Chapter 34

Merigold

I wake feeling like crap again. And it has nothing to do with the workout I had last night. I have been feeling off for a couple of weeks now. I thought I had the flu but it just keeps coming and going. One day fine, next I feel like crap. And some seriously crazy dizzy spells. I'm not sure what to make of it. Lug Nut has been with me most days because of Viper's sudden overprotective streak. I know he has noticed something isn't right but so far he hasn't said anything. But he is watching me more closely than before.
I reach to get a cup of coffee but the smell makes me nauseous. I grab some ginger ale instead. The twins are in the living room watching cartoons. They are going to Anna's later because of a party my brother insists I have to go to. I would rather stay at home tonight and veg out on the couch. Viper says it is important. Something about a couple of the guys going out of town for work for a week. I don't get it but I'm going anyway for my brother. If I'm still feeling bad I'll just sneak out early.
" Lug Nut, are you sure you don't want any breakfast? I can whip something up for you." I try to walk to the table where he is sitting having his coffee. But I didn't make it. I get very dizzy and it feels like the room is spinning. My vision goes black and I no longer feel like I'm standing but I don't hit the floor either. I feel arms and a chest. My vision starts to clear and I notice Lug Nut has his arms wrapped around me and I'm sitting in his lap on the floor. When did he move from the chair? He is looking at me with concern in his eyes. " Merigold? Are you alright?" " Yea. Just got a little dizzy. I'm good." I say getting up off the floor.
He helps me to a chair and gets me a glass of water. Lug Nut sits across from me " Merigold I think it's time I talk to Viper about this. You need to go to a doctor." " No! You can't tell Viper. It's just a bug. It will pass." " If your brother found out about this and I didn't tell him he would have my ass. It is my job to look after you. You are the club Princess for fuck sake. The whole club would be after me if anything happened to you on my watch." He rubs his hand over his face "Next time I faint I'll make sure not to do it on your watch. I'll take the blame, Lug Nut. Please you can't say anything to Viper or any of the brothers." I'm practically begging him.
He huffs " For now I won't say anything. But damn it Merigold I'm your friend as well as your protector. I'm getting worried. I don't want anything to happen to you." I feel bad for putting him in this situation but I don't want anyone to know. Especially since there may not even be anything to worry about. " Lug Nut I'm sorry to worry you. I know I'm putting you in a tough spot. I promise if it happens again I'll make a doctor’s appointment. Will that make you feel better?" Lug Nut gets up from his chair and hugs me. " I'll take it for now. But if it happens again I'm telling the brothers. But for now, I want you to eat. And maybe take a nap to rest up for tonight. I have to bring you to the party."
Anna picks the boys up later that afternoon. After I make the phone calls I need to the people we hired, I'll follow Lug Nuts’ advice and take a nap. I start with the people we decided to go with. I call the first three mechanics. I let them know when to report for duty. I called Mrs. Merritt next. I told her we hired her for a mechanics position instead of the receptionist position. She is so happy she squeals loud enough I have to pull the phone away from my ear. I can’t help but laugh at her excitement. I tell her to report to work the next morning and Jesse will walk her through everything. I let her know if she has any problems or needs anything she is to call me. Then I give her my number.

I call Clayton next. When I tell him he didn’t get the receptionist job I can hear the disappointment in his voice. He thanks me and is about to hang up when I stop him. “ Clayton, I have another job for you instead.” I told him. I explain to him what I’m doing and that I want him to be my assistant. I also want to mentor him. I will work around his school schedule. I told we could even look into it and see if there is a way to get school credit as an intern program. By the time I was done he had accepted and was saying thank you repeatedly. I told him to come to the shop Monday morning at nine and we would go over everything together. I have to get started on my first detail job. None other than Tank. He was so happy with the helmet I gave him that he now wants his bike done with the same design. For now it is time for a nap.
Lug Nut wakes me a few hours later and I see it is dark outside. " How are you feeling?" he asks. " Fine actually. Guess I just needed a little more sleep." " Good. I got us some dinner then you need to get dressed." I go downstairs to the kitchen to have dinner with him. Taking my stomach into consideration he got us some subs. It is sweet that he thought of it. All of the guys are good to me and Lug Nut and I have become close friends but I still miss Alaric and Mac. We talk at least three times a week but it isn't the same as them being here.
Maybe I'll see if they can come up for a visit soon. I know the twins would love it. And I would like them to meet my new brothers as well. For the longest time, they were the only family I had. I want them to see my extended family. But those are thoughts for another day. Right now I have a party to get ready for. I swear these guys look for any excuse to party, not that they need one. I thank Lug Nut for dinner and head upstairs to get dressed.
I wasn't lying to Lug Nut when I said I was feeling better. I guess I'm not getting enough sleep. I am going to have to make a point to get some more. Maybe cut down on my sex marathons with Rowdy and Axel. You know maybe just one round a night. They won't be around tonight because they are part of the group going out of town and need to get up early. Not to mention they probably need to save energy. I grab a quick shower since I don't need one but it feels refreshing.
I go to my room to get dressed. I'm looking in my closet and deciding on my knee-length navy blue lace sundress. It has thin straps and a corset-type bodice that enhances my breasts and is flared at the waist to make my hips look flattering. And the color makes my eyes pop. I top the look with my cowboy boots because I wouldn't be me without them.
Now for some light make-up. I put on some eyeliner to make the cat-eye look. Some mascara and tinted lip gloss and I am good to go. I never have been into a bunch of makeup. I leave my hair down but put a clip on the right side to pull it back behind my ear. Part of me hopes to catch Rowdy and Axel's attention. What can I say? I like the way they look at me even if they won't do anything with my brother around. It is still nice when they look at me with lust in their eyes.
I get to the living room where Lug Nut is waiting. I do a little spin " How do I look?" " Like Viper needs to get his shotguns ready.'' We laugh because he always says that when we go to these parties. We walk out to my truck and he holds the passenger door open like the true southern gentleman he is, at least with me.
We get to the clubhouse and Lug Nut comes to help me out. He walks me in with his hand on the small of my back. If it wasn't something all my brothers do you might think it is weird for a friend to do. But I caught on real quick when Viper assigned me security that they all do it. It is a protective stance to keep me close. But once we are safely in the clubhouse he lets go. He walks with me towards the bar where I see Tank sitting but something at the table to the left catches my attention.
What I see makes my stomach roll and I feel the bile rise up in my throat. I can't seem to take a deep breath and my chest clenches. But outward you wouldn't know I'm feeling anything other than my eyes drop to the floor. I can't look anymore. At the table sit Rowdy and Axel. They each have a skinny, fake boob club bunny in their lap.
The girls aren't just sitting there. They are rubbing upon their chest. Legs across their laps. Rowdy has his hand on the girl's upper thigh very close to her ass that is barely hidden in her skirt. Skirt yea right. That thing is riding so high I can see what I think are panties. The girl in Axel's lap is whispering something in his ear while his hand is on the small of her back rubbing up and down. What I see next makes me almost vomit. I get the urge to bleach my brain to erase the image. The girl in Rowdy's lap grabs his crotch and kisses him.
I wrap my arms around my waist to try to hold myself together. But I don't let anyone see my pain. They were done with me and didn’t have the decency to tell me. Just moved on. I was just a fling. A conquest. Probably a game to see if they could bang Viper’s little sister . What they have whispered in my ear for the past few months.The things they said even just last night were that. Just words. They never meant them. I was nothing to them. I was stupid enough to not listen to my brain. I listened to my body. I was dumb enough to believe that they would want me. I was foolish to think I could be more. What was I thinking. I knew better. I am better than that to let myself get used like that. I won’t let anyone see my hurt.
" Lug Nut go have fun. It is your night off. I want you to enjoy it. I'm going to wander around." He looks down at me " You sure? I can hang out with you." " I'm good," I say. He doesn't look convinced. I hope he can't read that I'm anything but good. " Ok. But if you need me, come find me." Lug Nut is a great friend and I know he would do anything for me but right now I want to get lost in the crowd. I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him. " Thank you Lug Nut. But go, I'll see you tomorrow.