BROOKE
“Why are you smiling at your phone like that?”
“Like what?” I tear my eyes from the screen to glance up at my sister, realizing that I’ve got a big, goofy grin still spread across my face.
Fallon sets her hands on her hips, tilting her head. “Spill.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “It’s nothing.”
I re-read Theo’s text messages, the grin returning to my face.
Theo: been thinking about you all day, beautiful
Theo: can’t wait to see you tonight
“Liar,” Fallon smirks, lunging for the phone in my hands.
I giggle, flopping back on her bed and rolling in a ball, protecting my phone close to my chest as she pounces on me, wrestling me for it.
“Let me see!” she laughs. She tickles my ribs and my body jolts, my fingers
I've got another busy weekend ahead of me, so I won't likely get a bonus chapter up. If I do, though, I'll post on my IG (c.j.primer) to let you guys know! I also did some Q & A on *** about this book and the six-pack series yesterday if you want to check out the highlight on my profile there :)
THEO I bring my beer bottle to my lips, the cold carbonation tickling the back of my throat as I take a long swig. “She’s still staring,” Reid chuckles from his seat across from me at our table in the back corner of the Goldenleaf bar. He arches a brow, pointing his beer bottle at me. “You gonna put that poor girl out of her misery or what?” I turn over my shoulder to see Sutton positioned at the bar, leaning back against it on her elbows. Her shiny dark hair is draped over her shoulders, her glossy lips pursed as she eye-fucks the shit outta me. I shake my head, turning back to my friends and picking up my beer again. “Nah,” I sigh, taking a swig. “Not interested.” I set it back down on the table, glancing up to find that Brock and Reid are staring at me dubiously. Jax already knows about me and Brooke, so he’s keeping his head down, avoiding eye contact, and Gray isn’t here yet to back me up. I blow o
BROOKESunlight spills through the crack in the curtains as I blink my eyes open on Sunday morning. I can hear Theo breathing behind me, feel his chest rising and falling against my back. He’s got me caged in with his arms- one under my neck, the other draped over my waist. We’re naked, skin against skin, tangled in the bedsheets.Though vulnerable in my nudity, I’ve never felt so safe. I smile thinking of how amazing last night with Theo was- while I felt awkward at first being on his arm in public, he had absolutely no hesitation. In fact, it seemed like he was eager to show me off, proud to show everyone that we were together. And yeah, I probably could’ve done without him being such a jerk to poor Connor, but that hot quickie that we had in the woods afterwards? Worth it.When we went back inside the bar, Theo didn’t leave my side all night. Every time my drink got low, he brought
THEO I don’t know why I bother going home to Summervale. I’m trying to get more involved with my pack by going to visit once a week, but it always ends in me bickering with my old man and getting stressed out by the tension between us that never seems to dissipate. I stay the night, but the visit’s anything but productive. I make it back to the complex the next morning in time to run drills with the squad, which helps relieve some of the stress I carried back with me. After they’re over, I hang back with the guys while the rest of the squad files back into the complex to grab lunch. I’ve got some serious road rash on my left forearm from when Gray dropped me during our last drill, and I rub at it as I approach Jax and Brock, wincing a little. “Gray got you good, huh?” Brock chuckles, eyeing my arm. “Yeah,” I mutter. “Got the jump on me.” It wasn’t the first time, either- I kept making sloppy mista
BROOKEMy chest feels hollow as I muddle through my afternoon at the hub. I hate that I picked a fight with Theo. After I let those nasty comments from Sutton fester, I knew it was only a matter of time- and when I heard him make that comment about his dad and becoming alpha, it tipped me over the edge. I lashed out, tried to hurt him before he could hurt me.The worst part is that he’s right- he’s so right. Even though I said I was giving him a chance, I always had one foot out the door, unsure whether we’d really be able to work as a couple. Not allowing myself to give in fully, to give myself fully. Refusing to admit to myself that despite our differences, we fit pretty damn well together. We could be happy. We were happy.But I screwed it all up. Pushed him away in some vain effort to shore up my walls and protect myself. And it totally backfired- in trying to protect myself, I only
THEO “Wake up,” comes the sweetest voice, reaching into my mind, pulling me from sleep. The voice of an angel. I feel the weight of Brooke on the mattress beside me, shifting to move closer. Then I feel her fingertips stroking my hair gently. “Wake up, handsome…” I blink my eyes open, meeting the ocean blue of Brooke’s eyes. She’s so fucking beautiful. “Mmm,” I hum, leaning my head into her hand as she gently scratches my scalp. “That feels good.” Her pouty pink lips tip up into a smile as she traces her fingernails in a circle. “What time is it?” I squint, furrowing my brow. “Six.” “Six?!” I throw my eyes wide. Brooke giggles, sliding the covers off of her body and sitting up. “Why the hell are we awake?” I groan, scrubbing a hand over my face. “We don’t have to get up for at least another two hours, let’s go back to sleep…” Brooke smirks at me over her shoulder,
BROOKE I look into Theo’s eyes as he unbuckles the helmet strap under my chin, a smile creeping across my face. This. This must be what true happiness feels like. To be adored and cared for by this gorgeous man. This man who, despite his sharp edges, tends to me with such a gentle hand. The soft side he reserves only for me. He pulls the helmet off of my head, turning to set it on the back of his bike as I reach up to run my fingers through my disheveled hair. My long blonde tresses are all knotty from the ride over to Summervale on the back on Theo’s motorcycle- I should’ve thought of that and braided it or something. Theo swivels back to me as I’m still raking through the ends of my hair, smoothing it over my shoulders. His lips tip up into a grin. “I love when your hair’s all windblown like that,” he says, reaching out to cup my cheek. “It’s sexy as hell.” He leans in
THEO I kick my feet up on Brooke’s desk, leaning back in my chair as I watch her work. I take in the way her long fingers glide across the keyboard, the way she furrows her brow and chews her lip in concentration. She’s fucking adorable. I still can’t believe she’s mine. Well, almost. We’ve still got that whole marking thing to take care of in order to seal the bond. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, and I feel like we’re both ready, but I’m just waiting for her to give me the green light. Maybe I’ll set up an epic date that’ll totally blow her mind, to the point where she’s begging for me to sink my teeth in her shoulder and claim her officially. Something to make it special. And yes, I know how fucking cheesy that sounds. What can I say? I’m fucking hooked on Brooke. I don’t care if it makes me look weak, because with her beside me, I’ve never felt stronger. She must feel empowered, too, jud
THEO “Dude, your dad’s here,” Jax remarks, nudging me with his elbow. “What?” I turn to follow Jax’s gaze, and sure enough, my old man is walking through the gate of the squad complex. If I wasn’t seeing it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it. I’m not sure my dad has ever been up here to visit me at the complex- and even now, he looks totally out of his element. Physically, he appears like he could belong here. He doesn’t look his age and he works out and stays fit. A lot of people say that I’m his spitting image, which I’m sure irritates him to no end since he thinks I’m a colossal fuck-up. I’ve got his square jaw, the same nose and brow line, and his height- but while his eyes are dark brown, Quinn and I both have our mom’s hazel eyes. As I stare at my dad standing by the gate, I can’t help but wonder what the hell he’s doing here- and if he’s here to see me. Then it hits me that Quinn probably le