Second, you’re family to me so I got loyalty to you, too. I don’t sense good things about this. He’s new. He’s already got blood in the club with Ella and her pop. And if you try this and it fails, it’ll be ugly. Besides, the man’s battlin’ some shit.”
“What if it doesn’t fail?”
“You,” he pointed harshly, “Shouldn’t be doin’ the chasin’ Jojo.”
I saw red. “Bray… I am sick and fucking tired of waiting for someone to be man enough to ask me out because my dad is Prez and I’ve got three big brothers in the club.”
“Four.” Brady jerked his thumb at himself.
“Yeah. My point exactly. I had a wicked crush on you first, but you made it real clear that you’re my big brother too. But, I got too many big brothers, Brady.”
“Date a regular guy, Jojo. That’ll solve this easy for you. Nice guy who wears a suit to work, goes to church on Sundays, and won’t pass second base until your wedding night.”
“I don’t want an outsider. I want a biker and I want the biker I told you to bring here for me tonight. And newsflash, Bray? I’m horny. I wanna get laid.”
He growled at me.
“It’s true!”
“Pretty girl like you with the beauty you got inside, too? Saw it with Lick and I’m seein’ it again and I don’t fuckin’ like it.”
“You don’t like it?”
“Nope. Didn’t like it then, said as much to you, and look how it turned out.”
My body went cold.
“Lick dicked you around and kept shit secret and you wound up danglin’ while he fuckin’ kept playin’ and I couldn’t say shit.”
I reared back. Brady’s face was red.
“I fuckin’ hated bein’ in the middle and I liked the fuckin’ guy. I don’t know this one well enough to know if he’s good enough for you. I suspect he isn’t. I’ll repeat myself here – you shouldn’t be doin’ the chasin’.”
“Bray…”
“I don’t want you hurt anymore, Joelle. And I love you like you’re my sister, but I won’t fuckin’ hide shit this time. Don’t put me in that position again.”
“Brady, I don’t want to hurt either, but I’d rather hurt if it means I get to live first. I’d rather take risks and live life and then have pain than just… loneliness and pain.”
“Leave me out of it. All right?”
I felt my lower lip tremble. I looked away.
“I can’t watch in case it goes bad. I can’t lie for you and I won’t scheme for you to help you get his attention like I did with Lick Hanson.”
“Fine.”
“Do you feel me? Do you understand why this fuckin’ guts me?”
“I do.” I blinked back the threatening tears.
“Got all the love in the world for you, Joelle. Really fucking do.”
“I know. Same.” I sniffed, but held my expression hard. “I’m fine on my own with this, Bray. You’re off the hook.”
He looked at me with pain in his eyes. “Be smart.”
I nodded.
“No hairbrained schemes. You made shit real clear with him tonight. The way your eyes were on him. Ride noticed and didn’t fuckin’ like it. So beware of that. He may warn Fork off you. I know you danced like that to catch his attention too. Just glad Spence wasn’t payin’ attention to who you put that show on for and real glad D wasn’t here tonight. He and Jess’re outta town otherwise things would’ve gotten even uglier after that dancefloor shit.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’ve made your point.”
“My point is, you more than let Fork know you were interested tonight. The next move is up to him. If he doesn’t make it, don’t bother. And if he does make it, keep your eyes open.”
“Are you done?” I snapped.
“Don’t want you mad at me, Jojo; just tellin’ you all this cuz I give a shit about you. If you chase and chase, you’ll find yourself gettin’ a big helping of dick and not a fuckin’ call back afterwards, you hear me?”
I folded my arms across my chest and said nothing.
“Can I get a hug?” he asked.
“No,” I snapped.
His expression fell.
I immediately regretted my snap and threw myself at him and gave him a huge hug. He lifted me off the floor and buried his face in my hair.
“Want you happy, darlin’. Swear to fuck, I do.”
“I know. Sorry I snapped. You’re the best, Bray. My favorite. If it doesn’t work out with him, how long do I have to wait until you’ll have me for yourself?”
“Almost six years. Way too fuckin’ long,” he grumbled