Romance: Teen Romance: Follow Your Dreams (A Nerd and a Bad Boy Romance) (New Adult High School Sports Romance) by Stella White

that I didn’t recognize.
    “I’ll be back in a second, Ma ,” I said.
    I crept up on the front door, trying to see if I heard any weapons being loaded or waiting.  I’ve been shot at a couple of times, and the last place I wanted that to happen was my momma’s house.
    I opened the door just a crack till I could see who was there.  I didn’t recognize them in the slightest.  I rested my hand on the shotgun that I always had stashed just inside the entryway.
    “Who the hell are you,” I said. 
    He was a biker; tall and broad shouldered with a bald head and a patchy beard.
    “You Tara?” he asked gruffly.
    I contemplated telling him no.  But, didn’t think that would really help right now.
    “Yeah,” I said while gripping the shotgun tighter.
    “I got a message for you.”
    He held out a crumpled piece of paper and dropped it in my outstretched hand.  I unfurled it as best I could so I could make out the writing. 
    “Tara, I don’t buy the engagement.  You have one day to make good on your marriage, or I’m coming after the gang.  –Connor,” read the note.
    My hand shook as I finished reading the note.  I wanted to respond, but the biker that dropped off the note was already riding off down the road along with a couple of his friends.
    There was only one thing I could do at this point.  I had to tell Buck what I just heard.  He would know what to do; he always knows what to do.
     
    5.
    I arrived at the tavern, shortly after, in a panic.  When I stumbled my way in I felt everyone’s eyes on me.  I sought out Buck immediately and hurried to meet him.
    “Buck, I got news, and it isn’t good,” I said as I handed him the note.
    He took it and read, then turned it over looking for more writing. 
    “This it?” he said.
    I was surprised by his careless demeanor.  He barely batted an eye after he finished reading.
    “Yeah, Buck.  You know what this means, don’t you?” I asked.
    “I do.  It means that we have to make the marriage a real thing,” he replied coldly.
    I sat on the stool and rested my head in my hands.
    “I don’t think that will work, this time, Buck, ” I said.
    He snapped open a beer and set it down in front of me. 
    “I don’t take threats lying down.  He’s calling our bluff, simple as that.  I’m thinking I should go give him an invite to the wedding, personally.”
    Buck pulled his shotgun from behind the bar.  I knew what his invites were like, and they usually came at you fast. 
    “Buck, don’t do this,” I said putting a hand on his arm.
    “I know what the note means, Tara.  Whether we get married or not, he don’t care.  He’s itching for a fight, just like me.  I’m going to make sure that he doesn’t get the first punch,” he said.
    The door flung open again, and in walked a bloody mess of a man.  I ran over to him to hold him up; a couple other guys followed along.
    “What happened,” I asked, “it looks like you rolled your cycle?”
    The biker did his best to smile.  I laid him out on a nearby table and was quickly surrounded by the rest of the gang that was there.  Buck stomped over and looked the man up and down for a second.
    “Two of them…” started the injured biker, “… they ran me off the road, into a ditch … then they bolted … Connor’s boys.”
    “This is becoming too much of a habit,” Buck said angrily , “those bastards are going to get what’s coming to them.”
    The rest of the motorcycle club cheered.  This was the start of something which I didn’t want to get involved in .  I shouldn’t have come back.
    “Buck, I can’t do this anymore,” I said, “I’m going home.”
    Buck grabbed my shoulder with his massive hand. 
    “Tara, I didn’t want you goin’ anyway .  Take care of your momma.”
    It was the last thing I thought he’d say.  When we were younger, he wouldn’t have ridden off unless I was right behind him.  But, now he didn’t want me.  I was hoping he would have