average human’s Reviews > What Is Love > Status Update

I poured two fingers’ worth in one Solo cup and filled the other one with water from the sink before heading back.
Just as I stepped out of the kitchen, two bodies blocked my way.
“Lottie.” It was Roe’s voice.
I looked up and saw that he was standing in front of me with Wyatt.
“Hey, Lottie the hottie,” Wyatt said as he checked me out without shame.
Roe looked good in his uniform, but even better in regular clothes. He was in a tight black T-shirt, gray jeans, and rugged, laced-up, black leather boots. Wyatt was in nearly all black and it made his beautiful eyes pop. He had on a black leather jacket, similar to the one Reid had worn the other day, over a black T-shirt and blue jeans that were so dark they almost looked black.
Seeing them, I could feel the corners of my mouth lifting, but the noise of the party reminded me of where we were and who I was here with. I quickly schooled my face. “Hey,” I said and glanced toward the back door that led out onto the large deck. I could see Brandon’s back from here. He was distracted with his teammates.
My gaze flicked back to Roe and Wyatt, who were staring in the direction I had been looking. I noticed Roe’s jaw clench as they returned their attention to me.
“You’re here with him?” Roe asked.
I nodded.
“The boyfriend? Which one is he?” Wyatt asked, glancing back in Brandon’s direction.
I managed to hold my two Solo cups in one hand so I could reach for him. “Please don’t look that way,” I pleaded as I grabbed onto his jacket.
Wyatt looked back at me with a frown. “Why?”
“He won’t understand—” I started to say as I glanced in Brandon’s direction. Words left me when my eyes locked with Brandon’s. He looked from Roe and Wyatt to me, and it was clear as day that he was not okay with it. He started heading our way.
I quickly dropped my hand from Wyatt’s jacket and looked at Roe. “He saw us. He’s coming over here.” There was so much fear and panic in my voice I’d forgotten to hide. I met his storm-blue eyes, not knowing what to do. “Roe.” My voice was pleading.
He quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a baggie of joints. “Hold out your hand,” he said as he opened the bag. I did as he said and glanced in Brandon’s direction. He was weaving and pushing around people, trying to make his way over here.
Roe put a joint in my hand. “There’s your excuse.” His voice told me he wasn’t happy. He leaned his head toward Wyatt. “Let’s get this over with.”
Wyatt looked from Roe to me as he nodded, his eyes full of questions. Then both of them walked off seconds before Brandon approached.
“What were you doing talking to them?” he snapped, his voice demanding.
I tried not to flinch and held up a joint. “I figured it’d help loosen me up.”
He snatched the joint from my fingers. “You don’t need to be smoking that shit.” He turned to look in Roe and Wyatt’s direction. They were making their way around the party. They had stopped to talk to a couple of jocks and there was a quick exchange of cash for joints.
Brandon turned back toward me and leaned close. “I don’t want you talking to trash from the wrong side of the bridge.”
Biting my tongue, I nodded.
“Good. My drink?” he asked, and I handed it to him. He took a sip, seemed pleased, and grabbed my hand to pull me back outside.
I stood with him silently, like an obedient girlfriend, for a while. People joined and left the group Brandon was happy to be glued to. The girl with the shots came by again. That time, Brandon took a shot. His good friend and fellow teammate Oliver joined the group and brought Brandon another drink. I saw Alicia and Evie were here. I wasn’t shocked that they didn’t stop by to say hello. Instead, Alicia just glared at me, flipped her hair, and stalked back into the house, with Evie trailing behind.
I yearned for a break from just standing there as he drank, hung with his teammates, and groped me. His hand grabbed my ass, rubbed up and down my side, until he left it on my ribs so his thumb could brush the side of my boob. He didn’t care if his teammates saw, which they did. Most pretended not to. Others enjoyed the show. Brandon didn’t care that I was uncomfortable. I was an object. I was his object.
When talk shifted to sex, the urge to walk away for a bit was too strong to ignore.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, hoping he was too distracted listening to one of his teammates blabber on about a girl giving him head in the dugout after a game one time.
I went to walk away, but his arm around me tightened and pulled me flush against him. “Kiss me before you go.”
I tilted my head back to offer myself to him. His hand went to the back of my neck just before his mouth covered mine. I had expected it to just be a peck, but when I went to pull away, his hand held me in place. His tongue slid across the seam of my lips before pushing between them. I went stiff, unable to do much more without causing a scene. His tongue explored my mouth and assaulted my tongue. It was violating. I was a little in shock as he pulled away.
“Don’t be gone long,” he told me.
I nodded and stared at the ground as I headed back into the house. The farther I got from him, the more what had just happened really sank in. I was scared to swallow. I could still taste him in my mouth, and if I didn’t wash it out right away, I’d vomit.
Once inside, I realized I didn’t know where the restroom was. What if I found it and there was a line?
Quickly deciding what to do, I beelined for the kitchen and grabbed the first bottle of alcohol I saw. I dropped my water cup in the sink. I debated for a second whether or not to wash my mouth out there, but worried how that would look and whether rumors would travel back to Brandon. I looked around and saw another door leading outside at the other end of the kitchen. I took it, realizing that it led to the backyard, too, but closer to the side of the house. I walked until no one could see me from the deck. The bushes I was standing in front of really helped hide me. I quickly unscrewed the cap off the bottle, which was a very expensive vodka, and brought it to my lips. I filled my mouth, swished, gargled, and spit into the bushes.
“You know, I’ve never seen someone so repulsed by a kiss that they had to gargle with vodka,” a voice sounding like Wyatt said.
I straightened as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. To my right, in the direction I had come from, Roe and Wyatt were standing not even five feet from me. Roe was smoking a joint, his expression schooled as he watched me.
Wyatt had his hands in his leather jacket pockets, letting it show on his face that he was put off. “Your boyfriend looks like a terrible kisser. It was like he was trying to reach your tonsils.”
I gagged. “Ugh, stop it or I’ll throw up.”
Both of their brows lifted in surprise. I filled my mouth again, swished, and leaned behind the bushes so I could spit without them seeing me. The burn of the alcohol helped with the taste, but it didn’t erase the feeling. I straightened again and let out a frustrated noise. “It won’t go away.” My eyes began to burn and I quickly filled my mouth again, but this time I swallowed.
“What won’t go away?” Roe asked.
“He fucking knows I don’t want to be with him and he doesn’t care,” I seethed. I wanted to scream and yell. I took another drink instead.
Wyatt came over to me. “Whoa, there,” he said, snatching the vodka bottle. “From what you just said, you don’t want to be drunk around a guy like that.”
I tried to snatch it back.
He held it out of reach. “Sorry, gorgeous.”
With both hands, I raked my fingers along my scalp and pulled on my hair close to the root, hoping that would distract me from crying. “You don’t understand. It won’t go away.”
“Lottie,” Roe said a little firmly to hold my attention. “What won’t go away?”
A tear slipped out and I tried to inhale but struggled. “I can still feel him kissing me.” Maybe I’d never be able to erase the feeling of him because the kissing would never stop. It was only going to get worse. Eventually, I’d have to sleep with him. If it was this bad just kissing him…I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t and I’d be punished. I wouldn’t put it past Mother to tie me to a bed for him to do what he wanted. There was nothing I could do. I couldn’t stop it from happening.
I dropped my hands from my hair as I tried to take in breath again, but it wasn’t enough. It was too shallow. I fisted Wyatt’s jacket and put my other hand on my chest. “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.”
“Lottie,” I heard Roe say as he stepped closer.
“Ah, shit,” Wyatt cursed before I heard a thunk. It sounded like something dropped onto the grass. He grabbed me by my upper arms. “Charlotte,” he snapped. His tone was so serious, it startled me enough to look up at him. Before I could even process what was happening, his mouth was on mine.
I went still—everything went still. Even my mind.
Wyatt was kissing me. That was all I could focus on. He didn’t do anything more than press his lips to mine, but it was effective.
He pulled away far enough to look me in the eye. “Breathe.”
I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs to the point of relief.
When I exhaled, he seemed to relax with me. “Good job. You’re okay.”
“Really, Wyatt? You had to kiss her after she just had her mouth violated?” Roe asked as he came to stand right next to us. His joint was gone.
Wyatt released my arms and rubbed the back of his neck. “Would you believe me if I said I panicked and it was the only thing I could think of?”
Roe shook his head at him before looking me over. “Keep taking deep breaths.”
I did as he said.
“And I wouldn’t have called that a kiss,” Wyatt said.
Roe gave him an exasperated look. “Oh, really? What would you call it, then?”
“A form of resuscitation,” Wyatt said, sounding as if even he didn’t believe it. “It was an act of lifesaving.”
Roe just stared at him like he was ridiculous.
Wyatt let out a sigh and met my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
I laughed. It was either the alcohol or I was delirious, but I laughed. They watched as if I was losing it.
As I tried to calm down, I wiped under my eyes. “Is my makeup ruined?”
Wyatt shook his head. “You still look hot.”
Roe sighed and met my eyes. “Do you like rock music?”
The random question surprised Wyatt as much as it did me. Then he grinned.
Last time Roe had asked me if I liked something, he’d taken me somewhere. “Are you asking me to go listen to rock music with you?”
“Yes,” Roe said.
The sound of laughter from the party traveled to us, reminding me of all the reasons I shouldn’t. I looked past them, trying to see the deck, but the house and landscaping blocked it.
“Make something up,” Roe said. “Don’t go back to him.”
“He’s throwing back drinks like they’re water,” Wyatt said. “If he’s forceful with you now, I don’t want to imagine what he’s like when completely drunk.”
“I can’t just leave. I—” Wyatt voicing the fears I already had made it hard to convince myself to stay—to not give in to what I wanted versus what I was supposed to do.
“Just text him that you’re feeling sick and went home,” Wyatt suggested. “I doubt he’ll check his phone for a while.”
I’d get punished for leaving like this if Mother found out. There would be broken bones for sure, but the alternative of going back and dealing with him…I’d rather risk having my bones broken.
“I didn’t drive here and I’m not getting on the back of a motorcycle,” I said.
Wyatt reached into his back pocket and pulled out keys. “Well, it’s a good thing I brought my car.”

Wyatt’s car was an old, beat-up 1966 Chrysler Imperial. I had not known its make and model just by looking at it. Wyatt had told me. He had also said it was the same car a superhero had used in an old TV series, and the moment he’d seen it in the junkyard a year ago, he’d just had to have it. The inside of the car looked like he had fixed it up. Its matte light gray exterior, though, was covered in dents and scratches. The trunk was taped closed and there wasn’t a handle on the front passenger door. Wyatt had to open it from the inside just to let Roe in. I didn’t judge. I knew he was in the process of restoring it, but when he turned it on and things rattled, I did wonder if we’d make it to our destination.
While I sat in the backseat, I sent a text to Brandon saying I was sick and had taken a rideshare home. As soon as I sent it, I turned my phone off and shoved it into my wristlet. I was feeling a little bit of the alcohol Brandon had ordered me to drink and the sips I’d had from the vodka bottle. It was probably what had given me the courage to walk out of that party and text Brandon.
“Reid asked if we could swing by and pick up Mac on the way,” Roe said as he texted on his phone.
“Is she at Bram’s house or Reid’s?” Wyatt asked.
“Bram’s,” Roe answered.
“Bram’s house?” I repeated. “As in the Haven’s Rebels’ president?” As in the same man I’d met at the movie theater.
“Yeah. He’s married to Reid and Mac’s mom,” Roe answered.
“He’s Reid’s dad?” I asked, shocked. I remembered Wyatt telling me that Reid’s dad was a really bad man. The guy at the movie theater had seemed nice.
“No,” they both said at the same time.
“Bram and Vivian got married three years ago,” Wyatt explained. “Reid and Mac’s bio dad is…”
“Out of the picture,” Roe said.
“Oh,” was all I could think of to say. Reid was the MC president’s stepson. Interesting.
“I hate to bring this up, but I figured since we’re swinging by to pick up Mac, we could borrow something different for Lottie to wear,” Wyatt said.
“What?” Roe asked, sounding as confused as I was.
Wyatt’s forehead wrinkled with worry. “Lottie, I think you look very beautiful, but you’re going to stand out in that pink dress.”
Roe glanced back at me, taking in my outfit. “She’s beautiful. That’s already going to draw attention.”
“There’s nothing we can do about that, but do you want to put her in a bar full of drunk Rebels members while she’s wearing those clothes? Really think about it, Roe.” Wyatt looked at me through the rearview mirror. “You should be able to wear whatever you want wherever you want, but for safety, would you humor wearing something that will help you blend in a little?”
“I would prefer not to be noticed. So I’m good with it,” I said.
Roe got to texting again and by the time we pulled up to Bram’s house to pick up Mac, she was already outside with an armful of clothes. The MC president had a nice house. It was a two-story home with a two-car garage in a newer neighborhood. It had a nice green lawn, a long driveway, and flowers planted along the path leading up to the front door.
Roe got out of the car so he could pull the seat forward to let Mac climb into the back with me. She was dressed in skintight jeans that were ripped all over, exposing skin in different spots all up her legs. She had on laced-up matte black boots that had a thick heel and went up to mid-calf. Her shirt was a black halter body suit. Her brown-and-caramel hair was up in a messy bun, and she had on sparkling black dangle earrings. Her style was grunge and hot. Whereas mine was feminine and delicate.
She looked me over. “I see what you mean. Everything about her screams ‘princess from the north side of the bridge.’”
“Should I be offended by that?” I asked.
Roe climbed back in and Wyatt drove off.
“You look like money, babe,” she said as she went through the pile of clothes she’d brought. “Plus, you look innocent and fragile. We don’t want to attract every douchebag that’s going to be there tonight.” She held up a black leather skirt. “Do you like leather? I don’t fit in this anymore. I refuse to give up chocolate and it loves to go straight to my ass. Not that I care, or any of the guys who have seen me naked. They sure love to grab⁠—”
“Ugh, stop it!” Wyatt protested at the same time Roe said, “We don’t need to hear this.”
She rolled her eyes. “Anyways, this should fit you.” She handed over the skirt and went back to her pile. “What kind of bra are you wearing? Because I have this fishnet top⁠—”
“No!” Roe and Wyatt said at the same time before I could even answer.
“We’re trying to not draw too much attention, remember?” Roe said.
Mac snorted. “You can’t hide that she’s hot. We’re just trying to hide the fact that if anyone kidnaps her, they can ransom her for money.”
“What?” I asked at the same time Roe snapped, “Makayla!”
“Kidding!” she said. “Sort of.”
Roe sighed as he ran a hand down the side of his face.
“She’s not wrong,” Wyatt mumbled.
Mac looked at me as if my answer was the only one that mattered. I shook my head. “My bra wouldn’t go well with fishnet.”
“How about going braless?” she asked, making Wyatt groan and Roe curse. “I have this cute long-sleeve crop top that has ties in the front, but most of your sternum will be exposed. Wearing a bra with it would look weird.” She held up a dark green, almost black shirt. “It’ll look good with your eyes.”
I took it. “Thank you.”
“Yup. No problem.” She looked toward the front of the car. “Where is she supposed to change?”
“I’ll park in the alley behind Noble’s,” Wyatt said.
“What if someone walks by?” she asked.
Roe glanced back at us. “We’ll stand outside and make sure no one can see.”
When we got to Noble’s Pub, it was extremely busy. I could tell just from the amount of people hanging around out front as we drove by. Wyatt did as he’d said he would and parked in the back alley behind the pub. The guys got out and both stood on the driver’s side of the car with their backs to it. Before they had gotten out, they had cracked their windows to give us a little bit of air.
Mac helped me out of my dress and eyed my matching cream silk-and-lace lingerie. “Wow, your bra and panties match. Mine rarely ever match, but when they do, I really feel like I got my shit together that day.”
Just barely, I heard the guys grumble about not wanting to hear what Mac was saying.
I smiled and reached around to unfasten my bra. I took it off and folded my dress around it.
Mac handed me the shirt to put on first. I thought she was staring at the necklace Ms. Clark had given me, but then she said, “You have great tits.”
“Damnit, Makayla! You don’t need to say everything that enters your head!” Roe snapped from outside.
Not that they could see her, but she gestured to my chest. “There are nipples out, gentlemen. Am I just supposed to pretend they’re not there? It’s not like I’m hitting on her or anything. I prefer dick. If my tits were out and no one said anything, I would get self-conscious. I would want someone to compliment them.”
“Make her stop,” Wyatt whined.
Instead of feeling uncomfortable like I normally did when praised, I laughed as I got the shirt on and was tying the ties. “Well, thank you for the compliment.”
After that, I shimmied my way into the skirt. Mac said the boots I was already wearing went well with my outfit and we let the guys know we were ready.
Wyatt opened his door and slid the seat forward to let us out. He offered me his hand, and I didn’t feel any dread when taking it. As soon as I was out of the car, righting the leather skirt, I could feel Roe and Wyatt checking me out. I glanced at them. “Well?”
Wyatt whistled. “Living up to your name, Lottie the hottie.”
Roe didn’t say anything. He just continued to stare, slowly taking in every inch of me.
“She does look hot,” Mac said, and hooked arms with me. “Now that I’ve seen your tits, I feel like we’ve bonded.”
“I haven’t seen yours,” I pointed out as I walked with her toward the back entrance to Noble’s Pub.
“Do you want me to show you them right now?” she asked.
“No!” Wyatt and Roe said at the same time.
Mac chuckled and winked at me, which gave me the impression that she’d offered just to mess with them.
Roe got the door for us. The music inside was a lot louder than it had been when we’d come to play pool after school nearly a week ago. Wyatt walked in first, then Mac and I, followed by Roe. The back entrance brought us in by the restrooms. Even the short hall there was packed. Mac had to let go of my arm as she moved around people, following Wyatt. A warm hand went to my lower back and a body pressed close as I tried to follow Mac and Wyatt. I glanced back to see it was Roe. I knew he was just trying not to get separated, but that hand touching my bare skin was doing things to my head.
The hall to the restrooms led out into the main area of the pub, where the bar, tables, and booths were. The music was even louder there. I noticed right away that some of the tables by the steps leading up to the pool-table area were gone and people were dancing there. As we moved farther into the main room, heading for the bar, I saw that the pool tables were also gone. That entire space had been changed to look like a stage, and a live band was playing there.
Wyatt and Mac squeezed their way up to the bar. Reid was behind it taking drink orders. He saw Mac and Wyatt and went right over to them. Roe and I hung back because there wasn’t any room. As I looked around, taking everything in, I realized Wyatt had been right to insist I change. I would have stood out like a sore thumb. There were men wearing cuts everywhere. I didn’t know how many members the Haven’s Rebels had, but if I’d had to guess how many were here, I would’ve said all of them. Mixed in with all the bikers were what looked to be regular patrons and a lot of women. Some looked like wives or girlfriends of some of the MC members. Other ladies looked like they’d come here with the intent to snag someone single or just to dance.
As I looked around, I got bumped by someone trying to squeeze by. I fell sideways against Roe. His hand that was on my back slid around to my stomach and he turned and pulled my back flush against his chest, as if to prevent me from being bumped into again. It was foreign to feel protected.
“Sorry!” the older, long-bearded Rebel man who had bumped into me yelled back as he kept going.
I put my hand on top of Roe’s on my bare stomach. I liked the way my hand looked with his.
Roe brought his mouth to my ear. “You okay?”
I nodded.

Wyatt and Mac found and rejoined us. Wyatt was carrying three beers. Mac had a shot glass in each hand.
“I brought us shots!” Mac said, handing one to me.
The glass held a golden liquid. I had a hunch what was in it, but still brought the shot up my nose to smell. It was whiskey. A very spicy whiskey.
“It’s Fireball. You’ll love it!” Mac told me just before throwing back her shot.
Tequila, vodka, and now whiskey. I was so going to have a headache tomorrow. I brought the little glass to my lips and swallowed the whole shot of whiskey. It burned like crazy going down, making my nose scrunch.
Mac took my empty shot glass and set it with hers on a table nearby, not caring about the bikers sitting there. She then took two beers from Wyatt and handed one to me.
“I can’t drink this,” I said loudly over the music. Currently, there was a guitar solo playing.
“Sure, you can,” Mac said as she clanked her beer bottle with mine.
Roe got close to my ear again. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Mac leaned close. “At least try it. I used to not like beer, but this one is good.”
Why the hell not? I’d already broken way worse rules. I took a sip and scrunched my nose at how bitter it was. I didn’t like it.
Roe took the bottle from my hands and swigged from it.
“You’re supposed to be DD,” Wyatt said before drinking from his own beer.
“I’ll nurse it,” Roe said. “You know one beer won’t do shit to me.”
Wyatt nodded.
“Your dad is okay with you drinking here?” I asked Roe. “Won’t he get into trouble for serving to underage people?”
Overhearing, Mac responded, “You’re smack dab in the middle of Rebel territory. Police aren’t coming here unless there’s a dead body. So don’t worry about Noble.”
“You really have a way with words that really makes people not from around here comfortable,” Wyatt said caustically.
“Just saying how it is, Wy,” Mac grumbled before finishing off her beer. “I’m going to get more drinks.” She spun on her heel and headed back to the bar.
“She drank that fast,” Roe commented, and I nodded in agreement.
While she was gone, I noticed that the live music had stopped. Glancing at the stage, I saw a new band setting up. As I scanned the rest of the room, my sights caught on familiar greenish hazel eyes. Bram was standing by one of the corner booths close to the stage. He was staring right at me, looking very surprised.
I lifted a hand to wave at him. Instead of waving back, his expression went from surprised to unhappy to see me.
“Who are you waving at?” Wyatt asked.
I dropped my hand and shook my head. “I thought I saw someone I knew.” Strangely, I felt disappointed.
“Okay. I got you something good,” Mac said as she returned holding two highball glasses. She handed me one. The cocktail inside was yellowish orange, filled with ice, and had a slice of peach and a sprig of mint on top. “Reid made it. Said we’d like it.” Mac took a sip, and her eyebrows rose as she stared down at her glass.
I took a sip as well. It was bubbly and right away I could taste peaches. The alcohol was warm and spicy, like whiskey or bourbon. This was my first mixed drink, and it was delicious. “It’s really good.”
“Yeah, it is,” Mac agreed just as the new band began playing. Mac’s eyes went wide. “I love this song! We should go dance.” She took my drink back and thrust both our glasses at Wyatt. He just barely had time to take them before she grabbed my hand and dragged me to where everyone was dancing.