When her eyes peered through the window, I quickly stood and turned away. Turning right into the sinister eyes of five boys and a grown man.
“My Sissy ain’t here to rescue you now,” Cameron said, his hands on his hips.
“Beat it, kid,” I said, trying to walk around him. The man with him stepped in front of me. He looked to be in his twenties. His shoulders were wide, but there was something in his eyes. Something I’d never had.
Innocence.
“Prez wants to talk to you,” the young man said.
Jesus Christ, when did I start thinking of men in their twenties as young men? Probably about the time I turned forty. I shook my head.
“His sister told me he often forgets he’s not the president yet,” I countered, crossing my arms over my chest.
The young man pushed his chest out; his bravado was impressive. “He’s the president of the Manly Club,” he said. Then proudly boasted, “I’m the sergeant at arms.”
I held my smile back out of respect. Something about this guy told me his position meant more than the words he said.
“The Manly Club, huh?” I asked, looking over the ragtag group of boys.
“That’s right,” one of the other boys confirmed. “No Bettys allowed.”
I rolled back on my heels, sliding my hands into my pockets. I wanted to appear less threatening, if for no other reason than the sergeant at arms.
“No Bettys, huh? Doesn’t sound like much fun.”
“The Bettys are all babies, except my sister Jasmine. But trust me, sir, she isn’t fun.”
The kid’s body did a full shiver at the mention of his sister’s name, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Cameron hadn’t said a word since his veiled threat that I needed a woman to protect me.
“Alright, I’ll bite. What do you want to talk to me about?”
I eyed Cameron, waiting for him to speak. He took a step forward, and the others took up the space covering his back. I wouldn’t lie; the kid’s command was impressive. His friends had his back without question.
“Why are you here?”
“Just passing through. Rosewood looked like a nice town, and I needed a break.” It wasn’t a complete lie.
“He’s lying,” one of the boys whispered.
“I know.” Cameron looked me up and down; his eyes were assessing me, telling me he wouldn’t believe a single word that came out of my mouth.
“Why are you watching the Bettys?” he asked.
I took a quick glance at the café window and smiled without thinking. It was a habit when I looked at Morgan. The joy that woman brought into my life was something I’d missed every fucking day for the last seven years.
I never stopped thinking about her. Never quit wishing things could have been different. That she could still be mine.
I turned back to Cameron and his brothers. “I wasn’t watching the Bettys.”
“Bullcrap,” the smallest of the boys clipped. His look was fierce, and I couldn’t help but think about my son.
“What’s your name?” I asked him.
“Sean,” he answered with a smile. “That’s my brother, Benny. And this is Kai and Jasper.”
“And you?” I asked the man who stood over the boys. His post as guardian taken seriously.
“Jamison.”
