I duck when Bear yells and then freeze. His girl? When did I become his girl? We hung out once at the diner.
“Your girl?” Gears asks, breaking the silence. “When did this happen?”
I look up at Bear and point toward Gears.
“Brooke doesn’t even know when this happened. I would be careful with how you use those words, Bear,” Gears warns.
“Shut up. I just don’t want anyone messin’ with her. You hear me. If you see anyone messin’ with her, you stop them,” Bear threatens.
Shocked, I stare at Bear. Where did this come from? He has never acted like this before.
“You're gonna catch flies if you keep that mouth open,” Bear says.
I shut my mouth real quick by taking a bite and then relax into Bear’s lap.
“How are you liking it here so far? Gone out and done anything yet?” Gears takes a sip of his coffee.
I pull my phone out of my front pocket, turning it on.
I’ve only been to the motel, diner, phone shop, and here.
I look back down at my plate and pick up my last bite of my bagel. I haven’t done much in this town at all. With all the work I am doing, it is easy not to go out on my day off.
Gears places my phone down on the counter, and I grab it. His hand slams against the counter. I make eye contact with him, leaning away in case he decides to throw fists.
“Unacceptable. No one has shown you around the city? Bear hasn’t?” Gears shouts, throwing his hands up.
I shake my head, leaning further away from him. I don’t like the way he is talking and acting. Bear wraps his hands around my waist, bringing me closer to him.
“We’ll take you out this Sunday.” Bear starts rubbing my hips with his thumb.
I pick up my phone. I am not going to exhaust myself on Sunday and have to work a full week after. I need my day of rest.
No, Sundays are my day to sleep and relax.
“I’ll need to ask Whiskey and Pres if it’s all right for you not to work tomorrow. Then we could go on Saturday, and you can still have Sunday off to relax.” Bear slips his hand under my shirt and holds onto my hip.
“She can have tomorrow off if I can come along!” Whiskey calls out, walking into the room.
“I obviously get to come along. I am the one who brought this up in the first place.”Gears has calmed down and is now smiling.
“That is if Pres will let all of us off to do this,” Bear adds.
“Let you guys do what?” Pres walks into the room.
Gears looks up and smiles. “Go explore the town.”
“Who?” Pres leans up against the kitchen counter.
“Whiskey, Gears, Brooke, and me,” Bear says.
Pres looks right at me with a straight face. I shrink back into Bear’s body.
“I’m not sure I want Brooke off. You pulled a stunt yesterday that I didn’t like and told you not to.”
“I think she’s learned her lesson. Whiskey said he will let her off,” Gears reasons with Pres.
Pres lets out a sigh before looking at me. I look at his nose, too afraid to look into his eyes.
