Gunnar A Motorcycle Club Romance - Nina Levine Page 0,57
living my worst nightmare.
Joe running for premier after Dad’s finished with the position would mean many more years of a man in my life having the kind of power that could fuck with Mason and his club.
Joe smiles as the crowd cheers.
Oh God, no.
No, no, no.
“I’m excited for the future,” Joe says, still with that smile of his I’ve come to detest. He looks at me and motions my way. “My beautiful wife will be joining us too. It’s a family affair, and Mark, Chelsea, and I are determined to lead this great state into a prosperous future, one where we’ll always put you first. I thank you for walking this path by our side.”
I stare at him in absolute horror.
He effectively just won every battle we’ll ever have, in advance. There’s no doubt in my mind that my husband has the charisma and drive to win an election and to become the Premier of Queensland one day. Looking back now, I see the signs I missed from the minute I agreed to marry him. They were all there to see, and yet I fucking missed them.
The waiter swings by our table again and I grab another glass of champagne.
Fuck it, I can’t do this night sober.
Not now.
“This is very exciting for you and Joe,” Mum says, and I know she truly means it. My mother thinks my husband is the best thing to have ever happened to me.
I guzzle my drink. All the way down in two gulps.
I know Joe’s watching me, because he’s always fucking watching me, but I don’t care.
Pushing my chair back, I grab my clutch and leave the table without another word to Mum. I doubt she even registers the fact I’ve left. My mother is in her happy little numb bubble.
Striding through the room, I smile at every person I pass, but I don’t really see them. I’m on a mission and I can’t achieve it fast enough.
Find the bar.
Drink a lot of drinks.
Wipe myself out.
And fuck whatever Joe does to me later for this.
18
Chelsea
I can’t feel my lips. I lift my hand to my face and squeeze my mouth and pinch my cheeks. Nope, can’t feel them. I drink the rest of my champagne. I’ve given up counting how many I’ve had, but I don’t think it’s actually that many. After not eating much today, the alcohol went straight to my head. Which I’m fucking grateful for.
My phone vibrates with another text. It’s been going off for a solid half hour. Every text is from Joe. He can’t find me. I’ve managed to enjoy one whole hour without him. It’s been bliss. I’m considering how successful I could be at running away from my life. I mean, right now, it feels achievable. I’ve planned how I’ll do it, and I’m pretty convinced I could make it happen, but even my drunk brain knows that’s the alcohol talking. There’s no way Joe’s ever letting me leave.
Another text comes through and I check this one.
Joe: If I have to come and find you, you won’t enjoy the consequences.
I click my phone off, not wanting to read the rest of the messages, and stare up at the stars. I’m lying on the roof of the hotel. I don’t doubt Joe will find me soon, but for now, I just want to stargaze like I used to with Mason.
My heart aches as I think about him. I’m drunk enough to stop pretending I hate him. I could never hate that man, not even for sleeping with my friend. Well, if he did that while we were together, I might hate him, but I know he’d never do something like that. Deep down, I know why he slept with her. And I don’t blame him one little bit.
I broke his heart.
I ripped it from his body and took it with me when I left.
If he’d done that to me, I’d be just as angry and hurt as he is.
Oh God.
I wrap my arms around myself.
I hate myself for doing this to the boy I’ve loved since I was five. He never asked for any of this. All he ever did was love me like no one has ever loved me. And I’ve betrayed him twice. Twice.
I stand and walk to the edge of the roof. Staring out over the town, I exhale a long breath. When I left him this time, I wondered if I’d ever remove him from my soul. I know now I never will.