The Biker's Fate Chapter 519

Tate

I hit bumper-to-bumper traffic on my way home from my interview, and I cursed Flash for that. It wasn't his fault, obviously, but I still blamed him. And I blamed him because I was stuck in fucking Portland traffic which meant all I had time to do was think.

About him.

Fucker.

I was on I-5 and in the middle lane, almost to the spot where the HOV lane ended which meant I could get up to a decent speed. However, traffic suddenly came to a standstill.

"No, no, no, no, no," I ground out.

I saw the red flashing lights and dropped my head back against the headrest just as my phone rang. It was my sister.

"Hey, Hayden," I bit out.

"That doesn't sound good," she said. "I take it you're stuck in traffic?"

"Yes. You know why?" I growled.

"Why?"

"Fucking bridge lift."

"On a Thursday afternoon during rush hour?"

"Yes," I hissed.

"Sorry, sis."

"It is what it is," I breathed out. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to see how your interview went."

I rolled my eyes. "Liar."

"Busted." She laughed. "I want the low-down on the Flash situation."

"There is no situation, Hayden. He needs to take a long walk off a short pier."

"What did he say to you?"

"Some bullshit about not sleeping with Madison Payne. How he would—" I sat up and scowled. "Hayden Walters Burke, who did you tell?"

"Krrr, shwhwhaaaa, you're breaking up, I can't hear you."

"Hayden! Did you tell Flash—"

"I would never!" she admonished.

"Well, you told someone," I accused. "Because I have told no one but you."

A deep sigh came over the speaker. "I may have mentioned it to Tillie."

"Hayden!" I squealed.

"She's my best friend, and I'd had wine."

"How long ago did this happen?"

"Forever ago."

I groaned.

"When did Tillie tell Flash?"

"No clue," Hayden admitted. "I'll text her and find out, though."

"No," I snapped. "I have never been more humiliated in my life, I'd rather no one ever mention it again, so let's not talk to Tillie, mmmk? I think you've already told her more than you should have."

The bridge started to lower, and we were finally moving.

"Sorry, honey, seriously."

"It's fine." I sighed. "I'm going to hang up now. I'll be home soon."

We rang off and I headed home, dragging myself inside ahead of my mother. She walked in just as I slid my shoes off.

"Hey, sweetie," she said. "How did the interview go?"

"I think it went well," I said. "There were several people interviewing, so I have no idea how I did up against any of them, though."

"What will be will be."

I smiled. That was my mother's mantra about everything. "Yep."

"Dad and I are going out, so you're on your own for dinner."

"Sounds good," I said. "I'm going to get into yoga pants and then I'm going to eat a tub of ice cream."

Mom laughed as she followed me up the stairs. "Glad to hear you're making good choices."

We crested the stairs just as Hayden opened her bedroom door. "Hey."

"Hey," I said.

Mom stood between us and frowned. "What happened?"

"Nothing," Hayden and I said in stereo.

Mom raised her hands. "Work it out," she ordered, then closed herself into her bedroom.

I said nothing, walking into my room with Hayden following.

"I'm really sorry, sissy. Seriously."

"I know," I said, unzipping my skirt and sliding it off.

Hayden sat criss-cross on my bed and settled her chin in her palm. "I'm actually surprised Tillie said anything to him."

"I don't want to talk about this," I said, dropping my clothes into my dry-cleaning pile.

She shrugged. "What are you going to do when he shows up?"

"Hide."

Hayden wrinkled her nose. "I think you should talk to him."

"Hayden—"

"What's the worst that could happen?"

I could believe his lies, kneel at his feet, and beg for him to take me.

"I'm just sick of being hurt by him," I said out loud, keeping my internal thoughts to myself.

"Then resolve it."

"How?" I cried.

"I don't know," she said. "You were national debate champion three years running, you're the words expert."

"Why are you pushing this?" I asked, pulling on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt.

"He looks like a lost puppy, is all."

"If I talk to him, Hayden, then I never want to hear his name uttered by you again." I pulled the bobby pins out of my hair and wrapped it into a scrunchy. "We will be done with Flash Wallace, forever."

She crossed herself like a Catholic. "Amen."

I rolled my eyes. "And no more telling Tillie Quinn my secrets."

"She's not a gossip, Tate."

"I know, but the club sticks together and we, the outsiders, will never win. You have to be careful what you say."

"You really are a lawyer."

I cocked my head. "Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment," she grumbled.

"I know," I replied. "I'm going to take my makeup off. How about you make all of this up to me and make us grilled cheese sandwiches?"

"Fine," she breathed out and climbed off my bed. "But you get only one kind of cheese."

I chuckled and stepped into my bathroom while she went off to make our snack.