“Baby, I wouldn’t joke about this. Why do you think I found out where you live and conveniently bumped into you and your brother? I had to see you again.” Hopefully, she didn’t rip me a new one for stalking her.
“Dammit! Now I owe my brother twenty bucks. He said seeing you wasn’t by accident. I kind of like how desperate you were to see me again so soon.” She kissed my lips softly.
“Next time, close your goddamn windows!” Letty yelled from the passenger side window. “The whole world doesn’t want to hear your fucking!”
“Oops!” I laughed so hard, hugging Kelly tightly, until there were tears. Maybe I unintentionally wanted the world to hear I’d gotten my groove back. I didn’t know, but it sure felt damn good to feel whole again.
11
Kelly
It had been two days since I last saw Gideon and had our rocking good time in his truck. Even just thinking of him, my lady parts tingled. I missed him. Missed him a lot and couldn’t wait until I saw him again.
While I was doing my twelve-hour shifts at the hospital, he’d been busy with club stuff. Things he wouldn’t tell me about on the phone when we briefly talked before I crashed out for the night. I sensed it had to do with the person who drugged Cass, although nobody had told me any of the details.
Speaking of Cass, she and I connected on social media and chatted. It had been fun getting to know her and receiving her book recommendations during my breaks. I liked her just as Gideon said I would.
I unlocked my front door and dragged myself into my apartment, utterly dead on my feet. We were shorthanded today. Two nurses didn’t show up for their shifts, and I worked three extra hours to help cover. I didn’t appreciate them leaving us high and dry. The least they could have done was call in. But they were young, fresh out of college and besties, so they probably went out partying last night and were dealing with hangovers.
Oh, to be so young and not have a care in the world. Not that being thirty, my age, wasn’t young, but they were like babies.
“Dang, you look awful,” Kevin said from the sofa.
“Thanks. Working fifteen hours is hard on the body. Did you eat dinner?”
“Yep. GQ dropped off some Mexican food. It’s warming in the oven. Hopefully, it’s good. We thought you’d be home at your usual time.”
“That was so nice of him.” I made a sad face, wishing I could have seen him. “This must have been the surprise he was talking about.” I went straight to the kitchen, snatched the oven mitt off the counter, and took out a stone plate covered in foil. It smelled amazing.
“He said it’s Mama Virgie’s famous enchiladas. That they’re better than the ones at Tequila’s Taqueria.”
“Oh, that’s funny.” I grabbed a fork from the drawer and went to join my brother on the sofa. “It’s my understanding that all of the recipes for the restaurant are Mama Virgie’s.” Just a little detail I learned from Gideon on one of our phone calls.
“Not those, though.” He pointed at my plate. “Those have pork carnitas in them. They’re the bomb, sis. It’s pretty cool to have a guy bringing us food, dontcha think?”
“I do. It’s pretty cool.” I cut into the enchilada, blew on it, and put it into my mouth. “Oh, wow. So good.” I fanned my mouth with my hand, because the enchilada was freaking hot.
“I know. I devoured my food in ten minutes.”
“I believe it. So what’s new? Did you do anything today?” I asked the two questions I always asked. I hated not knowing what he was doing all day long while I was at work. Most kids would get mixed up in drugs or riding around in fast cars. But for the most part, Kevin was a good guy.
“Conrad came over and we just hung out playing video games. It was a hot one today.” He took a drink of his soda. “And when GQ brought the food, we chatted for a while. I really like him.”
I smiled, while chewing. “Mhm. He’s great. What’d you talk about?”
“He asked about school and my plans after graduation.”
Instantly, a knot formed in my stomach. My brother wanted to join the Kings of Anarchy MC and Gideon was someone important, and not a regular member. He was what he called a council member, which meant more responsibility and perks, I guess. I could see him recruiting my brother, and I wasn’t sure I liked that.
“What’d ya tell him?” I continued eating the delicious food on my plate, trying to act casual and non-threatening so my brother wouldn’t shutdown. He should feel comfortable enough with me to be open and honest. I wasn’t our parents.
Although, I couldn’t say how I would be with my own child, if I ever had one. I’d first need to find the right man. Gideon’s handsome face flashed behind my eyes and an ache between my legs appeared. I shook him quickly out of my thoughts and focused on my brother.
Kevin wasn’t a child. In two years, he would be a legal adult and the best thing I could do for him was start treating him like one to help him succeed in the real world.
“Oh, you know… I hate school and can’t see myself going to college.” He paused for a moment, leaving me anticipating what he would say next. “I told him I wanted to join his club.”
Yup, there it was, my greatest fear.
