Page 59 of Knuckles

I swear he’s just as much of a menace in his adult years as he was in his teens when he wants to get his own way, and if it means keeping Liam in the state, then he’ll do anything, including ruining any chances I have at a job offer.

I tilt my head as I watch the woman try to come up with an excuse and I shake my head. All my interviews are out of state because Liam has made it clear he will be leaving the club when I get a job. Yet, despite the enthusiasm of the employers, by the time I speak to them, the role is filled, even five minutes before I call them, which makes me think my friend's meddling husband is monitoring my emails.

Mandy clears her throat and shifts slightly in her chair, her light brown eyes not looking my way, and I huff knowing there is no chance of trying to convince her that I’ll be the right fit for her school. Knowing the club, they probably donated thousandsto ensure they don’t employ me or threatened them, depending on what Trick could find.

“Okay, thank you for your time,” I say before hanging up without letting her explain herself, then I dial Clark's number and press the call button.

“Hey,” she answers after the third ring, “we need to make a play date kind of thing, Willow says she misses her auntie time, and honestly, I’m missing my Kodi time, Knuckles has become a hog since you let your relationship be known.”

“Yet she hasn’t complained about not seeing Belle,” I say, starting off slow as I tap my nail against my steering wheel and look at the gym where I know Liam is most likely grinding his back molars because I’m later than I said I would be.

The man doesn’t like me out of his sight since I woke up, and if I’m being honest, I don’t like him out of mine.

Is it healthy? Probably not, but do I care? Not one bit.

Liam is mine.

Clark sighs, “Willow was with Crash at the park a few days ago, you know trying to distract her from everything that keeps happening. The fact one of her favorite people nearly died and Belle was driving by when she saw them and god, Kodi, she was pissed. She lost it in front of Willow all because Crash didn’t call her and tell her that he had her. She thought he’d allow her near her behind my back after she injured my husband all because they are together. When he told her to leave she changed tactics and accused him of pulling away from her because he apparently wanted you. Willow doesn’t want to be near her, which has made things a little easier for me. But honestly, I don’t think my brother wants to see her either.”

Crap.

“She’s been, I guess, territorial over your brother for as long as I can remember, Clark, and Willow for that matter,” I remind her softly, and she hums.

“Doesn’t give her the right to speak to people like crap all because she can’t control her emotions. Crash chose her, she sought him out despite our friendship after we made a pact that you two stay clear of my brother, and he chose her. This behavior has to stop, especially when she knows she can’t see Willow, even if Crash has her,” she whispers, hurt lacing her tone.

Belle had been there a lot for her over the years, but I’m also aware that she played the fence, especially with Clark’s pregnancy, and told Crash his sister was leaving after Belle helped her pack up.

“I called to yell at you, but I can’t when you’re this down,” I groan.

“Wait, why? What did I do?” she asks in shock, and I shake my head.

“Cut the crap, Clark, I know you are aware that your husband has been ensuring every interview I have had ended with a ‘sorry but no,’” I state, “And don’t try and fib either that it’s about experience, it isn’t because I was a cop. Five minutes before I even call the places that I’m interested in, they are all for me working with them, then bam, they answer the phone, and they say the position has filled, heck, three positions went back up on the wanted sites!”

“Teaching isn’t your calling, Kodi. Drawing and painting, owning your own gallery, that is your calling,” she whispers, and I shake my head as I look down.

“Ever since Mom died, I have had my life micromanaged, Clark. I need to make my own decisions without you and your husband trying to meddle. I know the club doesn’t want to lose their brother, but you know how horrible it is to have your life mapped out for you,” I say lowly, hating that I have to be blunt with her.

For years, Dad has controlled me because of Mom’s decisions, for years I have lost who I was until Liam and I chose eachother. She knows the feeling that I’ve had for years. Trick forced her hand in marriage, Willow’s pregnancy was forced on her by a jealous club bunny, and even now, her pregnancy wasn’t planned by her.

She knows how I feel, yet she’s helping her husband…

I hear Clark sniffle before she chokes, “You’re my best friend, I can’t lose you.”

“You’re not losing me, Clark. I’m just trying to figure my life out now that I finally got it back. It doesn’t matter where I end up, I will always stay in contact with you,” I try to soothe her, and she sniffles again before I hear, “Buttercup? Why are you crying?”

I wince as I hear a scuffle and Clark’s protests before Trick growls, “Who in the fuck is this, and why have you made my girl cry?!”

“She’s crying, Trick, because she realizes she’s been taking my decisions away from me like my dad did after Mom died. Just like you took hers away after she had found out about Willow,” I answer with sass.

“Shit,” Trick mutters before he explains, “we don’t want to lose you, Kodi, or Knuckles, is that so bad?”

“It is when I’m trying to figure my life out, a life that requires me to work because I am not housewife material, I need to keep busy,” I reply, and he groans, “But out of state?”

“Yes, because nowhere else will hire me around town because of Dad. He’s tried to right his wrongs but not even the community center will take me back,” I say, “And don’t bring up me owning my own gallery, I can’t afford that and to live at the same time and no I won’t take a loan from the club. We both know it will change to the club being a silent investor taking five percent instead of the original fifteen and I also won’t rely on Liam because funny enough, I’m not with him for that, I’m with him because I love him.”

“Stubborn fucking woman!” I swear I hear Trick mutter before he says, “I won’t stop. I’m sorry, I know you want to be proud, I know it takes a lot for you to lean on someone, let alone a club that missed the signs of Knuckles being abused, but we’re not letting you both leave. Your family and Willow will hate you being gone.”

With that, instead of letting me speak to my friend again, who he knows will be pissed off at him, the ass hangs up, and I roll my eyes.