Page 51 of Almost is Never Enough

Rooster

Calvin was right.

When he said Lennon was a shell of herself, I watched that shit happen in real time. One second, she’s sassy and funny and slightly flirty with me and the next, she’s just gone. Like a fucking ghost.

And all because of that big, dumb bastard that can’t take no for an answer.

But, God… that brief moment basking in the glow of her… I need more.

It was addicting.

The way she smiled at me.

The way her eyes sparkled when she challenged me.

The way her breath caught when I leaned in to grab her phone.

Fuck me.

I wanted to kiss her so damn bad.

But, somehow, I held myself back.

That wasn’t what she needed in that moment. Not after Owen grabbed her like that and tried to force her into a conversation against her will.

My hands ball in my lap as I stare over at the large windows of the bakery.

Lennon is behind the counter and she laughs at something Mila says, her whole face lighting up and my chest feels tight.

Fuck.

As soon as I got back to the clubhouse after leaving the bakery this morning, I stole Jumper’s truck and headed back over here to keep an eye on her. I don’t trust dumb-fuck Owen to keep his distance or leave her alone and I can’t stand the thought of her having to face him by herself.

Not that she can’t handle herself.

But I don’t want her to have to.

I glance at my phone and sigh. The bakery will close soon and once she’s safely in the confines of her apartment, I can relax. Unless Owen knows she’s living there now.

I scowl, flicking my gaze to the apartment above the bakery before snatching my phone off the seat next to me and dialing Streak’s number.

“Yo,” he answers, the sound of clicking keys in the background.

Good.

He’s already at his computer.

“You find anything else out about Owen?” I ask.

“Not really. Spoke to Max a little bit ago. Apparently, the responding officers felt real bad for the guy,” he says and I can hear the disdain in his voice. “Said he was drunk and blubbering like a fucking idiot over Lennon. They consoled him and sent him back inside.”

“He showed up at the bakery earlier,” I tell him and the clicking pauses, the line going silent.

“And how would you know that?”