I don't know how long I'm in my office drawing sketches for clients when there's a knock, and Hawk pops his head in. He looks at me concerned, but I just look down again, continuing my work. "I'm busy."
He hums, "I know, but I've got one excited redhead out front looking forward to your date. Of course, Phoebe paged me through the front, but I said I'd come get you."
I slowly close my eyes.
Shit.
I was supposed to message her and cancel. I don't want her near me when I feel like this.
Hawk sees me struggling before he speaks again: "I can tell her something came up, brother; she'd understand."
I just scoff before looking at him. "That's the problem, though, isn't it, brother? She always fucking understands. It's only recently that I've been telling her about my life after I treated her like a fucking fuck buddy."
Sighing, I slam my sketchbook down before getting up and storming out of my office towards the reception area. Phoebe gives me a flirty smile, but I ignore her and look towards my girl, who's leaning against the counter, looking at my work. Pride shines on her features, and some of my anger melts away before she looks up and our eyes meet. She grins at me, and for the first time since arriving here, I feel myself smile back.
I walk over to where she's leaning and see her looking at a memorial deputy badge tattoo. I tilt my head toward her, seeing her eyes on the page again.
I wrap my arm around her lower back before kissing the side of her head, rubbing my nose along her cheek, making her smile while I rasp, "I can create something like this for you if you're interested."
She looks at me with tears in her eyes before nodding her head, making me smile wider while Hawks bitches.
"OK, that's not fucking fair; why does he get your fucking virgin skin? I claimed that last fucking year when he didn't even know you existed."
Sophie giggles, her eyes shining while looking at me, and I look at Hawk, "probably because she's my girl dipshit."
Phoebe gasps, making me roll my eyes. Hawks told her several times that Soph was mine, yet she never believed him. Sighing, I kiss my girl's head again, making her lean into me with a happy sigh while Hawk smiles before turning back to his room to get ready for his next client, but not before he kisses her head, making me growl and Sophie giggle some more, and I must admit, I fucking love that sound.
I run my nose alongside hers before I rasp, "I just have to sign a couple of things, then we'll get out of here. Look through the book and see if anything pops out to you."
She nods and kisses my lips, making me smile before I squeeze her hip. I go behind the desk, ignoring a scowling Phoebe, and start to sign some documents for the legal side of the business. I'm on the fourth document when I hear a phone buzz against the counter. I look up to see Sophie sitting on one of the couches, looking through my book but leaving her phone on the counter near me. I smile and shake my head before going back to the final document.
This one is not for my shop but for Buzz; he's looking for a building site to start the construction company Axel decided to start. The club voted unanimously, and now we're trying to find the best place to start it up. Buzz found a place the next town over, and so far, it looks like a fucking steal. Nodding my head, I sign the document, agreeing with the purchase after seeing Flames signature and being our treasurer, so I know we're good money-wise. Just as I put the pen down, ready to take my girl for baked goodies, Phoebe nudges me. I look at her with a furrowed brow while she looks at me sadly before showing me a phone.
I pick it up, confused, thinking it's hers when I press the button on the side, but a picture of me and my girl pops up from last week. She's smiling wide at the camera while I'm kissing the side of her head. There's a sheet covering us from underneath her armpits, both of us completely naked under it. I look at Phoebe, ready to go at her for grabbing my girl's phone, when she shakes her head and whispers, "I didn't mean to; I thought it was mine; we have the same model. But, uh, I saw a message from her ex."
I furrow my brows before looking at the screen again and see that there is, in fact, one from Todd, and I swallow hard, wondering if I should invade her privacy and wait to see if she tells me, or do I say fuck it and swipe the message down to see it?
I know they're friends, and I fucking hate it.
I bite my bottom lip, taking my lip ring into my mouth. The phone may be locked, but I can still see messages on the lock screen.
Shit, shit, shit.
My thumb hovers over it as I look up and see Sophie completely entranced by my artwork.
Her phone vibrates in my hand again, and I look down, deciding, Fuck it.
The message was from her Momma, and I smiled.
Momma bear – I love you, darling girl. When are you bringing that handsome man back around for dinner?
Her mother's awesome; you can see the pain in her eyes, but she tries to fight it for her daughter. I swallow hard, feeling like I'm betraying her, and press on the other message, and instantly, my blood runs cold, and anger takes its place. After everything with my mother and Dagger's revelations this morning, this caused the eruption. I vaguely see Phoebe smirk in the background and vaguely see Sophie walking over to me with a smile on her face as I read and re-read the message, ensuring I haven't taken it out of context, and yep, I fucking haven't.
Todd – I can't wait for tomorrow, Soph. I'm literally shaking with excitement. I love you so much and can't thank you enough for everything. You're my angel.
I see red.
She's fucking cheating on me with her ex.