“Both.” Trooper crossed the room and placed a takeout container on my work table. “Bacon cheeseburger, extra onions and mustard, no tomatoes. Sweet potato fries on the side, with a jumbo chocolate chip cookie. Fresh from the oven, so it should still be warm.”
I raised my eyebrows, impressed that he remembered my favorite order at the diner, word for word. Then I squinted at him with suspicion.
“Smells good,” I said, inhaling that mouthwatering cheeseburger scent. “But I know a bribe when I see one. You’re buttering me up.”
“Am I not allowed to do something nice for the ladies in my life?” he protested.
I scoffed. “Now I know you’re full of shit. What do you want, Trooper?”
“How many times have I told you to call me Theo? You don’t have to use my road name like everybody else does.”
I took a giant bite of my burger, saving me from a response. As honored as I was that Trooper was willing to grant me that privilege, I wasn’t ready to take it.
Trooperwas easy—familiar in a friendly way, but nottoofriendly. When I used his road name, it made me feel like one of the guys.
Teddy, he declared, was a childhood nickname that didn’t really fit him anymore, but it stuck regardless.
AndTheodorewas used by his parents. Usually when they scolded him. He preferred to never hear anyone call him that again for obvious reasons.
Theowas supposed to be just for me.
And that’s exactly why I didn’t want to use it. Because it was too close. Too intimate. Too personal. I knew what a slippery slope that could be.
So, I stubbornly called him Trooper.
“Is that what you came here to talk about?” I asked. “I’m pretty sure we’ve had this conversation a few times before already. You didn’t need to make a special trip just to tell me that.”
“Fine,” Trooper said. “I know a deliberate change of subject when I see one. I dropped by because I may have heard a rumor that Psycho is getting new ink from you.”
I shrugged, failing to see the connection. Psycho and Trooper were members of the local motorcycle club, the Reckless Order. I’d tattooed many members over the years, so it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.
“What’s your point?” I prompted.
Trooper fixed me with a long stare.
“Do you like him?”
I sputtered a laugh of disbelief.
“You’ve got to be kidding. He asked for a tattoo, so I gave him one. That’s my job—”
Trooper shook his head and braced his hand on the back of my chair, leaning close to look me in the eyes. His dog tags slipped out of his shirt collar, swinging freely. I almost reached out and hooked my fingers into the silver chain with a tug.
Something about Trooper’s close proximity was soothing in a way I couldn’t explain. Even on my worst days, when I pushed everyone away, he still stuck around. He didn’t flinch at my sharp tongue and my need for independence didn’t threaten him, unlike every man I ever dated who took personal offense to it.
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” he replied. “Psycho said you two hadchemistry.You wereflirting. And as your friend, I feel it’s my responsibility to inform you that the guy is batshit crazy. You can do better.”
I searched his face, jutting out my chin.
“Wait a minute. You seem really invested in all this…”
Trooper raised his eyebrows, a challenge in his gaze.
“Are you…jealous?” I ventured, delighted at my discovery.
He scoffed and rolled his eyes.
“Absolutely not.”
