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the friend-zone, though. No matter what I do, no matter how many hints I drop. She just doesn t see
me. I m tired of it, and in a sense, I guess I ve given up. If a friend is all I can have her as, then that s
what I ll stick with. She s always going to be my girl, but I can t keep waiting.
Oh, Spike, I d love to know. If she is silly enough not to snap you up, I most certainly will.
I don t get a chance to answer her, because I see Ciara standing at the top of the stairs. I turn my
gaze to her, and my heart stutters. I m not sure if it s the long, slightly curled, blonde hair, the full red
lips, the porcelain skin, or the yellow eyes, but fuck, she s perfect. Her blue dress gently sways
around her knees as she steps down towards us. Her eyes are on Cheyenne, and her face is filled with
something I can t quite pick. It could be jealousy, or anger. I know the two of them aren t close, Ciara
has told me a little bit about it. Whatever the look, it s full of emotion. When her eyes finally turn
back to mine, I see a hint of betrayal.
I see you met Cheyenne, she says, though her voice is empty.
Yeah, I did.
You never told me Spike was so gorgeous, Cheyenne laughs, placing a hand on my shoulder. I
flinch.
What did you call him? Ciara asks.
Oh, didn t you know that s what everyone calls him?
Ciara s eyes flash with hurt, before she covers it up, and shrugs. Well, I m glad you two met.
Are we going?
I nod, extending my hand. Ciara reaches down and takes it, and we turn, heading for the door.
I ll see you around, Spike. I d love to know more about that nickname...perhaps you ll tell me all
about it next time you re here, Cheyenne purrs again.
Well fuck. Why do I get the feeling this is going to become a complicated situation?
~*~*~*~*
PRESENT - CIARA
Hey Tom Cat!
I smile as Cade comes running up to me when I m at the compound the next day. He grins, wide
and beautiful, and wraps me in a hug. For a moment, I enjoy the comfort. I need it. More than I
realized. He pulls back, and looks down at me, studying my face.
You don t come here often, what s up?
I force a smile. I was just after Jackson.
He s in the main bar.
Thanks, I say, walking towards the bar. Cade falls in step beside me. How were your few
days away?
He nods, grinning. Fuckin sweet. Was good to get away.
I bet Addi had a good time?
Fuck yeah, she always has a good time with me. She s a fuckin wildcat.
I shove him lightly, and he laughs.
Get your mind out of the gutter, biker.
He wraps an arm around me. Can t help it. The girl drives me crazy.
Crazy is good.
He grins down at me, and then spins me around to face him. She s inside, go and say hello to her
when you re done with Jacks, yeah?
I nod. Yeah.
You all good?
I nod, forcing a smile. I m good.
I ll catch you later, Tom Cat.
I watch Cade turn and walk off and then with a shake of my head, I walk inside.
The bar is quiet for a Thursday. It s usually filling up with bikers by now. Addison is at the bar,
drying a batch of glasses. I wave to her when she looks up, and her eyes brighten.
I can t help the smile that stretches across my face. If anyone in the world understands pain, it s
Addi. She s got a vibe about her that screams survivor, yet at the same time, it screams warmth and
friendship. She s definitely someone you want in your life.
Hey! Ciara!
Hey Addi, I say, walking over and stopping at the long, wooden bar. I lean my hip on it.
How s it going?
She drops the dishcloth and sighs. Pretty good, sick of work.
I nod in understanding. I know what you mean, it s my first day off in ages.
Are you getting paid again?
I narrow my eyes. How did you know about that?
Spike told Cade.
I feel my brows raise now. Spike and Cade speak?
They have been, yeah. It s a slow process, but it s happening.
That makes me happy, for both of them. They deserve to find that friendship again. I imagine it
would never be quite the same, but something is better than nothing at all.
I m happy for them, I say, fiddling with the end of the dishcloth. And yeah, I m getting paid
again. Spike gave me some money anyway, but I m going to give it back.
Now Addi s brows raise. You and Spike have been talking?
We ve been arguing more like it, but yeah...I think I hurt him the other night.
Addi turns, storming around the bar and stopping in front of me. She grips my shoulders and pulls
me towards a table, shoving me down. She sits on the chair over from me, puts her elbows on the
table, face in hands and leans forward. Spill, like now.
I laugh nervously. It s nothing, Addi. Just the usual Spike and Ciara bullshit.
Oh, you are such a liar! Now spill, or I ll force it out of you using whatever means possible.
I giggle and roll my eyes at her, and then I lean forward too. We ve been talking a little more,
and slowly we ve been hashing some things out. Last night, my car ran out of gas and, well, Spike
was the one who stopped for me. We got into this massive fight and he kissed me, I blurt out quickly.
Addi s eyes widen, and she grins, big and beautiful. Spike kissed you?
It s not what you think. I was yelling at him because he never kissed me when he took me that
night all those years ago, and so he kissed me to make it even. It meant nothing to him, I can assure
you.
Addi puts her head in her hands and groans, and then she meets my gaze again. Honey, you can t
see it, can you? Spike is freakin head over heels for you.
I snort. No, he s not. Trust me. He might have had feelings in the past, but they re long gone
now.
Oh god! You two are so bloody stubborn. Trust me when I say his angry reaction is because he
cares so much. Spike isn t the type of man to react angrily to just anyone. He s the type who reacts out
of emotion and, trust me honey, he feels something when he s around you. It s why he s trying so hard
to push you away.
Is Addison right? Or is she just clutching at straws to find some sort of explanation so he won t
break my heart?
Either way, I say, my voice low and croaky. He s not about to give in anytime soon. He gave
me the bracelet back; that means I hurt him. God, Addi, I said some really mean things last night.
What bracelet? she asks, confusion washing over her pretty features.
A long time ago, I gave him a bracelet. It was kind of like a promise to always have each other s
backs, to always be there for each other. I spat mean words at him last night and he left, but he left the
bracelet on the coffee table.
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