I make a snapping sound with my neck as I stretch my bones.
“Was she alone when you saw her?” I ask as I take out a case of Pepsi and refill the cooler, knowing she’s always drinking them.
“Yeah, it was evening, past nine maybe.”
She’s usually up early, entering inside the door to get her morning drink with her morning attitude but she hasn’t today. My laser gaze is fixated on the door, waiting to see her reflection in vain.
“You good here?” I throw the carton in the back along with all the recycling garbage Dad stacks before it is being collected. “I need to do something.”
“Sure honey, go.”
I take a Pepsi from the cooler, kiss Mom, and leave the cash in her hand. “Keep the change.” I peel the bandana away frommy head and shove half of it into my pocket while the other half hangs out.
Through my shades, I recognize the group of guys Blakely rode with the first day she arrived here chatting in the gas station.
Narrowing my eyes, I grunt to myself.
Where are you, Wilder?
Blakely
Igrip the edge of the sink. My head hammers as the revving outside filters the room and encapsulates me. Lai left an hour ago for a shift at the bar and managed to shake the booze from last night pretty fast today.
Before I have a moment to bask in my silence someone knocks on my door loudly.
OKAY!I scream the word in my head.
The moment I open the door and see Meadow it’s like my attitude changes in an instant. “I have a headache do you have to be so aggressive?”
“For you, always.” He hands me a Pepsi can as a peace offering and I take it.
“Thank you and bite me.”
“I’m waiting for that moment, Wilder. I’ll bite your gorgeous lips before I will your presumptuous ass for finding you riding with other bikers.”
“I was just feeling the bikes,” I reply in a sharp tone, anger crawls all over my body.
“You’d just feel my teeth.” He lets a small smile lift his cheeks and reveal two cute dimples on either side.
Ugh!
“What’s gotten into you?”
He eyes me and answers, “You.”
“Where is this coming from?”
“Right from here,” he grabs his junk.
“You’re such an ass.”
“Late morning.” He changes the subject, folds his arms over his chest, and leans against the door frame like nothing happened a second ago. “Sleepyhead.”
I can’t keep this insane energy bottled inside my veins when it wants to burst out and explode in the tiny space between us.
“Your helmet.” I point to his head.
“What about it?”
