"Don't do anything stupid," Mac says and grips my arm. The fucker knows me like nobody. My eyes are trained on Ferdinand, and I'd gladly run that piece of shit over with my Fat Boy.

What's his fucking deal? Of all chicks, why Bella?

"Let me go." I grit my teeth, and Mac releases me. Dakota says nothing; I have yet to tell her about Fer.

"What the fuck?" I say, standing next to the log the two lovebirds are perched on.

"Brian." Bella smiles, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.

"What's he doing here?" I ask, boring my eyes into Ferdinand's smug face. What's he up to? He can't be into Bella. They're from different worlds, which only means one thing—there's a purpose behind this bullshit.

"I can invite whoever I want, same as you," Bella says and points to Dakota.

"Not him. He's not welcome here."

Fer smirks. "Why? Because you're fucking my ex?"

Bella looks hurt as if she was my girl and I cheated. She's not, never has been, and I thought I made myself clear. I feel almost sorry, but then remember that of all guys, she chose to be with the prick who promised to make my life hell.

"Shut your mouth, Ferdinand. And leave right fucking now."

Bella glares at me. "No! And is it true? Do you really sleep with the goody-two-shoes now?"

"It's none of your business. The Temple's the place where friends meet. The guy you dragged here isn't our friend."

Bella tips her chin up and hops off Ferdinand's lap. "Fine! Let's go, Gavin. For your information, Brian, this place isn't your property. The Temple doesn't belong to you."

"Whatever," I say. "Get lost, both of you."

They leave. Everyone's attention is on me, and I loathe it.

"Go on having fun, guys," I say and pivot to walk away.

Footsteps break the quiet and make the dry branches crunch. They belong to Mac, Dakota, and Lenny.

"Let's grab something to eat," Lenny offers.

We go to a diner that's open twenty-four seven and take a seat in a corner booth. My mood's shitty, and Dakota's aware of it. She saw a very different Brian from the one I show everyone else. D dragged my drunk ass out of the clubs too many times to count, and I crashed on her couch way too often. I owe her because she was there for me the way Mac had been that week when I nearly died.

I eat some but drink way more. D hasn't touched her beer. I feel shitty for forcing her to be my DD tonight, but I'm already too smashed to care.

"Let's get moving, guys," Dakota says. "I've got a lot to do in the morning."

She's lying. She's afraid to see me fly off the handle. I follow her outside and sit behind her on the bike.

"I have no clue who that prick is and what he did, but I didn't like seeing you like that, baby boy. Have you been to the doctor since you came back here?" Dakota asks as soon as she's killed her Harley's engine in my driveway.

"Ferdinand messed with my girl. Something's going on, and I can't stand not knowing what sick games he's playing."

"Go to bed. We'll talk tomorrow."

I oblige, but I'm too wound up to fall asleep. After tossing and turning in bed for half an hour, I get dressed and exit the house.

"Stop!"

Dakota's sitting on the porch swing with her hands wrapped around a bottle of beer.

"I need to talk to Bella," I say, halting.

"No, you don't."

"I do, D."

Dakota sighs and struts over to my bike. "I'll drive. You've been drinking, and I don't trust you. Besides, I'll be your backup in case your girl finds out you went in the middle of the night to see a chick you slept with."

"Okay," I huff.

I tell Dakota where to go. We're next to Bella's house after a while. Dakota stays behind as I pick up a pebble and throw it at Bella's window. She'll know it's me; that's what I've been doing since we were sixteen.

Bella opens the front door and stares at me, her arms crossed.

"Is that dick here with you?" I ask.

Bella smirks. "Jealous?"

The question makes me roll my eyes. "Of course, I'm not. Is he?"

"No. Is that why you came here like you used to? To make sure I was alone?"

My patience is as thin as the ice on my favorite lake in spring. "Listen, sugar, you ain't stupid. He's not into you—he's using you to get to me because I punched his face, and Ferdinand can't stand being humiliated. He'll use you for whatever the fuck he wants and dump you. You deserve better than that."

"Maybe we're using each other, Brian. Did you think about that? That you're here tells me something. You're jealous, aren't you? You don't want to be with me but don't want other guys near me?"

"I'm not jealous. Fuck whoever you want, but not someone who considers me his enemy. Are you really that blind? What did he promise you? Money?"

"Go away, Brian," Bella hisses. "Unless you miss me because, let's get real, that girl isn't giving you what you need."

"That's our cue to leave, baby boy. Come on."

Dakota drags me away, tugging at the sleeve of my leather jacket.

"Stop it, D. I'm not a kid."

She throws her hands up. "I don't get you. That chick screams trouble. I'd stay the fuck away, and you do the opposite. Watch her go to your girl and use your midnight visit against you."

I snort. "That's ridiculous."

Dakota sighs, starting the Harley. "I sure hope so."

***

The following morning, I'm hungover and miserable. Dakota has to leave even before lunch — the workers arrived early, and she needs to supervise everything.

We hug, say our goodbyes, and I drag my feet to the garage after texting Kitten to check on her and say my friend had left. Pops is running some errands, and I'm in charge.

I don't regret going to see Bella. I've known her for years; it was my job to warn the stupid chick, who's too damn oblivious for her own good.

Close to lunchtime, I'm replacing brake pads. It's a simple task, but my tiredness makes me clumsy.

"Hey."

I grin and look up from the Ducati I'm fixing.

"Hey, Kitten. Come here."

Leah smiles and approaches me. I scramble to my feet and dash to the sink to wash my hands. Then, I cup her cheeks and kiss her lips.

"Hey, Brian," she whispers, caressing my hair. "Are you free at lunch?"

"I can be. Why?"

Leah shifts on her feet. " It's sunny. I thought we could have lunch together by the lake, but if you don't want to—"

"Fuck, babe, of course, I do. Let me finish one thing, and I'm all yours."

Leah watches me work quietly. Then, she asks, "How was The Temple?"

Shitty. "Great. How was studying with Annie?"

Kitten grins. "Amazing. We made a cake, and I saved you a piece."

"Thank you, baby," I say. It's good to see her happy, doing normal things. Annie's a great chick, and it's great that my friends are Leah's, too.

"And I wanted to say I'm sorry for being jealous and running away. I should've asked you who Dakota was instead of assuming you two slept together."

"It's okay, Kitten. I should've probably deleted some pictures."

Leah shakes her head. "No! I'd hate that. It's in the past, and I don't want you to change or be someone you're not. I guess I have to learn to talk to you and-"

I drop the wrench and hug Leah. Her smell envelops me, calming me down. "Stop," I whisper into her hair. "We both need to learn, okay? You did nothing wrong."

I rush to finish work and close the garage. Kitten brought sandwiches and the cake, and that small detail warms my heart.

We ride to the woods. This time, I'm prepared. I spread a blanket on the wooden pier and pull Leah into my arms as we sit to eat.

The day's beautiful. Spring's almost here, and I can't wait for it to be warm enough to swim. Leah and I could do it together. I also want to go back to the cabin with her. She saw the beach in winter, but it's much better when the weather's pleasant and the days are longer.

We chew in silence, and I don't mind it in the least. When the food's gone, Leah snuggles into me. I unzip my jacket and hers and make her straddle my legs.

"Brian?"

The unspoken question swims in Kitten's eyes that sparkle like the lake water under the rays of February sun.

I smile at Leah and press my mouth to hers.

Our kiss is slow, but I sense when we want more. My tongue strokes Kitten's, and she responds to my caresses eagerly, opening her mouth to let me kiss her harder and moaning when my hand slides under her warm sweater.

Her skin is soft, and her breathing is fast when I flatten my palm over the bare skin of her stomach. "Hush, baby," I whisper against her lips and claim them.

I hope I'm not going too fast. Whatever this is, I don't want to spoil it with my impatience.

We still, our mouths a hairbreadth from each other, and our foreheads pressed together.

I move my hand up and rest it on Leah's breast.

"Should I stop?" I say, struggling to recognize my voice.

"No," Leah mumbles, and I touch her gently, running my fingertips over the thin fabric of her bra. Her eyes gaze into mine as I tug the lace down and caress her hardened nipples.

She's the one to kiss me, and the touch of her lips is almost desperate. I go on caressing her, palming her breasts while our lips and tongues work in sync.

I crave her, but the wait makes everything more special. For the first time, I'm ready to work for something, and I know I'll cherish it forever once it's finally mine.

Once she's mine.