The Thunder Wolves MC - Lizzy (Book #5)

11

Lizzy

My alarm went off just after eight the next day. I was working with Summer today, and I wanted to look around for apartments in the area. After yesterday I needed to give the house fully back to my parents. I loved them, but that was so embarrassing to come back to the house and have someone with me. I know I shouldn't really be embarrassed. It was natural, and it wasn't like I was a virgin or anything. I just didn't like to think of my parents doing it. I knew my dad would probably try and talk me out of moving out, but this time would be different. This time I would be in town, and he would be close enough. Shutting my alarm off, I climbed out of bed and got ready for the day. I didn't dress in anything super fancy. I was working at the bar today. Jeans and a tank top would be acceptable. With my hair pulled up into a ponytail, I grabbed my phone and headed downstairs. As I reached the bottom step, my dad was just walking out the door. "Would you have time to drop me off at the bar?" Nodding, he smiled at me. "As long as you're ready to go now, otherwise you will have to wait for your mom to finish her breakfast." Perfect, "I am ready now." With that, I followed him out. Riding behind my dad felt strange after riding behind Axel yesterday. It shouldn't. I have ridden with my dad many times. But there was something about riding with someone you thought was attractive. It made the whole experience a little more intimate. It was kind of a turn on. Unlike when you were riding with your dad, it wasn't all that intimate. 

I let myself into the bar. Summer had given me a spare key, so she didn't have to get up super early on the days I came in. Since I liked to make the burgers fresh and not use premade patties, I had to start early. Sometimes she would come in and help me, and we could get them done faster, but I enjoyed doing everything myself for the most part. It was kind of therapeutic to me. Sort of like cleaning for some people. I enjoyed cooking or baking to help reduce stress. Or just simply spend time thanking while still being productive. My dad waited until I was inside and the door locked behind me before leaving.

As I walked through the bar to the kitchen area, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw I had a message from an unknown number. 'Morning, I realized you gave me your number, but I didn't send you mine in return. I hope you slept well. Axel.' A large smile spread across my face, and I was really glad Summer wasn't here. I am sure she would be all over me and want to know what happened between the two of us and not except that nothing did. 'I slept very well, thank you. I hope your brother didn't get into too much trouble.' While I waited for his response, I added his number to my phone and finished my way back to the kitchen, turning lights on as I went. His response came quickly. 'Nothing I couldn't help him out of…..What are you up to today?' I leaned against the counter as I responded. 'Working at the bar today. My dad just dropped me off so I could start making the hamburgers for the day. You?' 

I hit send and then realized he would most likely not answer what he was actually doing today. I knew from my dad that the guys never actually said what they did for the club. It was always club business. Shaking my head at myself, I set my phone down and started pulling everything out that I would need and setting it up just how I liked it. 'Working with Knuckles today. If all goes well, we will be done around noon. Maybe I will have to stop and have lunch at the bar.' Oh man, was I really glad Summer wasn't here? Even though we were only talking through text messages, I was sure my face was two shades redder than usual. Oh man, it has been a while since I have felt like this with a guy. I was nervous about putting myself out there, but at the same time, it was nice to have someone interested in me again. At the same time, it was scary.

On the one hand, I knew Axel wasn't Connor. But on the other hand, how did I really know he wouldn't do the same things? I only just met Axel. Sure he seemed nice. But so had Connor, and man, was I wrong about him. At the same time, I knew if Axel were a bad guy, my dad wouldn't have been happy to hear he had given me a ride home yesterday. And from what I could tell from my dad's reaction, he hadn't minded that Axel had helped me out. Nor did he seem to mind that he had stayed for a little bit after bringing me home. Besides, why was I even comparing Axel and Connor anyway? It wasn't like the two of us were dating. He hadn't even asked me out yet. Only simply asked me for my number, and has been nothing but nice to me. Maybe he wasn't even looking for a girlfriend and simply wanted to be friends. Which I would be ok with. 'If you do, you should come back and say hi.' I sent the message and then closed out of my messenger application. Turning on some music, I set my phone aside and got to work. I didn't look at my phone to see if he answered. 

As I got the last of the patties made up, Summer came walking in, turning the rest of the lights on. "Morning." I shook my head, "Good morning." I helped her get everything set up out front for the day while she told me about how Tats kept betting Tiny he could beat him at pool only to lose more and more money. Until he got Axel to come in and help him out. She told me all about how Axel beat Tiny in pool which was unheard of. No one beat Tiny at pool, not even my dad. Who could beat any of the other guys easily, but when it came to playing Tiny, never. Hell, my dad refused to even play Tiny because he knew he would lose. By the time she was done telling me all about it, it was time to open, and we already had guys outside ready to come in. As Summer opened the door, I went back and got started cooking. Even with my car not out front, it was my normal day to cook, and all the guys would know I was here either way. And chances are they all already knew my car had broken down, and my dad brought me in this morning. 

As I got started, my phone rang. Alex was calling, so I answered using video and set it up so I could cook and not have to hold the phone. "Hey, what's up?" He looked tired. "I need a favor, or maybe just advice." I nodded, flipping the burgers over. "I bet you do. What did you do this time?" He sighed on the other end, but then his eyes narrowed slightly. "First, who's that?" I turned and smiled to see Axel standing in the doorway. I motioned for him to come in. "Axel, Gears, my brother. Gears, this is Axel. Now, what did you do?" I watched as Alex looked Axel over through the phone and had to roll my eyes. The sound of one of the babies crying pulled his attention back to the matter at hand. But not before he gave me his look that said we would talk later about the guy in the room with me. "Alright, first Axel, I am swearing you to secrecy." Axel nodded, "What is said in the kitchen stays in the kitchen." I couldn't help but scoff, but Alex seemed good with that answer. "Good. Ok, I may have f****d up and pissed Clara off." I shook my head, "What did you do?" He sighed, "I didn't exactly do anything." I shook my head. "She wouldn't be pissed off if you hadn't done anything. And you wouldn't be swearing Axel to secrecy if you didn't want Knuckles to find out." 

I platted all the burgers I had cooking and put all but one up in the window for Summer to pass out. The other one I handed to Axel before turning back. Alex ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Alright, well, I may have agreed to work extra this weekend for Jax so he could have the weekend off. But I forgot Clara's class had finals this week, and she needed me to take care of the twins so she could grade the papers before Monday." I shook my head at him. "Why does she even stay with you?" He shook his head, "I really don't know. But I need to fix this without Knuckles having to come up here. He is just starting to not want to kill me, and well, you know how he is." I nodded. "Yeah, alright, Romeo, here is the plan. You call dad and get him to fix my car before the weekend, and I will come up and help you. But in exchange, we don't have that talk that goes along with that look you gave me a little bit ago." I smiled at him as he narrowed his eyes at me and glanced behind me, looking at Axel. I didn't give him a chance to argue the point, though. As he opened his mouth to talk, I shook my head. "Nope, that's the deal, take it or leave it, Romeo." He closed his mouth and nodded once. "Fine. But just for the record, I am not happy about it." I nodded, "noted. See you this weekend." Reaching up, I ended the call.