I gauged Crystal’s reaction; a flicker of disappointment flashed in her pretty eyes. “Okay, is that it?”
“What were you looking for, Crystal? We just started dating. Are you dating right now?”
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “No, I know you’re dating someone… I thought there might be some hope for us, now that I’m not stripping anymore…” She twisted her blond hair in her hand.
I drew back, giving her a solemn look. “Crystal, I don’t want to hurt your feelings...but we’re done relationship-wise.”
Her eyes watched me as she sipped her beer. “Is that because of your new girl or something else?” Our nachos came out and I scooped up some beans and guacamole.
“No. Nothing to do with her. It was about you and me. We just have to leave the past in the past, Crystal. Don’t dwell on it.”
“Okay,” she said quietly. “Are you exclusive with her?”
Irritation flashed through my eyes. “Crystal, let it go, baby. I’m not the man for you and you know it.”
She crunched her nachos. “You’re right.”
Awkward silence existed between us for a few minutes. An image of Misty popped up. The light hitting her as she walked with me beyond the trees at Yosemite. I longed for her delicate touch.
Crystal and I talked a little more and made a move to look out over the water.
“So, how’s the chapter going up here?” she asked. “You think you’ll get the numbers?”
“Yep. I think it’s going to work out here. We’re for the people. Outlaw Souls has a brotherhood code that we want to expand. I’m all for it.”
“That’s great you have something to believe in. I feel like that about beauty school. I mean, not a brotherhood but women making other women look good.”
“I’m glad you’re getting your life together, Crystal. Let’s head back.”
We rode back a slightly different route, so I could give Crystal a different experience. She held on to me a little too tight, but I didn’t mind if it was going to give her some comfort at the end of the day.
“Yo, Crystal, I gotta go right now, okay? Nice to see you but, hey, we have to move on in life. Thanks again for coming out to see me.”
“Um, okay. You don’t wanna, like…fool around for old times’ sake?”
I stood inches from my door and took my helmet off.
“No. I’m good.”
“Okay. All the best with the chapter,” she said frostily. I just gave her a kiss on the cheek and turned.
When I got inside I saw the missed call from Ryder.
“Hey, Diego. Hit me back when you get this.” You couldn’t miss his raspy tone.
I hit him back. “Hey, Ryder. What’s going on?”
“You sitting down? I got a few things to tell you about your lady friend.”
“All right… Shoot.”
“You might wanna vet your girls a little more. Your girl’s brother is Palo Narvaez. The Las Balas president. He just took over from El Diablo. It’s a setup. Tell me, Diego, you’re not in on anything with her.”
TWELVE
MISTY
Round and round like a merry-go-round, my head spun. As Palo and I rode home from Santa Cruz, I thought about what a web I had gotten myself caught in. Palo yanked his helmet off when we reached our driveway. I put my kickstand down and took off my helmet as well.
