I wished I could say the same about her.
"I did a lot of thinking in Korea when I was stationed there. Then, when I was stateside again, I moved around, trying to find a place to live that didn't remind me of everything I'd lost. When my POS Jeep broke down somewhere in the Dakotas, I picked up a second-hand Harley Sportster. Once I had wheels, I could travel more. It's how I came across the Fallen Souls on a ride. They were participating in a charity ride, and I met them at a stop along the route.
"I got to know some of the guys and before I knew it, I was headed here to prospect with the club. Now I'm a fully patched member living here in town."
Arlys shifted on the bed. Her eyes looked up at me for a moment before lowering to the bed around her feet.
I recognized that look.
The slight sag of her shoulders.
The graceful bend of her neck.
She was falling asleep.
The nights I'd snuck into her house to talk to her?
Those late nights?
She'd looked like this, too.
Exhausted.
"Hey... Do you need me to take you back home? Is someone waiting up for you?"
I didn't know about the situation with her husband.
I wasn't stupid-
Well, that wasmyassessment.
I hadn't seen a ring, but that wasn't proof of much.
It could have been lost.
Or maybe they hadn't wanted to wear rings-
I decided against that moments after I'd questioned it inside my head.
This wasn't the time for in-depth questioning.
With a slow exhale she spoke. "No. I'm here by myself."
"I thought that maybe you'd moved here for a job, maybe come with a friend."
She shook her head, ending with her head lolled a little to the right.
"If you don't have to leave now. You can stay here in my room."
I was on my feet before she could say a word.
"I can sleep in the main room with the others." I felt every inch of my 'advanced' age weighing on my bones. "The party is likely to go on until a few hours before dawn. If you stay here, it'll be quiet. No one will bother you here."
With that, I managed a nod.
I turned on the heel of my boot so I could get a blanket and a pillow to put under my head, but I only got as far as putting my hand on the wardrobe door pull.
"Logan?"
