“Thought you should know,” he adds.
“Thanks, man.”
I hang up and go back to tweaking my bike. Since I started seeing Babygirl more, almost daily even if it’s just for a few minutes, I haven’t really been back to the clubhouse. I don’t want to hide my happiness, but it seems wrong when the club is feeling something that I’m not. So I’ve stayed away, but I’m happy that General keeps me looped in enough to know the particulars.
I try to breathe out the heavy feeling sitting on my chest when I think of Ruby being hurt. It’s hard to describe,but it feels like a ton of bricks are sitting just above my stomach.
The feeling goes away entirely the second I see a text come in from my girl. Especially when she asks for something that I can’t deny wanting.
Up for hanging out tonight? My shift just got changed, and I’ll be off the next two days, so I can spend more than five minutes with you today.
I take the time to clean my hands before I text back.
Always. Got anything in mind?
Several thoughts come to mind, but so does Ruby. Going out on the town and living it up probably isn’t a good look. Even if it doesn’t get back to the club, I’m not sure how I’ll feel about it.
Ruby pops into my head every now and again. Like a friend you haven’t texted for a while. You think about them, wonder how they are, debate if you should reach out. But then you get distracted and you forget till the next time you think about it. There’s no way for me to actually talk to her, and joining the mission to get her is not a possibility. I might be fine physically, but till I get a better handle on my brain, or at least my feelings on how I deal with my brain, I’m a liability.
The club knows. Well, General told me he spoke to Casper about it, and they both agree that I need time. I’ve never gone on a mission with Operation Hell Hound, the mercenary group we set up with our sister chapters, but I’ve never shied away from events that needed some extra muscle locally before either. However, I’m even sitting those out for now.
Not that there’s a lot going on around town. At least nothing that’s been reported back to me. Probably best that the club has a sole focus on shit right now.
Honestly? Pretty exhausted after the last few days feet-wise, so mini golf is off the list. You against just a movie or something?
That sounds oddly perfect for what I had in mind.
You want me to pick you up at the hospital or your place?
I don’t give her a choice to meet me somewhere. That would give her the option to leave when I might not be ready for it to end.
House, please. I need a shower. Had a patient throw up on my shoes again.
I send her the yuck emoji, and I get a thumbs-up in reply. My favorite response from her.
Pick you up at eight?
Make it eight thirty. Need to wash my hair.
I chuckle at the line, but I doubt she’s even old enough to know it used to be an excuse for a woman tonotgo out with you.
Oh, so we’re getting fancy tonight, huh? Might need to wash mine too then.
The laugh emoji has me thinking she might have actually laughed out loud after reading my text.
Didn’t you just wash it?
Stalker much?
I laugh at the very idea of her trying to be one. Sneaky isn’t in her wheelhouse.
No, it just felt soft last night.
I know she’s blushing, especially since she keeps texting.
Not that it didn’t the night before.
Or before that.
