She tugged her shirt straight and cracked the door open.
Hannah stood on the landing, blonde hair piled in a messy bun, smelling faintly of perfume."Hey!You wanna go to a party?"
Lydia blinked."A...party?"
"Yeah."Hannah grinned."Royalla clubhouse opens its doors on Friday.Madison's already ready to go.You should come."
Royalla.
Her pulse stuttered.
She thought of Baddy, and the way he'd looked at her in the diner earlier.A part of her wanted to see him again.
But wanting was dangerous.
She had a real chance of getting away from motorcycle clubs with the fresh start Baddy gave her.It was as if she was finally going to break away from what her mom had started.She shook her head."Thanks, but...no.I'm tired.Maybe next week, when my feet aren't killing me."
Hannah shrugged."Suit yourself.If you change your mind, walk down the street and let the biker at the gate know you're from Patty's.They'll let you in."
"Okay."Lydia doubted that she'd change her mind, but she smiled anyway."Have fun."
Hannah waved and clattered down the stairs on her high heels, leaving Lydia alone in the quiet hallway.Patty had gone home hours ago.Madison and Hannah were heading to the party.The building was empty.
She shut the door and locked it.
Silence settled around her.
She stripped out of her work clothes, showered, and pulled on the sweats she'd kept from Baddy.Despite the outfit being too big, the material was soft and worn, surprisingly comfortable to lounge around in.The apartment was small but functional.A bed, a tiny counter with a microwave and coffee pot, and a bathroom with a stand-up shower.It wasn't much, but it was hers while she worked, so it almost counted as free housing.
She grabbed the paperback she'd found tucked behind the nightstand, left behind from the previous waitress who roomed above the diner.She'd started the romance novel two nights ago, reading until her eyes burned.It was highly dramatic and made a great escape from her worries.
She flipped to her page.
Just as she was about to start reading, a sharpthunkhit the window beside the bed.She jerked upright, heart slamming against her ribs.
The book slid from her hands.
Another tap followed—lighter this time, like a pebble or someone's knuckle.
She stopped breathing.Someone was outside.On the fire escape.
Slowly, pulse roaring in her ears, Lydia turned toward the window.
And the shadow behind the glass moved.
Lydia rolled, grabbing the knife Baddy gave her off the nightstand.She inched closer, heart pounding so hard it throbbed all the way to her fingertips.With trembling hands, she lifted the edge of the curtain.
Baddy's face appeared on the other side of the glass.She gasped and shoved the window open.
"What are you doing?You scared the hell out of me."She stepped back, making room for him.
He swung one leg over the sill and stepped inside like climbing through windows was something he did every day.His boots hit the floor with a soft thud.
"Only way to see you.I knew what room you were in," he said, brushing off his jeans and eyeing the knife in her hand."You wouldn't have heard me knock downstairs.And Patty wouldn't appreciate me picking the lock."
She let out a shaky breath, pressing a hand to her chest."Still.You freaked me out."
He didn't apologize, only grinned.
