Dragging my palm down my face, who knows how long I've been up here, but I feel a little guilty for taking the much needed recharge. I basically said you're hired and walked away. Relieved that someone who could handle herself was here to help the staff and me.
Jovie was cute sitting at the bar, the way her face lit up when I told Brynn to grab something from the kitchen. Brynn seems like she has her head on right, so she probably does her best to make sure she's fed. I can see she's the type to go without if it means her daughter gets her needs met. God knows my mom tried to do the same growing up. We would go out to the local diner on my birthday every year, and I was allowed to order whatever I wanted.
I remember my tenth birthday like it was yesterday. It’s the first time I realised things might not be as good as I first thought. My mom was the master at hiding how difficult being a single parent was and I was growing like a tree, needing new clothes and shoes every few months. Even though she never let me go hungry, it was the first time I realised that maybe she did. The way her stomach grumbled as the large burger and fries arrived at our table, stacked high with all the trimmings, cheese melting everywhere. She insisted she was full and watched every bite Itook, laughing when we realised the burger was the size of my head. About a quarter way through, I pushed her to help me eat it. I knew I could finish it easily, but the way she savored that first bite, I felt sad that I had never noticed all the times before where she encouraged me to eat while she sipped on a hot drink. Going without to make sure I was well looked after. I kept pushing more and more in front of her, taking small bites so it still looked like I was eating. I made a promise that night that I would start looking after her the same way she always looked after me. That, despite our circumstance, she made me feel loved and wanted. No one looked after her, so I vowed to be the man who would.
The worn leather chair groans as I stand, retrieving the keys to the apartment from the desk drawer. The office is basically empty apart from an old desk and sofa pressed against the wall. Pulling out my phone, I send a group message to all the brothers, barely making it to the apartment door before it starts blowing up.
I typed and deletedhands offthree times before committing to it and sending the message. I knew questions would be asked, but I felt better knowing she would be left alone. Telling myself it was for her well-being and not my own selfish reasons.
I breathe a sigh of relief as I read Hades' reply. As president of the M.C., no one would dare go against his orders, and him agreeing with it means all the others will fall in line. Checking the apartment over, I leave fresh sheets and towels on the bed. Stripping the old ones because who knows when they were last changed, before heading back down to the bar.
“Hey, Jon Bon, you think your mom will yell at me if I give you some ice cream?”
I don't know much about kids, but surely if I can bribe this one, Brynn will have to stay in town longer than she planned, and my problems will be solved. Merry Christmas to me. She looks like she has everything under control, a gun slinger popping beer caps left, right and centre, keeping the crowd calm while the usual chatter and bad singing blares.
“I googled that guy. You must be really old if you like that sort of music,” she states dryly, pushing back in her chair, looking me up and down. My brow furrows, this is not going how I thought it was. I was expecting squeals of delight, not an interrogation. Someone clears their throat obnoxiously loud further down the bar and we both look to see Brynn giving her a thumbs up, Jovie smiling and returning the gesture. I'm under no illusions that if she gave anything other than a happy response, I would have a bottle to the back of my head and a new scar to my collection. I might be inexperienced, but I know a mama bear when I see it, and Brynn's a fighter.
“Ice cream with chocolate sauce?” I try again, keeping on topic.
“Banana split, you tell me a ghost story, and I'll put in a good word with my mom about staying longer.”
What. The. Fuck. Am I getting hustled for ice cream?
I stand back from where I was leaning against the bar. Shocked that this kid has half figured out my plan.
“What do you mean, stay longer?” I question.
“My mom can herd cats, she's that good at what she does, and from how quickly you gave her a job, you know you need someone like her.” She sits there, straight faced, like a mafia don testing the waters.
“Cats … Herding?” Huh.
Folding my arms across my chest, I raise a brow at the kid sitting a little too comfortably in front of me.
“Everything alright?” Brynn asks, looking between the stare off I didn’t realise I was in. A warm sensation floods my forearm, and I look down to see Brynn's hand resting where my skin has come alive. I don't like people touching me, in fact, I usually punch first and ask questions later. I look at her but her words are lost in this haze, like time has sped up and slowed down all at once. She's as tall as my chest, looking up at me still talking about god knows what. Her big green eyes drawing me into their depths like a siren's call.
Blinking a few times, I try to clear the haze, only hearing the last of what she was saying. “...lucky to be here, so I need you on your best behaviour.”
“She's good, we were just talking about cats,” I say, nodding toward Jovie, who picks up straight away that we have an understanding.
“Cats? You seem like more of a dog person, but alright,” she shrugs, removing her hand from my arm. Pouring Jovie a water, she continues serving customers, ignoring the fact that a large banana split comes out a short time later.
The night moves steadily, and slowly the overcrowded space starts to clear until the last person leaves and Sarah closes the front door, showing Brynn how to lock up. I'd been standing near Jovie for most of the night, letting the others serve the main bar while I occasionally took the odd order from the end. I don’t like being out in the fray, so I keep to where I get the best vantage point. Usually, Axel spends his nights out here watching over everything. Mainly because he could get his dick wet and leave when he wanted to, but now, I'm not so sure.
“Sarah, you okay to finish up here while I show Brynn and Bon Jovi their new digs?”
“I can show you the rest of it tomorrow. Go, you both must be tired.” Sarah says, shooing Brynn away.
Taking off her apron, she walks toward me, her thick thighs swaying with every step. Giving Jovie a smile, she extends it toward me, not scared in the slightest of the imposing figure before her. I have grown men visibly cross the road to avoid walking past me, and this woman is leisurely giving her smiles away for free. Clearing my throat, I try to swallow the lump that seems to be lodged in there as I show them the stairwell out back, gesturing for them to walk ahead. The landing is brightly lit with clean white walls, but I never noticed how small the space was until the three of us are crammed in here, and the smell of lavender washes over me for the second time tonight.
“This door is the office, but your place is here,” I state, trying to shake the funny feeling creeping up my spine. The one telling me to rough it on the sofa in the office in case they need anything. Opening the door, Jovie pushes past me and quickly inspects everything, smiling and laughing as she finds the TV remote and scrolls to her favorite channel. How does this kid still have energy? It’s almost midnight, and she's still buzzing. “It’s not much, but it should have everything you need. I’ll swing by tomorrow with a few basics until you can get to the store, but if you need anything tonight, I'll leave the alarm for the kitchen off so help yourself to whatever you need.”
“Grizz,” she whispered, stepping past me. A small kitchenette is directly beside where we stand, a large lounge suite taking over all of the living space. The guys wanted to be comfortable if they did stay here, so it's as opulent as you would expect for an M.C. Club.
“The bedroom is through that door and the bathroom is the one next to it.” Rubbing the back of my neck, I didn't think aboutthe sleeping arrangements I could offer before I agreed to them staying here, so I hope it's not an issue. “I should have said it's only a double bed. Depending on how long you stay, I could get another bed or?—”
“Grizz, this is perfect.” She walks over to the bedroom door, flicking the light on and looking inside. “It's practically luxurious,” she murmurs, dragging her fingers over the back of the lounge suite. I'm not sure she meant to say it out loud, but the hair on the back of my neck stands on end as I hear the words. What does she mean this is luxurious? Where the hell has she been living, has Jovie been living, if a crummy apartment over a bar is considered fancy. She walks back to where I stand, taking the keys from my hand as I hold them out to her. Lifting my hand to her chin, I gently tilt her head, forcing her to look at me.
“Is there anyone looking for you? Anyone I need to worry about?”
