Lucy struts back over grabbing the television remote. “Fuck the news. It’s always so negative.” She turns on some romantic comedy and then makes our lemonades, setting them down in front of us.
“Agreed. It’d be good for all our souls if we heard something positive on a daily.” Tequila flicks the paper off the top of her straw then lightly elbows my side. “You look great by the way. No need to be nervous.”
She picked up on my constant fidgeting and uncomfortableness. I threw my hoodie on before we left but kept my sweats in my bag, only wearing my leggings. Unwanted attention is unsettling and I’m not in any way being conceited when I say, my ass is on full display in these things. Though myobsessive compulsion for not wanting to be seen has taken an all time high.
Wearing what we wore at the diner was different because sure, we had to wear tight shirts and short skirts, but the apron always covered enough, and I always wore tights under the skirt.
I reach up, brushing a piece of hair off the back of my neck when I notice Tequila raking her eyes over my lower back and my insides fold into pieces. She quickly darts away though the damage is already done. With a fast tug, I pull my hoodie back over top of my scar that sits near my waist.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to stare.”
“You didn’t. It’s okay. Besides, I can’t pretend it’s not there.” Being branded with a man’s initials isn’t something I can forget.
Tequila lets out a heavy sigh. “I know. But it shouldn’t be there.” Her expression turns more pained. “I wish it was me instead. Maybe if I—”
“No. Don’t. I would never wish this on you. I’m glad you didn’t have to go through what I had to.”
She lets out a heavy sigh once more but this time it’s shaky. “You’re a good friend, Danika.”
Good friend.
“You shouldn’t say that until you get to know me. You might change your mind.”
“No way. Not possible. I know enough and you’re good people.”
I give her a kind smile for her words, but my attention gets drawn to the door and the man who just walked in. He’s a big guy wearing an MC cut. And that makes me grip the edge of the counter to steady myself.
“It’s okay. He’s one of us.”
My breath releases and I unclench my fist, drawing in a longer breath.
From the moment he joins us, his huge frame creates a towering presence. He’s wearing a middle eastern fashion which I admire. From the long necklaces hanging low on top of his loose-fitting T-shirt where his leather drapes over. Even the woven bracelets that hang on his wrists are beautiful. One of them carries a special symbol on it and I wonder what it means. His brown hair, parts in braids, brush the tops of his large shoulders.
“Tank. What are you doing here?” Tequila plants a warm kiss on his cheek and he half hugs her.
“Hey, darlin’.” Just coming to see if you ladies needed company is all.” He looks up at Lucy who’s holding a deadpan expression. “Hey, Luce, how are you today?”
Without so much as a twitch in her expression, she flips him the finger, spins, giving us her back as she struts off.
“Ouch. Tough crowd,” he mutters.
“Thiscompanywouldn’t have anything to do with my Throttle now, would it?”
“Eh.” He rubs his short beard. “You may already know the answer to that.”
“We really can’t go anywhere without a bodyguard, can we? It’s barely lunchtime. Nothing rowdy happens until later.”
Tank shrugs. “Listen. If you were my woman, I’d be doing the same. Especially after everything that went down.”
Of course, I know what he’s referring to. And it’s obvious when they both shoot each other a strained look.
“And Brass was busy? I thought he was permanently assigned to my hip.”
“Our newbie patched brother is out on a run with Hush. Turns out that woman who was in Grizzly’s apartment, ended up dying at the hospital. But that’s all you’re getting out of me.” He reaches over snagging some peanuts from the bowl.
Hush.His nickname, or road name, I suppose fits him, but I can’t help wondering what his real name is.
Lucy sets down our plates but after overhearing Tank and Tequila’s conversation, I don’t seem to have an appetite anymore. Maybe this is too much, too soon. I put myself back into a place I don’t want to be—a place too similar, sparking emotions I’m trying to suppress and forget.
