“No, not yet. I’m starting the second spring term so I’ve got some time. Thank you so much, Melissa. I love this job so much and getting to spend time with my sister and my niece Grace.” AJ lifts her hand, wiping the tear that slides down her cheek. We’re both turning into messes today.
“Okay. Now, get back out there. It’s going to be rush time soon.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She stands and heads to the door, opening it. But before she steps out, I call out to her.
“Is Earl still out there?”
“He was when I came back here. I can tell you when he leaves.”
“Thank you, do that, please.”
“I will and again I’m sorry if I interrupted.” Her face blushes and I can’t help but smile. She has such an innocence to her, butsometimes I wonder. Something happened to her in the past—something I hope she’ll share with me one day.
Knowing the rush will be here soon, and not wanting to go to the front since Earl is still out there, I decide to get a head start on paperwork. Payroll, to be more exact, since payday is in just a few days. I also need to start thinking about schedules; while I’m glad she’s staying, I may need to look for a part-time person to cover when she has classes.
I’m so caught up in what I’m doing, I almost don’t hear the soft knocking on the door. The door opens slowly, the creaking pulling my attention even more. “Ms. Melissa, he’s gone,” AJ’s soft voice calls out.
“Thank you. I’ll be out to help you in a few minutes.”
“No rush, it’s not that bad out there and I’ve got everyone taken care of. I hope you don’t mind. Jake came in and cleared the tables for me.”
“No, sweetheart, that's fine. He’s a good one. Don’t let him get away.”
“I don’t plan to.” She giggles as she shuts the door.
Chapter three
Earl
Chapter four
Melissa
I’m standing behind the counter when I hear the rumble of a bike. I’m immediately on alert, looking to see who it is. My heart clenches when I see Earl’s familiar bike pull up.
“Can you handle this?” I ask AJ quickly. When she nods, I scurry to the back and head straight for my office. I’m not in the mood to deal with Earl today.
It was bad enough that Ash and the guys were in here earlier this morning, trying to convince me to give him another shot. They even played dirty, saying how awesome it would be if I became Jacey’s grandmother for real.
Then, as if that wasn’t enough, Jax cornered me in the cooler and we had a quick make-out session.What the hell is going on?All these years of no one, and now I have two men. Jax, who made no qualms about telling me I’m who he wants, and Earl, who I’ve longed to be with for so long, but tossed me to the side so easily.Maybe I should just be a nun.
There’s a knock at my door and without even thinking, I call out, “Come in.”
I was expecting to see AJ, hell, even Jax, but not the person who steps inside and shuts the door behind him.
“What do you want, Earl?”
“To talk to you.”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
“You see, Mel, that’s where you’re wrong. I have a lot to say and I want you to listen. To truly listen to every word.”
“Fine, say what you need to, then get out of my office.” I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest, and wait to hear what’s so important he felt the need to barge into my personal space.
“First, I’m sorry. I fucked up all those years ago. But no matter how badly I handled that situation, I’m not sorry it happened. It gave me Ashlynn and Jacey.”
“Earl, we’ve been through this before, so it’s nothing new,” I speak up, really not in the mood to hear the same shit like it’s some new revelation.
