wonder. I can already see where this is going," Haven adds.

"He was the nerdiest guy in school. We're talking glasses, suspenders, braces, the whole nine yards."

Rhyan smirks. "Somehow, I can totally see you going for the nerdy type."

Haven raises her brow. "Don't think nerds are her type anymore, though. Right?"

My stomach twists, my mind instantly thinking of Maverick, and I try to shake him from my thoughts so I can continue with the story. "Anyway, so we were in the science lab after school, working on a joint project, and he just came right out confessing his undying love for me. I'd never had a boyfriend, been kissed, or even had many interactions with the opposite sex in that kind of way up till then. I never thought anyone would ever be into me, so I just went for it."

"Couple of teenagers making out in the science lab. Was it explosive?" Ellie quips.

We all chuckle, and I groan, shaking my head. "Fuck no. He was a smacker, you know, like trying to chomp my face off. He obviously had never kissed anyone before, so he didn't know what he was doing as much as I didn't either, so it was all slobber and teeth. Fucking terrible! But the worst part was when his teeth clamped down on my bottom lip, and his braces cut into my skin, tearing my lip open."

The girls all gasp with horrified expressions on their faces.

"You're kidding?" Rhyan asks.

"Blood everywhere. Worse than that, the poor kid was scared of blood. He pulled back when he tasted the blood, saw it, and then proceeded to pass out, knocking our work on the floor, which contained sulfuric acid. I had to pour baking soda on the acid to stop it from burning a hole in the floor. Then I had to find someone to not only help with Spencer, who was still out cold, but also with the chemical spill."

The girls stare at me wide-eyed except for Haven, who begins a slow clap with a bright smile. "That was fucking epic. I think I understand you a little better now, Sadie."

"Oh, the story isn't over yet." I let out a small laugh.

"There's more?" Clover laughs.

"Sadly. So I went home with this bruised and bloody lip and also a suspension from school. My little brother saw my face and was so enraged at what Spencer had done to my lip he forced it out of me who Spencer was, and then he went into school the next day and beat the living shit out of him. Needless to say, my brother got expelled for breaking Spencer's nose. That is the full story."

"Wow, remind me never to mess with your brother," Clover states.

A wave of anxiety ripples through me, thinking of Wes, wondering how he's doing right now. I just hope he is coping. I wish I could talk to him. Tell him everything that's going on in my life.

Fuck, I wish I could just see him.

I miss him so damn much.

"You okay, Sadie? You look sad all of a sudden?" Clover asks, reaching out for my arm.

Snapping me from my thoughts, I shake my head and plaster a fake smile. "Sorry, beer does weird things to my head. So tell me, Haven, who was your first kiss?"

Haven bursts out laughing. "Oh, now this is a fun story."

We spend the next hour or so chatting, having a really great time. I don't know if I'm imagining it, but I am actually starting to feel a bond forming between the women of this club and me. The more time goes on, I let go of all the shit plaguing my mind and enjoying the moment.

Live in it.

Embrace the happiness.

Celebrate being one of the girls.

Suddenly, I spot Maverick and Loki slipping out of Loki's den. My heart thumps dramatically in my chest, making my breathing hitch. I can't help but stare at him. His eyes meet mine, not leaving me as he walks to the bar. He grabs a tequila and shoots it back.

My heart rate accelerates as he makes his way over to us.

The girls go quiet when he steps up to the side of the table and clears his throat. "Sadie, a word?" His tone is curt and abrupt.

Clover huffs. "Mav, please don't be an asshole. We're having such a good ti—"

"We got shit we need to settle."

I pick up the baby monitor and shrug. "I'm on baby watch. Can't this wait?"

Haven swipes the monitor from my hand and places it beside her on the table. "I got the kid. You guys need to get this out of your systems."

Apprehension builds within me, but I slowly stand.

Clover's eyes go wide. "Mav, please don't say anything to make her leave again. Promise me!"

Maverick turns to Clover and dips his chin. "We're going to have a civil conversation about everything. That's all. It'll be fine, Clo," he assures her, then gestures for me to head outside.

Letting out a long breath, I lead the way, walking outside, dreading the verbal beatdown that he's going to give me.

Maybe I deserve it! Maybe I don't.

We make it out the back of the clubhouse, my anxiety peaking as I turn to face him, getting on the defensive right away by pointing my finger at him. "Before you start, I know leaving the way I did was cowardly. It hurt Clover, and that was never my intention. But I would never have left like that if it wasn't for you coming at me the way you did at the hospital."

He lets out an obnoxious laugh, turning from me, running his hand through his hair in some sort of exasperated move, and then he snaps back to me with fire in his eyes. "You're blaming me for the fact you ran? I don't care if you have an issue with me, cupcake. You don't have any-fucking-right to take our shit out on Clover. That's juvenile behavior."

I laugh, widening my eyes. "Juvenile? Fuck you, Maverick! You don't know the first thing about me or why I did what I did. I have my damn reasons."

He glares at me. "You wanna share with the class? Or are you just keeping everything a fucking secret?"

My ears begin to ring, my body flaming with heat as pressure builds inside me. I let out a frustrated groan. "Urgh! You're so… so… fuck! I can't stand you. You're an arrogant, smug, self-absorbed, self-righteous pain in my ass."

He steps closer, right in my personal space. "And you're a prissy, do-gooder who thinks she's better than everyone else and more important than anyone she knows."

Huffing out in annoyance, I step closer to him. "That's just not true, and you know it."

"I don't fucking know it. You're flaky, you're unreliable, and you're going to hurt everyone in your damn wake. You're a noxious weed in a pristine fucking lake."

I gasp, bring my hand up without thinking it through, and slap him across the face. His head snaps to the side with the force. My palm instantly stings as his head rapidly spins back to face me, an inferno in his eyes that causes goose bumps to run up my spine. Our breathing is fast and frantic.

His top lip curls. "You ever hit me like that again, I won't be held responsible for what comes next."

My stomach twists at the tone of his voice. It's deep, raspy, gravelly, and as we stare at each other, there's a tension between us I can't quite wrap my head around.

This is making me dizzy.

I need out.

He's too close.

Mav is intoxicating.

All-encompassing.

"Don't be a prick and say shit that makes me want to hit you." I grit the words out through my teeth as I push past him to give us some much-needed space.

I don't make it one full step before he catches my wrists and pins me to the wall. My breath hitches, and my clit instantly begins to throb. That bitch is betraying me. He leans in, his forehead almost meeting mine but not quite touching. Our eyes meet, and I realize the intensity he's looking at me with is pure lust, not anger. "Now, cupcake, you assume I didn't like it when you hit me."

It's like my whole world stops.

The sound disappears around me.

There is nothing in my peripheral vision as we stare at each other. My breath is caught in my throat, and the realization of what Maverick said washes over my soul. With his hands clenched tightly around my wrists as he pins me to the wall, his cock hardens against me. He's just as turned on as I am right now.

My eyes drop to his lips—his supple, ready-for-the-taking lips—and I can't hold back any longer. I slam my lips to his, and the instant our lips touch, a spark ignites within my entire body. He kisses me back. One hand slides from my wrist down my body, grazing my breast before he holds me to him. The other is clenched tightly on my wrist as he pins me to the wall with a low growl, his hips rocking against mine so I can feel everything.

His tongue slides into my mouth, caressing me deeply, passionately, frantically, almost desperately. I can't help but whimper when he gently nips my bottom lip. Maverick is deliberate in his movements. He knows exactly what he's doing, and fuck if I'm not getting even more worked up.

He growls again, deep into my mouth, the sound carnal, making my knees weak. His lips leave mine, kissing down my neck as my free hand slides into his hair. "Fuck, M-Maverick, yes," I murmur almost incoherently.

He slowly kisses back up to my mouth, his eyes connecting with mine. "I like it when you moan my name," he rasps, then slams his lips back to mine, his hands moving to my ass and hoisting me up the wall. My legs wrap around his waist before he starts grinding his hard cock into my soaking wet pussy.

God, yes!

He deepens the kiss with a fervor I've never felt. This is the explosive kiss I've been needing, and I groan, giving as good as I get.

Suddenly, his entire body jerks. He breaks the kiss, his eyebrows pinching in confusion, before unceremoniously dropping me from his hold, and he quickly turns around. "What the fuck?" he snaps.

I follow his line of sight, moving around him to see Doughnut, the club's goat, continuing to nip at his butt. Maverick tries to shoo the goat while I break out into a fit of laughter, watching Maverick take him on. He throws his hands in the air before yelling, "Scram, you bastard!"

The goat stiffens dead straight, then falls over like a stone statue onto the ground.

Is he dead?

I gasp.

Mav instantly bends down. "Shit! Sorry, little guy, didn't mean to make you faint."

Maverick's words only serve to make me laugh when I realize Doughnut is not dead, just immobilized.

While Maverick does his best to rouse little Doughnut, I stand back, my body completely electrified by what just happened between us. Honestly, I feel a little awkward because I'm not sure how far we would have gone if Doughnut hadn't interrupted us. And to be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about that—for the sake of Clover.

I use the distraction to slide past Maverick while he tends to the goat, and I make my way back inside the clubhouse to the girls at the table. Sliding in next to Haven, she glances up at me with a smirk as I take the monitor back from her.

The other girls all fall silent as I furrow my brows at them. "What?"

Clover grins. "Your lip gloss is smudged."

My eyes widen. Goddammit! Quickly, I wipe my face, then clear my throat. "Did you hear that? I think Louis is awake, I better go check on him?" I stand abruptly, almost knocking over the chair, and take off while Clover giggles. With my head hanging low, I go to South and Ingrid's room to check on the soundly sleeping baby.

The door quietly opens, and I turn to Haven, who is making her way in. She closes the door behind her, so it's just the two of us here, alone.

I glance down at baby Louis and shrug. "Guess I was hearing things."

Haven steps up beside me, peering down into his bassinet. "Sadie, I like you. I think you're sweet, and you're so fucking good for Clover. But if you do anything to fuck Clover over, any kind of co-curricular activities with say, for instance, another member of my family, and that turns to shit, I want you to remember your first and only priority is Clover. Do you get what I'm saying?"

Swallowing hard, I hear her loud and clear.

What happened with Maverick outside can't happen again.

I have to put Clover first.

She is important, and her well-being cannot be overlooked.

"I understand."

Haven slaps my back, and I have to wonder if she put a little more effort into it than was needed as a slight sting forms from the contact. "Okay, I think Clover has some schoolwork she needs to do if you're up for some more tutoring tonight?"

"Absolutely. I'll go get her, and we can get started."

Walking quickly out of the bedroom and away from the awkward moment, I grab Clover, and we spend the rest of the evening working and studying in her bedroom. When I head back out to retrieve my backpack and laptop so I can study, I watch Maverick walk back inside.

I wonder what he was doing all that time.

He glances at me, and we make eye contact, but he doesn't come over. If his stance and high chin are anything to go by, he's pissed. Maybe because I left after our kiss? I understand he might have taken that the wrong way. But honestly, I don't want to hurt anyone, so I need to ignore whatever this is between Maverick and me.

Even if that kiss was epic.

Without a word, he leaves the clubhouse, and I hear the unmistakable roar of a Harley tearing out of the lot. I can't help but wonder where he's going, but I decide that's not for me to worry about. I have to finish the rest of my night studying and ensure everything is how it should be.

Ingrid and South are supposed to be coming home at any minute when I get a call on my cell. I glance down at Ingrid's number flashing and swipe to answer. "Hey, everything okay?"

Ingrid exhales. "Unfortunately, no. Bella has taken a turn tonight. We need to take her to the hospital. Are you able to stay a little longer, maybe even overnight?"

Shit.

I wasn't prepared for this.

But after everything that's happened, no way am I going to say no. "Sure, of course. I hope Bella is okay."

"Thank you, Sadie. You're truly a lifesaver right now."

"Don't you worry about little Louis. He's doing perfectly fine. You just take care of Bella."

"Will let you know as soon as we can when we arrive home tomorrow."

"Okay, talk soon."

Ingrid ends the call, and I let out a long exhale.

Guess I need to talk to Navy about a room for the night.

I never thought I'd stay in a clubhouse overnight, especially not with a baby in my room. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by how strange my life has been recently.

I have to focus my attention on Louis tonight.

And then, in the morning, maybe I can face up to Maverick.

Maybe.