MELLOW
The food’s good.Greasy in the way diner food is supposed to be greasy.Eggs cooked right, bacon crisp, hash browns with the perfect kind of crunch.But I’m barely tasting it.
Because every instinct in my body is still locked onto the door Roger walked out of.The man had the look he always has when things don’t go his way.Every town has them.Men who carry resentment like it’s oxygen.Guys who believe the world owes them something and women especially owe them obedience.
I’ve seen the type too many times.
Lucy has his attention.She’s easy on the eyes, curves in the right places, round face, soft features, and a sparkle in her eyes that any man with a dick would love to make dance in the throes of an orgasm.I can’t deny the allure myself, so I’m sure Roger wants a taste too.
I take another bite of eggs while Lucy moves down the counter refilling coffee cups for the other customers.She’s trying to look normal.Trying to go back to the rhythm of the morning rush.
But I notice things most people don’t.
She’s uncomfortable.It’s not the pull between us, it’s whatever trauma response Roger brings out in her.She isn’t relaxed at all, the tension evident in her face.Her shoulders are tighter.Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes anymore.And she keeps glancing toward the front door.Not constantly.Just enough.Like she expects him to come back.Or maybe she’s waiting on another boogie man.Either way, she’s rattled now.
I don’t like it.Not one bit.
The old guy beside me, Harold leans over slightly.“That fella’s trouble.”he mutters what I already know.
I keep my voice low.“Seems like it.”
Harold grunts.“Boy’s been trouble since he was twelve.”
Good to know other people are keeping an eye on Lucy’s safety as well.Harold’s been in Freedom Falls for his whole life.He’s in his seventies and now eats every meal at the diner since Ada, his wife of fifty-eight years died last year and this is where he gets his food.
The thing about being a King is knowledge is power.Big Daddy taught me during my time in California that to be a King and control the chaos that comes with our world a man needs to know every player on the board.
Settling in Freedom Falls, Alabama and starting this chapter with Chux years ago, I made it my business to know all the locals.Sure there are outliers like Lucy who move in and it takes some time to learn their history, but as a King knowing every man making roots here is crucial to our success.
Strangers pose a risk to the life of an outlaw.Maintaining control of the area is necessary to keeping our lifestyle.And I’ll do anything to keep my brothers safe from any threat.
Lucy comes back down the counter with the coffee pot again.“You want more?”
I slide my mug toward her.“Sure.”
She pours slowly.“Sorry about him,” she states quietly, almost a whisper.
“Nothing to apologize for.”I tell her the truth.No one needs to apologize for another person’s actions.I don’t know why people do that.I’m a cut and dry man, myself.If I wrong someone, sure it’s on me to apologize and atone.If I didn’t do shit, though, why apologize?
“I just mean, he’s not usually that pushy.”She tries for casual, but the slight tremble in her voice gives it away.
“Sure.”I challenge sarcastically drinking my coffee.I’m not going to directly argue with her, but I damn sure don’t buy this line.
She pauses.“You don’t believe me.”
I shrug.“I don’t know him.Don’t know you.Just watch and don’t like what I see, babe.”
Her mouth tightens slightly.“Roger likes to make small things into big ones sometimes, that’s all.”
I raise my eyebrows at her.“Seems like he’s good at it.”
She caps the coffee pot and sets it down.“You didn’t have to get involved.He would have given up eventually.”
I let her words sit between us for a beat.“Eventually.”She doesn’t reply but her face questions my remark.“Babe, when a woman doesn’t answer a phone, a man doesn’t show up where she works cornering her because he knows she can’t leave to ask why she won’t answer.”
“He wants answers, closure maybe.I don’t know.I shouldn’t ignore him I guess.”She tries for this casual conversation, but I can tells she’s anxious.
“Babe, hear me and really hear me, Lucy.You don’t own anyone shit, especially not an explanation or closure.He needs closure, he can talk to the motherfucker in the mirror.What he doesn’t get to do is make you feel some kind of way because his ego got bruised because the hottest piece in Freedom Falls ain’t got the time of day for a man child like him.”
