The Biker's Fate Chapter 334

"I just have practice pads."

"So? You can play me something on your pads, right?"

"Yeah," he said. "Is Devon coming over?"

I forced myself not to curse as I shook my head. "I don't know, bud. But probably not. He's always got stuff to do."

"Aw, man," he moaned.

Hatch raised an eyebrow, but I ignored him as I gave my brother a hug. "But you owe me a do-over on that Mario Brothers game."

"Okay," he said, excited.

"After dinner," Mum said.

"Okay, Mom."

The doorbell pealed and Hatch went to answer it.

"Shit! Hawk's early," Mum said. "I'm not ready."

"Go finish, Mum, I've got dinner covered."

"Okay, love, thanks."

I scooped my hair up into a ponytail then stepped to the sink to wash my hands when the air in the room changed and I knew exactly who had just walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, beautiful."

I grabbed a couple of paper towels and faced Devon. "Hey, asshole."

He smiled, but I didn't miss the flash of hurt in his eyes. I forced down my guilt. I wouldn't care. He didn't deserve it.

God, he looked good. Dark jeans, tight in all the right places, hugged his long legs and the white T-shirt he wore under his cut was fitted enough to see the ridges on his very muscular chest and stomach. He wore a chunky black watch on his left wrist and a skull ring on his right ring finger, but nothing else. He had a little stubble and I itched to run my hands (and my tongue) over it.

Instead, I dumped the paper towels into the trashcan. "I thought you had shit to do."

"I do. Figured I'd come say hi first. Welcome you home," he said, sliding onto a barstool.

"Well, now that you got that out of the way, don't feel like you need to hang around."

"I'm driving Hatch and Maisie to the airport."

"I thought Hawk was doing that."

"Hawk delegated."

"Cool." I stuck my head in the refrigerator so I could hide my emotions, pulling out a plate of burgers Mum had prepped to grill.

"Can we talk this week?"

I set the plate on the island and lit up the burner for the grill. "About what?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe you could fill me in on the reason you've iced me out for the past however many years."

"I haven't iced you out," I countered. "I moved to Atlanta to go to school."

"Babe," he said with a sigh.

"What?"

"Ghostin' my calls and texts kinda indicates you're icin' me out, Poppy."

I made sure my voice dripped with sarcasm as I said, "I apologize, Devon. Truly. You know, I've been studying hard and doing my best to get a four-point-o GPA, which is a little harder for me than some people, but you know what? I'll take a few minutes out of my study time to be sure to answer your phone calls and texts. Make sure you're a priority. Does that make you feel better?" I slapped a patty onto the grill and grabbed another.

"Whatever, Poppy."

"Yeah, whatever," I grumbled. "Why do you care?"

"No fuckin' idea, babe," he snapped, then slid off the stool and pointed to the burger. "Make mine medium rare, yeah?"

I let out a frustrated squeak as he left the room.

Medium rare. Yeah, I'll give you medium rare, asshole. Better yet, I'll leave out the medium part and give it to you so rare you get e-coli and worms.

Devon

Goddammit all to fuckin' hell.

I dragged my hands down my face and took a few steadying breaths. I knew I'd hurt her feelings the night of her formal. I had to in order to keep my distance, but I didn't realize I'd done that much damage. Fuck me, the taste of her lip gloss still lingered in my mind, and I hated that she couldn't stand the sight of me.

I fuckin' missed her.

"Oh, Devon," Maisie said, her voice chipper. "I didn't realize you were popping by."

"Hey, Maisie. Hawk got hung up, so I'm drivin' you to the airport."

My uncle's wife was a knock-out. Blonde hair, blue eyes, legs for days. It was obvious where Poppy got her looks, which made things even harder for me. They always advise a man to look at the mother to see how her daughter will age, and Maisie was so fuckin' beautiful, there was no doubt Poppy would age just as beautifully.

"Oh, thank you," she said, then studied me for a few seconds. "It's good to see you, bud."

She gave me a hug and I forced a smile. "You're welcome."

"Did you say hi to Poppy?"

"Sure did."

Maisie cupped my face. "You're a good man, Devon."

"Thanks."

"Devon!" Jamie said in surprise. "Poppy said you weren't coming over."

Poppy probably wishes I'd fall into a hole and die.

"My plans changed."

"Can we play Mario Brothers?"

"Sure, we can." I glanced at Maisie. "If it's okay with your mom."

She waved her hands. "Yeah, go on. We've got an hour before we have to leave."

Jamie dragged me downstairs to the basement and I tried to put Poppy's distaste for me out of my mind.