Page 7 of Bones

There’s just a feeling inside me that I can’t seem to shake off. The numbness is starting to consume me, and it’s terrifying. The only time it recedes is when I’m distracting myself with Doc.

Rose comes over and starts to give Suit a lap dance, while Brandy has her eyes on me. I don’t want to hurt her feelings. I know she’s had a rough time after pissing off Ghost and being a bitch to Xanthe, but I really don’t want her. I haven’t fucked anyone since I laid eyes on Doc, and I don’t know why. She’s not even mine yet, so I could be with anyone that I want without any guilt, but I’m just not into it.

Standing up before she can make her way toward me, I leave Suit with the two of them and head out into the bar. Angel is sitting there with a drink in his hand, his eyes on his phone. I’m surprised he’s not in there with Suit. I know the two of them like to fuck women together.

“You seen Pyro?” I ask, wanting to have a word with him.

Angel lifts his head and puts his phone down on the bar. “Nope. I don’t think he sleeps at the clubhouse much. Prez gave him that house at the back of the property since he has all of those dogs.”

“Right,” I mutter, not needing the reminder that he and Doc have that in common.

“Everything all right?” he asks, running his palm over the scar on his face.

“Yeah,” I reply, clapping him on the back as I stand up. “I’m heading to bed.”

I’m almost at my room when Skull opens the door to his, closing it behind him. We’re building our conjoined houses on the property, and they should be finished in a few weeks.

“Hey, everything okay?” I ask, frowning. I had our daughter today while he was working at our mechanic shop, Vipers. We’ve hired a few extra staff now, so we don’t have to be there every day like we used to.

“Yeah, Natalia is fast asleep. I just wanted to ask if you’d like to come away with us for a few days. Isla found this big house right near the beach and thought it would be good if we went off-grid for a bit,” he says, leaning his back against the wall. “I want to spend some time with you and our girl.”

“I can’t,” flies out of my mouth before I can even consider it. “Why don’t you guys go? You’ve never done a trip away with Isla.”

“I know, but?—”

“Skull, it’s fine. I have some things going on right now, and I can’t just leave, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t,” I say, resting my arm on his shoulder. “Go spoil the girls.”

“What things do you have going on that don’t involve us?” he asks quietly when I’m about to turn away.

“Just things,” I reply, opening my room door and turning back to face him. “I tell you what… when you come back, we can do something together. How does that sound?”

He nods, his blue eyes, identical to mine, narrowing. “We miss you. I miss you.”

My throat works as I swallow. “I’m right here. And I’ll still be here when you get back. Night, brother.”

“Night,” he replies.

I close the door.

I miss him too.

But I don’t need my conscience around when I’m about to do something fucked up.

In fact, the farther away he is right now, the better.

MEREDITH

“Nice to see you again,” I say, smiling at Nate as he sits down, watching me quietly. I wasn’t sure if he would come back. He’s unpredictable, but I am very intrigued, and not just because he’s extremely good-looking.

He glances around the room before returning those blue eyes to me. “Do you like your job?”

I never know what he’s going to say, and I find myself enjoying that. “I do. Every day is different, and I like knowing I can help people.” I tilt my head and give a more honest answer. “I like trying to understand people and why they are programmed the way they are.”

“You must have a really analytical mind,” he replies. “And observation skills. I’m guessing you have to be calm and patient to build a safe enough environment so that your clients trust you.”

“This is a safe environment,” I echo. “Everything that we speak about is confidential, and there’s no judgment here.”

“I hate doctor’s offices.” His voice is now flat.