-Hailey-
The sun was down by the time Abby’s SUV pulled into the driveway. I’d been pacing the living room for at least an hour.
–
My actually, Logan’s… duffel bag was already packed and waiting by the door.
Mom had been watching me with that quiet, knowing look of hers, washing the dishes from dinner and letting me stew in my own anticipation.
When Abby walked in, she took one look at my face and raised an eyebrow. “Alright, what’s going on? You have that look.”
“What look?” I asked, trying to play it cool.
“The same look you had when you ran away with Matt,” she said, crossing her arms. “The ‘I’m about to do something reckless‘ look. What’s going on?”
I took a deep breath. “I’m going back to Riverstone.”
Abby blinked and her expression shifted from curiosity to concern. “Hailey, are you sure? Logan-”
“I’m sure,” I cut her off. “I need to fight for him, Abs. I need to make him see I’m not going anywhere.”
She studied me for ages, her hazel eyes searching mine. Then she sighed, shaking her head. “You’re serious, huh?”
“Completely,” I said, grabbing my bag. “So…. you up for a little road trip?”
Abby groaned. “You’re gonna make me go gray prematurely. You know that, right?”
I grinned, despite the nervous flutter in my chest. “Come on, Abby. You’ve got the day off tomorrow, trips.”
and you love road
“Yeah, because *I* usually plan them,” she muttered, but I could see the spark of excitement in her eyes. “Alright. Fine. But if Logan breaks your heart again, I’m not responsible for what I do to him.”
I laughed, relief flooding through me. “Thank you.”
She rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. “Give me twenty minutes. I’ll go pack a bag.”
I watched her back out of the driveway, then went into the kitchen. Mom stepped up to me, resting her hand on my shoulder.
“Be careful,” she said softly. “And call me when you get there.”
I nodded, leaning into her for a quick hug. “I will. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, honey.”
By the time Abby returned, the nervous flutter in my chest had turned into a full–blown panic. She tossed my bag into the back with hers and climbed into the driver’s seat, shooting me a look as I slid into the passenger side.
“You realize this is insane, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, buckling my seatbelt. “But I have to do it.”
Abby snorted, shaking her head as she started the engine. “You’re lucky I love you.”
Chapter 66
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We pulled out of the driveway, and the hum of the engine filled the silence as I connected my phone to the SUV’s Bluetooth to play music.
As I put on some thrash metal to fit the vibe, I noticed the full moon was rising higher. I couldn’t help but feel like we were racing against time.
“So,” Abby said after a while. “What’s the plan when we get there Are you just gonna storm into this biker bar and declare your undying love?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Not exactly. I just… I need to see him. Talk to him. Make him see reason.”
Abby nodded. “Alright. But if he’s an asshole about it, I’m dragging you out of there myself.”
“You won’t have to,” I said softly, leaning back in my seat.
The miles stretched on, and the landscape shifted from rolling farmland to dense forest as we got closer to Riverstone. My stomach churned harder with every mile.
“You’re gonna be okay,” Abby said softly, glancing at me. “No matter what happens.”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “I know.”
But the truth was, I didn’t. I didn’t know if Logan would even want to see me. If he’d be pissed at the sight of me.
All I knew was that I couldn’t stay away. Not anymore.
We finally reached Riverstone, and the city lights were casting a warm, golden hue over the streets. The familiar sights the neon signs, the crowded sidewalks sent a shiver through me.
–
Abby glanced at me again, her smirk returning. “So… you really think he’s worth all this?”
“Yeah,” I said softly, staring out at the buildings. “He really is.”
She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Well… I guess we’ll find out.”
My heart was in my throat now. “Take a left up here,” I murmured. “Then it’s about two miles down.”
She followed my directions until the clubhouse came into view. The brick walls, the faded Warriors MC logo. The parking lot was packed with bikes, and their chrome reflected the neon light like a warning.
Abby pulled into the lot, parking near the edge. My heart was racing, my palms were sweaty.
The panic hit me all at once, sharp and suffocating.
“Wait.” My voice cracked as I reached for the door handle. “I can’t do this.”
Abby turned to me, her eyes narrowing into slits. “What do you mean you can’t do this? We just drove three hours for this, Hailey.”
“I know, but…” I trailed off, trying to control my breathing. “What if he doesn’t want to see me? What if he’s mad?” What if—-”
“Stop,” Abby interrupted my spiral. “You didn’t come all this way to chicken out now. You’re going in there, and you’re going
to talk to him.”
“But-”
“No buts,” she said, cutting me off again. “You’re stronger than this, Hailey. You’ve been through hell and back. You survived being shot… you can handle Logan Nash.”
18:56 Fri, Jan 2 D
Chapter 66
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I stared at her. My chest was tight. “I told him I loved him, Abby And he walked out the door. What if he tells me to leave?”
“He probably will,” she muttered, grabbing my hand. “But you came here to make him see reason. So you will.”
I nodded slowly, but my breaths were still shaky. Abby squeezed ny hand. “You got this, Hails. Now… I’m going in there for a drink. You can either sit here and keep panicking, or you can come inside with me.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I climbed out of the SUV The cold night air hit me like a slap, but it kind of helped clear my head. I could do this. I had to do this.
Abby followed me as we crossed the parking lot. The closer we got to the building, the louder the noise became. Music thumped through the walls, and my heart dropped from my throat to my stomach as I reached for the door.
I hesitated for a second with my hand hovering over the handle. Abby nudged me gently. “Go on,” she said softly. “You got this.”
I swallowed hard as I pulled the door open. The warmth of the clubhouse hit me first, followed by the familiar scent of smoke and leather.
The room was packed, and I scanned the crowd, searching for him.
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
