Page 221 of Rebellious

“Dad always says everything happens for a reason,” CJ started. “We won’t ever reconnect if we don’t look at what happened between us—not to you—differently. I’ll be seventeen soon and you’ll be sixteen in December. Maybe you needed to spread your wings and see if I was really who you wanted. Maybe you should go to college, see another side of life.”

“Aunt Meggie wanted the same for you.”

“She still does. But the club is in my blood, Harley. I want to patch in more than anything.”

“So, Mattie wants to have a cybersecurity firm that she owns but services the club. She wants Ryan to work with her, too.”

CJ widened his eyes.

“I’m going to run the business side of things. Just like we joined the cheer team because you made the football team, we’re planning our future around your clubhouse.”

“How does Rebel fit in?”

“She doesn’t know and neither do Mattie and me. She gave up on the idea of special enforcer. At one time, she wanted to do that and own a shop where she built custom bikes.”

They forced her to reconsider the special enforcer idea. Because of Mom, but where did that leave Rebel? Focused on Kaia and Diesel. Knee deep in her own trauma, instead of being the happy, spoiled princess she had been.

“I think she started seeing her role as whatever Diesel wanted her to be.” Harley grimaced. “I’m glad she has Kaia. Diesel is so intense.”

“That’s a fucking understatement,” CJ said, laughing.

“Mattie’s afraid of him—”

CJ narrowed his eyes.

“No, he hasn’t done anything to her. He’s just…intense,” she reiterated.

“A crazy motherfucker.”

Harley giggled. “You didn’t hear that from me.”

CJ smiled. “My lips are zipped.”

“I hope she does think of a major. Even if she doesn’t use her degree. It would give her room to find out who she is.”

“Wait, is Rebel thinking about going out of state, too?”

“I don’t think she’s going to college, CJ.”

“Fuck, that’s a relief. How could we vet the motherfuckers she’s interested in?”

Shaking her head, Harley gave him a disapproving look. “Stop crowding her, CJ. Give her space.”

“She wanted to join a dating app. Did I tell you that? If we give her space, she won’t use it properly.”

“Is that for you to decide?”

“Dad, me and Diesel,” CJ confirmed, frowning.

“Do you really think Diesel would approve of anyone for her? Do you think he’ll take his foot off her neck and give her the room she craves to meet new people and be a normal teenager?”

What she wanted the most. She’d said it often enough for CJ to hear it in his sleep. “I’m seriously sick of that fucking term. That’s all Rebel ever spouts about. It’s a fucking disease that you’ve caught.”

“We’re not going to solve this tonight, so why don’t we change the subject? Just know I don’t agree with how you’re smothering Rebel.”

“I’ve noted your argument, Harls,” he told her, reaching for the water glass and realizing it was empty. “Are you ready to order?”

“I am,” she responded with a smile.