“Umm, well, I was hoping to see Jesse.” I look toward the front door, wondering if I’ve crossed some line coming here.

“Oh.” A teasing smile takes over and I can tell she wants to question me, but she holds off. “Come on in.” She turns and waits for me to follow her. I exit my car and walk in silence until we get just inside the door.

“Wait.” I stop, not sure if coming here was smart.

“Hey, it’s okay. I can see you’re freaking, but you made it this far. Don’t back out now,” she reasons and I have to give it to her; she knows how to make me feel at ease.

“I just don’t know if he’s going to be okay with this.” I say too much and regret it instantly.

“If he’s an ass, I’ll kick his ass,” she says, taking my hand and pulling me further into the club. The clubhouse is noisy, not as noisy as the last time I was here, but it still makes me uneasy. More people to see me embarrassed if Jesse kicks me out again. “He’s out back.” Holly comes to a stop at the opening of the main area and points to the back glass doors.

“You can’t just leave me now,” I plead, turning to face her. She laughs but doesn’t argue.

“Kadence, get your ass in here,” she shouts, and a few seconds later, Kadence sticks her head around the corner.

“Bell?” she questions when she recognizes me.

“Hi.” I wave, wishing I was back home with Mom’s cake. I have no idea what I was thinking. These people don’t need to see my drama.

“Go get Jesse,” Holly instructs, and a grin spreads across Kadence’s face.

“Jesse, get your ass inside,” Kadence yells and I sink back further, planning an escape. If I could just get out of here.

“Actually, I just remembered I left something in the car.” I turn to hightail it out of here.

“Oh no, we have a runner.” Holly laughs and lets me pass. I don’t stop to tell her I’m not running, just walking fast, backing out before I make a fool of myself.

“Bell?” Jesse’s voice stops me before I turn the corner.

“Shit,” I curse, Jesse’s dirty mouth rubbing off on me.

“Oh, Nurse Bell has a dirty mouth,” Kadence says, and it’s official, this was a bad mistake.

“Hi.” I gingerly turn back to face him.

“What are you doing here?” His question doesn’t sound angry or upset, just curious.

“I was just driving and…” my mind drifts off as I contemplate how I even made it here.

“What do you need, Bell?” Jesse steps forward, voice lowered. No judgment, just offering me whatever I need.

“I, umm, I didn’t mean to come here.” He steps closer and my tears start to sting as I try to hold them back.

“You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t mean to.” He takes my hand and pulls me into his arms. “Bell, talk to me,” he whispers, but I don’t need to talk. I just need to be held.

It’s funny, I’ve never been held before like this, comforted by someone other than my parents or friends. This feels different, like his strength could hold me up all night. I’ve never felt anything like it before. The people who have held me in the past, have always been trying to hold themselves up. The way Jesse holds me, it’s like my body trusts itself to give him everything I’ve ever held in. Let someone else outside of the situation take what I can’t handle.

“I need you,” I say, eyes closed, head resting on his chest. He picks me up with ease, giving me what I need and carries me down the hall to his room. He pushes open his door, then kicks it shut, before walking me to his bed.

“You have me, Bell,” he says, pulling me closer into him as he lies next to me.

“Her birthday gets harder and harder each year,” I say, and I know I won’t have to explain it any more than that. He understands.

“Ahhh, sweetheart.” He holds me a little tighter as the tears come, and I know I shouldn’t let it, but it makes me fall a little more for him.

I’m on a slippery slope and I don’t know how to stop.

“Hi, Bell. Nice to see you again,” Nix, Kadence’s husband, says as we walk out to the back patio where everyone is sitting. We’ve been gone for over thirty minutes, with Jesse holding me while I cried. I didn’t think I could cry any more, but each time he held me tighter, it would set off another round of tears. Eventually, I was able to get it together enough for Jesse to convince me to come out and say hi to everyone. I wasn’t expecting him to invite me out. I thought for sure, being in his bed, things would lead to other things, but he surprised me.

“Yeah, you too, Nix.” I smile, taking a seat next to Jesse.

“Bell, you know Nix, Sy, Holly and Kadence.” Jesse points to the faces I’m familiar with. “This ugly fucker is Beau.” He motions first to a man with long hair that’s pulled back in a small ponytail. I remember him from the first night I was here. Only in the light of the day, he doesn’t look so scary.

“Hi,” I wave awkwardly and watch his smile transform his dark looks into something completely different. Calmer. Sexier?

“And this is Brooks and his wife, Kelly. Their daughter over there is Mia.” He points first to an older man. His face hidden by a beard, dark with flecks of grey. I move my eyes over to his wife, Kelly. My first thought is she’s younger. A lot younger, but I’m not thrown by it. She smiles and waves before saying hello.

“Hi.” I wave back. “Your daughter is cute.” I look over to the small blonde-haired girl playing with an older boy who looks to be twelve maybe thirteen years old.

“That’s our son, Z.” Kadence notices me looking at him. I nod, remembering Jesse telling me about Z.

“You okay, Bell?” Holly asks, eyeing me curiously. She saw my tears before Jesse took me to his room, and it warms my heart that she’s worried for me.

“She’s fine,” Jesse answers for me, halting the conversations at the table.

“Holy shit! Did you just see it?” Nix asks, and grins split over Kadence and Holly’s faces. See what?

“I fucking told you so. You all owe me ten dollars, ” Sy says, weighing in and now I’m completely lost.

“Shut the fuck up,” Jesse grumbles, causing them all to break out in laughter.

“Fuck, he’s a goner,” Nix continues to push, causing Jesse to stand.

“Don’t fucking start. You don’t know shit.” He continues to be pissed while everyone else seems so happy. What the hell is everyone talking about?

“We’re out of here.” He leans down and takes my hand, pulling me up to stand with him.

“We are?” I ask, confused, considering he was the one who dragged me out here in the first place.

“Yeah, I gotta be somewhere,” he says as he starts to drag me back inside. I don’t fight him, his hold on me is rough and desperate.

“Bye everyone,” I call out, turning back to wave. I’m sad we are leaving so soon, but maybe next time we can stay longer.

“Bye, Bell,” Holly and Kadence call back, the rest grinning.

“Don’t talk to those assholes,” Jesse growls, setting off another roar of laughter as he pulls me down the hall back to his room.

“Jesse, what’s wrong?” I ask when he slams his door shut.

“Nothing, I just need to be inside of you, right now.” He walks me to the bed and pushes me back. I land in a squeal but his mouth descends to mine before I can protest any further.

“Have to take you, Bell,” he says against my mouth. Need pulses through me at his confession and all thoughts and worries leave me.

“Hmm,” I hum. His hand slides up my inner thigh, under my dress, pushing my panties aside and going straight to my heat.

“Fuck, always so wet, Bell.” His eyes roll back in his head like he’s enjoying it more than me, even though I haven’t touched him yet.

“Jesse,” I sigh when two fingers fill me.

“Always so ready.” His eyes burn in arousal as the corners of his mouth tips up, ready to break out in a knowing grin.

“Just for you.” I agree as his lips move down my neck over my collarbone and across my breasts before he peppers kisses all over my belly. Finally, he’s breathing a hot breath over my cotton panties.