I bite my lip, not sure if I want to laugh or groan.
“So, what can I get you?” She whips out her pad, all business, obviously dying to escape so she can get the gossip from Gage.
After she leaves, I lean across the table. “You should’ve said Gage’s old lady worked here. We could’ve gone somewhere else.”
“I don’t care if anyone sees us together.”
What does he mean by that?He doesn’t mean anything.But I can’t help asking, “Why not?”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “No one else’s business what I do.”
That’s true, except when it comes to the club. Everything is their business.
“Did Gage join the Bastards?” Zach was a prospect, same as Ty, so I’m guessing he’s a member now. But I can’t remember if his brother wanted to follow in the family tradition.
“Yep. And Hawk. You remember him?”
I frown. The name’s familiar. “Was that Gage’s best friend? The quiet one?”
Ty grins as though I’ve said something funny. “He’s our enforcer now.”
“Hawk’syour enforcer?” I didn’t know him that well, but he sure never struck me as the kind of cold-hearted douche that position requires. “Wow. I didn’t see that one coming.”
“He’s one tough motherfucker.”
He’d have to be. Talk about appearances being deceptive. Then again, it’s been a long time since I saw him.
“I guess your dad’s still the president?” He was usually okay with me. Tended to look through me more than anything, and that was because, when it came to domestic crap, he always took his cue from Angie.
“Yeah.” There’s an oddly calculating look on Ty’s face, almost as though this conversation is pushing boundaries. Regret stabs through me. He used to tell me anything and everything. “And guess who the VP is now?”
I force a smile, since that’s expected, but inside, another little part of my heart dies. “It’s what you always wanted. Congratulations.”
He shrugs and doesn’t look as pleased with himself as he should. “It was one of the things I always wanted.”
The words hang between us, loaded with meaning. Or is it all in my mind? Before I can figure out whether his brooding expression has anything to do with the broken dreams we once shared, Amelia returns with our order.
“There you go.” She places our food on the table along with our coffee, and then darts a glance between us. “So, are you back for good, Jas?”
I catch Ty’s eye and try not to smile.
“Subtle as a brick,” he says. “What else did Gage say when you called him just now?”
She doesn’t even try to deny it. Instead, she looks enthralled. “Nothing. Well, except that you”—she gives me an apologetic smile—“left years ago, and no one had seen you since. I just love second-chance romances.”
Who says that to someone they’ve just met? I’m not sure if she’s poking fun at me or not, although she sounds genuine.
“Ignore her.” Ty sounds amused, as though he’s used to her hyperbole. “She writes smut, so she thinks everything’s full of romantic shit.”
I open my mouth then close it again, since I’ve no idea whether he’s joking or not.
“It’s not smut.” She glares at him for a second but doesn’t sound offended. “I just think this is nice, that’s all.”
Ty smirks as though her linking him with somethingnicecracks him up.
And I’ve had enough of him being a dick. He’s acting like there’s a chance of us getting back together, when we both know different.
“I came back to sort out my late mother’s affairs.” God, I sound snotty, and wish I’d kept my mouth shut when Amelia turns to me, a horrified expression on her face. I can’t stop now, though. “Ty and I met up by pure accident. That’s all.”
