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“Uh, I’m just a waitress.”
Ali shrugs. “Hey, no harm in that. If you’re doing what you love, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”
“I wouldn’t say that I love it but I like it and it pays my bills. I’m actually thinking about going to school, though.”
“For what?” Ali asks, leaning back and propping her arms up on the table. Gravel crunches as someone walks up behind us and we all turn as Storm slams a bottle of water down on the table.
“Drink.”
She rolls her eyes again. “For fuck’s sake, Logan.”
“Drink,” he repeats, pointing to the bottle and she nods as she grabs it.
“Man, he’s bossy,” I point out as he walks away and she laughs, shooting water out of her nose.
“Oh, you’ve got no idea. Don’t worry, though. He’ll get his later for being such an ass tonight. He’s been especially uptight since we found out I’m pregnant.” She places a hand against her belly and I smile, imagining that for myself one day.
“How far along are you?”
“Only about six weeks which is why I’ve been trying to convince her to get pregnant with me,” she says, nudging Carly who sputters out a laugh and holds her hands up.
“Uh, no. I think Chance and I are good on the baby front for a while.”
The guys drop off three plates of food for us before going back to the grill and we chat as we eat. I’ve never been all that good at making new friends but with Ali and Carly, it’s easy to just be myself and they seem to like me. As I turn to glance at Lincoln, I see Blaze watching me from his seat by the fire and I scowl.
“What’s the deal with Blaze?” I ask and both girls turn to look at him.
“What do you mean?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. He’s just been watching me all night long.”
“Don’t let it bother you,” Ali urges. “Logan says that something has been off with him lately and he’s just grumpy.”
“So he doesn’t hate me then?”
Carly shakes her head. “No way. I don’t think Blaze hates anyone. He may look mean but the man’s a big teddy bear.”
“Speaking of bears… How did you and Kodiak meet?” Ali asks and I laugh, remembering the first time he came into the diner.
“Uh, I was his waitress and he was rude to me so I pretty much told him to go fuck himself.”
Both girls burst out laughing and the guys glance in our direction before turning back to the fire.
“That’s just perfect,” Ali mutters, shaking her head. “I swear, it’s what these guys need most of the time.”
I giggle. “What? Someone to put them in their place?”
She nods and starts talking about how ridiculous the guys can be, which has me in stitches by the time Lincoln approaches the table.
“Hey, baby. You about ready to get out of here?”
I turn to him and smile. “Yeah.”
“It was so nice to see you again,” Ali says, standing up and giving me a hug. “Get my number from Kodiak and we’ll hang out sometime, okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, that sounds great.”
Lincoln leads me back over to the fire where all the guys are. “Hey, we’re heading out.”
