I hate it, because that means I was wrong.
It might even mean I was wrong to fuck up my engagement, that I was wrong to wait to tell my daughter’s father that I was pregnant.
“Tigers and Twin Flames”
A River Reapers MC Short Story
Author’s Note: Have you been wondering how the River Reapers would handle social distancing? I have! So I wrote a few very short stories, just for fun, just for you and me. The following is unedited, so please excuse any typos or errors. Please also be aware that it may contain spoilers for the series.
Lucy
“They cancelled it?!” my cousin—a biker who towers over everyone, swinging his scarred fists at his sides—exclaims. As if he’s never heard of a TV station cancelling a show before.
I shrug. “That’s what this website says.”
His brown eyes narrow. “But it was such a smart show. And now I’ll never know what happens.”
“Sorry, dude.” I fight a smile.
“A better question,” Olivia says, standing and stretching, “is what the hell are we gonna watch now?”
I glance from my adopted sister at the clock. It’s four in the morning. Time has no meaning for us anymore. We’ve been on quarantine time—and so is my infant daughter, lucky for all of us.
Olivia plunks herself into Cliff’s lap and I stiffen—only slightly. No one would ever even notice. It’s not that I don’t approve. We might be family in various, weird ways, but they aren’t actually related. My feelings about them are the complete opposite.
They were meant to be.
They’re twin flames, written in the stars, the stuff that tarot card readers and romance novel junkies are obsessed with. And I take it personally, because I don’t believe in that shit. At least . . . I didn’t. Not until I saw them together for the first time. They’d only just met, yet it was like they were reuniting, the way they stepped into place with each other and just kept walking. Whether either of them knows it or not, they’re head over heels in love.
And I hate it, because that means I was wrong.
It might even mean I was wrong to fuck up my engagement, that I was wrong to wait to tell my daughter’s father that I was pregnant. Even worse, it might mean that I was right, that Benjamin and I just didn’t have that spark. I loved him, and he loved me, but love isn’t always enough.
Olivia scrolls through Netflix, shaking her head every time she lands on a title.
“Seen it,” Cliff says, nuzzling into her neck.
I fight the urge to vomit.
Again, not because I think they’re gross. I mean, they kind of are. I scowl.
“What’s wrong, Luce?” he asks, lifting his nose and lips from my sister’s neck.
I breathe a sigh of relief. It comes out more like a sigh of frustration. “It’s just that we’ve finished Netflix,” I say, glancing at the clock again. “And we have a whole day ahead of us.”
“Well,” Olivia says, dragging out the word. “We haven’t seen everything.”
“Tiger King,” Cliff says, snapping his fingers. “Come on, Luce. We have to.”
“No fucking way.” I cross my arms. “I’ve heard all I need to know. A bunch of animal-abusing narcissists running around? No thank you.”
“I heard the same things,” he says, “but I also heard that it’s laugh out loud, outrageously hilarious. It’s got something for everyone.”
Olivia starts counting off the fingers on her hand. “Redneck gay zookeeper,” she says, holding up a finger. “Polygamy with straight meth addicts. Murder—there’s murder. We love murder.” She grins, her wide smile spreading.
I shake my head. “Of which I know nothing about,” I say loudly. Because I don’t. I can never, ever get involved with their club. It’s bad enough I know they sell drugs behind the bar, and that sometimes they sell guns. It’s also bad enough that my past is tied directly to their other dealings. Whether I agree with it or not, it’s saved my life and countless other lives.
So it’s better that I don’t know.
“Tiger King,” Cliff chants, and Olivia joins him.
It’s so weird to see the two of them this carefree. I mean, Olivia has always been loose in one way or another. She’s always marched to the pulse of her hot blood, straight to wherever her passion carries her. I’ve always been the careful one, forever playing it straight, never taking risks.
Cliff once took a huge risk for me, sacrificing most of his life. I guess the least I can do is loosen up and watch the stupid tiger show with these two fools.
That doesn’t mean I’ll be breaking any other rules. I don’t believe in love, even though it’s literally right in my face.
The only love I believe in is the love for family. That kind of love is forever.
THE END
Get More
River Reapers MC Quarantine Chronicles
Get a FREE short every Monday, plus immediately receive the standalone spinoff novella, Her Mercy.
River Reapers MC Series
Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited | Order a Signed Paperback
Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited | Order a Signed Paperback
Read for FREE with BookFunnel | Order a Signed Paperback
Elizabeth Barone 