A Hidden Danger

Fate Sealed

Marigold

Over the next few days, things continued to be delivered to me. My favorite meals showed up at the clinic and at the apartment. Then there were the house listings that started showing up. Most of them were two and three-bedroom places that were all in the better neighborhoods in town. Each one was adorable and would be perfect for me and the baby. Every listening came with a little note attached about the property. Data had been adding little bits of information about how each one could be protected to keep me and the baby safe. He also talked a little about if the home would be could for a growing family.

With each offering, I found myself thinking more about what had happened with Data. If Nadine was right and his heart was in the right place, then I could somewhat see why he would think he needed to stay away. If he thought my husband would be a problem, then he must have felt that having a strong attachment to someone would make it harder for me to leave. But even if that was the case the way he went about all of it was wrong. No one deserves to think that they aren't important enough for someone to acknowledge.

"We're having a cookout tonight at the club. You really should come, Autumn. I know a lot of the old ladies wanted to see you again," Rachel said as we were sitting in the break room.

"I don't know about that. I really don't want to see that girl again."

"What girl?" Rachel asked with a raised brow.

"You know the one that called me the charity case and was sitting on Data's lap that night. She was just plan mean. I get it you're with Data, but that doesn't mean that you have to shove it down my throat and insult me on top of it. I'm I don't think I was even letting on that much that I liked him." I said, looking anywhere but at Rachel.

"Wait who there is a lot to unpack in that. First Macy the club whore you're talking about isn't with Data. I'm not sure why he was hanging around with her, but they are not a thing. She may think they are, but they're not. He's never even slept with her." Rachel scoffed.

"Wait what do you mean he's never slept with her? The man has clearly had a woman or two with the way he gives those looks." I said shocked.

"I'm not saying that he's a virgin! Lord no. The man likes his women, but he doesn't do club whores. Girls from town, yeah, but never the club whores."

"Then why would she ask like that? I've been nothing but nice to everyone in the club. I couldn't care less about what they do." I scoffed. Was this for real?

"Macy wants to be an old lady. She's had eyes for Data from the first day she was at the clubhouse. He's always just tried to ignore her. I guess he thought she would be a good way to send you a message. Don't let them still your joy. If you want to come around and hang out with everyone then to hell with the two of them. No one will look down on you or treat you any different." Rachel looked sad as she said it.

Rachel had told me multiple times how disappointed she had been in Data. He had talked to her a lot about wanting to find something like she and Hammer had. He was tiring of the games he had told her. So when she saw what happened with me she thought she was going to have to give up home on him. She had hoped that he and I would become something more than just friends.

"And what's this about liking Data?" Naomi said as she joined us.

"It's stupid, really." I was blushing furiously.

"Nonsense. Having feelings for someone is never stupid. Honey, it's okay to like someone." Naomi said.

"It's just that when he was helping me those couple of days, it was amazing. No one had ever been as kind to me or made me smile the way he had. It felt like he was actually being nice to me because he wanted to and not because he had to be. And since I'm really not experienced in a lot of this, I thought there could be a chance that he may like me too."

****

After that talk at lunch, I told the girls I would come. I stopped off and bought some deserts and headed over to the clubhouse. Stepping out of my car, I noticed I arrived around the same time as most of the people who worked outside of the club. I smiled at a few of the old ladies as we walked closer to the area in the yard set up for the gathering.

"It's so good to see you again," Candice, the president's wife said, giving me a hug.

"Same. Naomi and Rachel told me to come. I've missed seeing all of you. How've you been?"

Candice and I talked as we went over to help the other women set things up. As usual, there was a divide among the women. The girlfriends and old ladies in one area while the club whores were in another. A few of them looked my way, but no one said anything. I was setting up my deserts when I heard someone walk up to me. I turned and found Hammer standing there.

"It's good to see you, Autumn. I was hoping Rach could talk you into coming today. I've missed having you around." He said with a laugh as he pulled me into a hug.

"It's good to see you, too. How have you been?" I asked.

"Good, except for my best friend is walking around like someone shot his puppy. You've really done a number on him." Hammer said with a wink.

"I don't know about that. He was pretty clear the other night."

"Oh hun you have no idea how much he regrets that." Hammer said.

We continued talking until I saw Data walk out of the clubhouse. He was talking to one brother, and it was as if he had come kind of radar for me. His eyes zeroed in and widened when he saw me. His lips tilted up and I could see he wanted to smile at me. I could feel mine doing the same, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to let him see how happy I was to see him. But then I saw Macy making a beeline over to where Data was and a scowl hit my face.

Data's eyes crinkled and then he turned to look at what I was glaring at. His body stiffened as she walked up to him and he raised his hand in a stop motion. Macy stopped, but she looked up at him in confusion. She was about to open her mouth when she looked over and saw me. Her eyes narrowed, and she marched right over to where I was standing next to Hammer.

"I'm surprised the charity case was willing to come over again. What it is you need this time, huh? You think you can come in and seduce one of the brothers into helping you again? Girl, you need to get a life and stop coming over here trying to steal away our men," Macy said with a smirk. Hammer made a move to come and stand in front of me, but I just put my hand on his arm to stop him.

"I thought you were supposed to be friends with Rachel and yet here you are trying to make a move on Hammer. You're really pathetic if you think you're going to mean anything to any of these guys. Read my lips. You are just a charity case."

With those words, I like to think that Macy sealed her fate.