“We’re kids.”
She shook her head. “That excuse is getting old.”
“Tell me about it.”
Tabitha took his other hand. “I’m going to love you forever, you know that?”
“I do.”
Staring across the table, she looked into his dark eyes and knew their life wasn’t going to be easy, but she would make it work. For the both of them.
Chapter Eleven
After flicking through the book, Tabitha closed it and slid it back on the shelf. She went to the next one that was on her list that Daisy had sent her last night. Her best friend was helping her through some of the science she was struggling with. She was still being sent work from her old high school. She worked in one of the offices at reception, but right now, she was in the Piston County library as the main school one didn’t have what she was looking for, trying to find everything she needed to get her work done.
There would come a point when they’d demand she enroll in a new school but until then, she was determined to have a connection to her old school. So long as she did the work, and didn’t mess them around, she’d be good. She knew that. What she didn’t want to do was enroll in Simon’s school. It would be like her life at Fort Wills was officially over. The agreement, Lash and Devil made with both schools was temporary, which was why she worked in the office, rather than attend any classes. At least she didn’t have to deal with Amber as she wasn’t at school because Tabitha did break her nose. Rumors were running rife, but no one messed with her.
With the other book, she opened it up to the page Daisy suggested had a better description of reproduction and glanced through it.
She was scanning through the words as someone put their hands over her eyes. She dropped the book, grabbed the hand, and slammed them up against the wall. Her fist raised, she looked into Simon’s smiling face.
“Simon, what the fuck?” She dropped her fist as someone threw a shush her way. She let him go, bending down to pick up her cell phone and book. The screen hadn’t cracked, but she was pissed.
“What? Dad told me he dropped you off at the library again. Why don’t you use the school library?”
“Besides the fact I don’t have a card there, they didn’t have what I needed. I want to do some extra studying this week.” She pulled the text messages on her cell phone to check the other titles.
“You could just enroll.”
“I can’t. I’ve got my old high school, Simon, you understand that. Devil and Lash worked hard for this.”
“I do, but I also know time is ticking. The longer you’re here, you’re going to have to enroll.”
She looked up from her cell phone and glared at him. “Stop meddling. I will deal with that when the time comes.” She rounded the bookshelf and Simon followed her. “Why are you here? Are you looking for a book?”
“Nope. I came to hang out with you but it seems your only focus is on work. I have to say I’m disappointed.”
“Don’t be like that. You know this is important to me. Normally, if I don’t get anything, Daisy and I have a sleepover. We enjoy pizza, study, and finish with a movie, but she always makes sure I understand it. Even makes me have a test to make sure I understand it. Don’t worry about it.” She missed home, that wasn’t a surprise.
Talking to her parents was hard. She listened to tales of her brother and other siblings, and it made her ache to be back in Fort Wills. She missed the salon and Lacey’s experiments with hair color and nails. Her sleepovers with Daisy. Even Anthony’s silent asshole ways. Even Miles, her twin, and his complete lack of respecting personal space. Michael, the irritating bastard, he could be with an attitude a mile long. All of it was hard, and now as she looked at Simon, the guilt hit her again, hard.
He loved her and she loved him so much. The thought of being without him was like a physical blow, but this wasn’t home.
“I worry about you, Tabby, always.”
“I know.” She went to him, putting a hand on his chest. “It will be fine. I know it will. Let me get this book and head on out.”
She didn’t give Simon a chance to argue with her. The first thing she’d done when she arrived at Piston County was get a library card. After scanning the books, she shoved them into her backpack and turned to Simon. He flicked the keys in his finger.
“Dad let me have the car. You want to go for a drive?” he asked.
“Yes.”
It wasn’t a bike, which was what she felt she needed, but it was better than nothing. She threw her bag into the backseat, jumped in the front, and rolled the windows down. There was some light rain, but she didn’t care.
Simon started the car and reeved the engine.
Driving out of the main town center, he went in the opposite direction. As soon as they were on the open road, he pressed his foot to the floor, and off they went.
Closing her eyes, she stuck her head out the window, feeling her hair in the wind. It was the next best thing. Sticking her hands out, she let out a whoop and heard Simon’s chuckle.
After minutes passed and she felt more like herself, she opened her eyes and watched the passing world. This was her life. When she thought about leaving The Skulls, she wanted to hit the road, travel, and just be free.
Simon came to a stop, pulling up in the middle of nowhere. No one was around.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“No one is around. Come on.” He turned the radio on and some heavy metal song came through. He turned it up then climbed out of the car.
She didn’t follow him, and he rounded to her side, opening it up. “Come on.”
“Simon?”
He took her hand, and she didn’t argue, unbuckling her belt as he got her out of the car.
“You need to stop thinking,” he said, tugging her close. Their hands rested at his chest. “I can see you’re struggling and I get it. This isn’t home and I wish there was something I could do to make this easier for you.”
“Simon, it’s not you.”
“I know. I haven’t been in Fort Wills for a long time without my parents. I don’t know what you’re going through.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It is something and when it comes to you, I always want to make it right. Let me help you.”
“I just miss home, Simon. It’s nothing you can do.” She ran her hands down his arms. “Nothing at all. Just being here helps.”
He pulled her close and she rested her head on his chest. If she was like this after a few weeks, what would it be like after months, what about years? What about never being able to go home again because of some argument? The Skulls and Chaos Bleeds worked together, but there were times they had fall-outs. She and Simon were able to work their way around the last one, but what if something happened when they were older? If she was his wife, and Anthony took over from the club. She’d never be allowed back. That alone terrified her.
Daisy and home were there.
Don’t think. Stop thinking.
She held him tightly, not wanting to let him go.
“I will always be here for you, Tabby. You need to know that.”
“I do.”
For several songs, they danced, and she loved it, feeling him around her. When another upbeat song came on, Tabitha pulled away, holding his hands, and she started to sway her hips. There was no way she was going to let either of them be pulled down into the darkness. All of that could come back later. They only had now and each other. She was going to work with that.