I smiled before I could stop myself.
He caught me staring. “What?” He took a sip while he waited for an answer.
I shook my head, my smile growing bigger with every second my gaze rested on his chest. And arms. And abs, good god, those fucking abs! “Just taking in all the changes,” I answered honestly. “It’s surreal seeing you like this. All grown up.”
He snorted softly, taking another sip with his eyes closed. A low groan escaped before his gaze met mine again. “I know what you mean. When I woke up alone, I was sure I’d gotten hit on the head and dreamed the whole fucking thing.” He took another sip, bigger this time. “But then I realized I never would’ve dreamed about this particular scenario.”
Yeah, it wasn’t a scenario even the most pessimistic corners of my brain would’ve conjured up.
“Did you sleep okay?” The humor left his tone, replaced by concern.
“After the nightmare,” I sighed. “Yeah. Better than in a long damn time.”
Drew leaned back against the counter, his legs crossed at the ankle while he studied me. “Do they happen often?”
I thought about lying but what was the point? He’d find out the truth soon enough. “Often enough,” I admitted. “Probably will happen more often now with everything going on. Usually there’s no one else around to bother with it so… sorry.”
“Don’t apologize,” he said immediately. “I’m asking because I want to know.”
My chest tightened at the sincerity in his voice. The way he always looked like he meant it when he said things like that. I nodded because I couldn’t find any words.
“I should’ve looked harder,” he added quietly and I could tell he’d been beating himself up about it.
I shook my head to shut that shit down. “You wouldn’t have found me. The first six months after I was taken from my folks, I was in a group home near the Alabama border and thena foster home in Savannah.” I swallowed as the truth of our past efforts were reframed by facts. “You weren’t going to find me.”
His jaw clenched. “I looked for you.”
I looked away and blinked away tears that stung my eyes. “Sometimes I could’ve sworn they placed me so far away just to keep me away from you.” That thought had broken me on more than one occasion. “If I’d been closer, I would’ve found you.”
His lips pulled into a lopsided grin. “Same.”
I put the food on the table, and we both made our way there with fresh mugs of hot coffee.
Drew stabbed at his food like it personally offended him, each bite more punishment than nourishment. “I spiraled when you disappeared and I couldn’t find you.” He shoved more food into his mouth, chewing angrily. “I’m so fucking glad you’re here now.”
“Me too.”
We ate in comfortable silence. It wasn’t awkward or forced, just peaceful. It was the kind that came from years of shared space and shared history. When I finally spoke again, it was because curiosity had gotten the better of me. “So,” I began between bites. “What do you actually do as a biker?”
He laughed. “Depends on the day. I’m at the tattoo shop most of the time. We have a garage and restoration business, so I do custom work and basic maintenance and repairs. Security at our nightclub or filling in at the gun range. I go where I’m needed.” He shrugged like that wasn’t a lot of responsibility.
I blinked. “That’s a lot.” I opened my mouth to ask about the illegal shit, but I snapped it shut.
“It is,” he agreed. “I’m either inking or have my arms shoved deep into an engine.” His boyish grin was contagious as hell.
My heart swelled at that smile. “Sounds like a dream come true.” I smiled thinking of our history. “You were always drawing, or reading and trying to figure out how shit works.”
Drew paused and then smiled as if it hadn’t occurred to him until this moment. “I guess it is. I get to do what I love with my friends. What’s not to love?”
“I’m happy for you, Drew.” Of all the people I met in my life, he deserved to have shit turn out well for him.
“I’m happy too,” he replied with a twinkle in his eyes. “I got my best friend back when I didn’t even know it was a possibility.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest, spreading slow and steady. Dangerous, maybe, but also real. Drew had always said the sweetest things to me. “More coffee?” I stood as I drained my cup, heading for the coffee pot before he responded.
His deep, amused laughter followed me across the kitchen. “Still can’t take a compliment, I see.”
“I can take a compliment,” I insisted. “Believing it is another story,” I laughed.
