“You know who Vera Wang is?” I ask, shocked.
“She’s mentioned a lot onSay Yes to the Dress,” he says, blushing. “Anyway, I need to head back to work. The new sign for the garage is being delivered, and I want to make sure the paperwork’s done.”
My heart tightens at the reminder.
The men officially renamed the new garageIron Knuckles.It was Knuckles’ dream to build bikes from the ground up there, but cancer took him before the doors ever opened.
“He would’ve loved that name,” I whisper.
“Yeah,” Eli agrees softly.
Eli was with Knuckles when he died. Not in a hospital bed. Not peacefully. They were taken. Tortured. By the same group who took me…twice.
Cancer is what killed Knuckles in the end. But he died on his own terms, protecting one of his own.
“Anyway,” Eli says, clearing his throat, “lunch wasn’t from me. I was just asked to deliver it before I left.”
“Then who?” I ask, already knowing.
“Tank,” he says. “He’s out back by the pool training a few prospects.”
“Why the pool?” I ask. “We have a perfectly good gym in the clubhouse.”
Eli giggles. “Because every time someone messes up, he throws them in.”
“But it’s freezing out there,” I protest.
Which isn’t entirely true. Palm Springs is still Palm Springs. But fifty degrees feels brutal to us natives. And it’s been hovering there all week.
“That’s why it’s funny,” he grins. “Alright. I’m heading out. Enjoy your lunch.”
I watch him go, my gaze drifting to the window without meaning to.
Tank stays in the background of my life now.
Not pushing. Not demanding. But always making sure I know he’s there.
Shaking my head, I reach into the bag and pull out a BLT…my favorite. Taped neatly to the top is a folded note.
Despite me telling my stupid heart that we’re no longer pining after this man, it immediately starts beating in overdrive.
Abigail,
Figured you’d get lost in your work and forget to eat. Take care of yourself for me, babygirl.
I love you so fucking much.
Yours.
I allow myself exactly one minute to melt. One minute to breathe in the words. One minute to feel the warmth of being seen by the one man whom I’ve longed to be seen by.
Then I fold the note and set it aside.
Like I told my friends, I’m not walking away from the possibility of us, but I’m not throwing myself at his feet anymore either. If Tank wants me as much as I’ve always wanted him, he’s going to have to prove it.
Still… I’m not heartless.
After finishing my sandwich, I pull on a sweater, grab a few bottles of water, and head toward the pool area.
