Page 29 of Jake's Angel

“I’ve got a new job. It pays well, and it came with a sign-on bonus of sorts,” she replies, taking her card back from the clerk and grabbing the bags off the counter.

“What job?”

“I’ll tell you all about it later. Let’s get these bags to the car, grab some grub, and get you home.” I trail behind them both, following them to the parking lot, allowing Sadie’s words to sink in.

Home.

We’re walking to the car and notice all the streetlights have come on. It’s gotten dark outside.

“Hey Jayde, can you take Aves back to the house for me? I’ve got an errand I need to run.” An eerie feeling has settled over me, like bugs crawling along my skin. Something doesn’t feel right. I stop walking for a moment to look around. Sadie and Jayde stop talking and walking when Sadie notices that I’ve stopped.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know. I just have this weird feeling like we’re being watched.”

“It’s just Blake. Remember? The MC’s watchdog?” Jayde says nonchalantly dismissing me, but I don’t think that’s it. He’s been following us around the whole time, and I never felt this eerie chill. I scan the parking lot. When I see nothing out of the ordinary, I shrug it off.

Maybe it’s my exhaustion getting the better of me.

“I need to make one more stop by the grocery store. “C’mon Avery. Sadie, we’ll see you at the house in a little while?”

“You’re leaving, Sades?”

“I won’t be long. I need to check on something, and I need you to go with Jayde. If you leave with her, they might believe you’re one of her friends from school and I was just giving you a ride to the mall.” Her voice softens, “We need to keep a low profile for a while. At least for a few more days while we get yourID figured out, okay?” She gives me a hug. “I’ll see you at the house in a bit.”

“You good for one more store?” Jayde hollers over the roof of her mustang.

“Do I have a choice?”

“Nope.” She chirps. “Look in my purse and start making a list of things you want from the grocery store.” I do as she says, suddenly feeling a burst of energy and excitement. I’ve never shopped for my own food before. As dumb as it sounds, I was never allowed. I ate the meals that were made for me. Carbs were rarely allowed, and junk food of any kind was out of the question.

We pull into the parking lot of the grocery store, and suddenly, I’m feeling like I’ve caught my second wind.

I grab the first cart I see and run for the double doors with Jayde yelling behind me. I make my way through the front and continue running, pulling the cart to a halt just as it bumps a crate of apples.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Have you never been in a grocery store before?” She shouts, half laughing, half frustrated. I’m too busy laughing at myself to answer with words, so I shake my head instead. “Well, let me tell you, if your goal is tonotbe noticed around town, then you probably shouldn’t go around racing at top speeds down the produce aisle running into crates of apples!” She’s trying to keep her voice quiet as she scolds me, except she’s failing miserably at it.

“I’m pretty sure after the new kid is done cleaning up after your mess, he’s going to be sure to tell all of his friends about the pretty new blonde girl in town that killed the apple cart!”

“What do you have on your list? We need to get what we came for and get the hell out of here.” There’s a long silent pause as she reads what I’ve written. “Are you serious? Candy, soda, cereal, chocolate—What are you four?”

“No.” Suddenly feeling unsure of my choices, I tell her honestly, “I’ve never been allowed sweets.” She stares at me in disbelief.

“What do you mean, you weren’t allowed?”

Not wanting to go too deep into details, I give her the simplest version I can. “I competed in pageants and had to keep my figure, so I wasn’t permitted to have junk food or sweets.”

“At all? Like never?” I feel Jayde’s gasp more than hear it. “Oh, hell no. Give me that cart. I’ll be right back. Don’t you fucking move from this spot. I don’t need you drawing any more attention to yourself.” She spins the cart and takes off, scurrying down the aisle and I’m left standing here feeling like a scorned child.

I’m reading the labels on several bags of tortilla chips. Who knewchipscould have so many flavor combinations?

A purple bag on the top shelf catches my interest, and I step onto the bottom shelf to reach it. My feet wobble and the shelf creeks. A hand reaches out to grab my arm to help steady me. I immediately spin myself around to face the person who came to my rescue to thank them. The movement causes his grip to tighten on my arm and me to wince slightly. Catching his eyes with mine, I try to pull out of his grip, but he tightens his hold on me. I don’t know what he wants, but he’s not letting go.

Jake.

Maybe he’s still pissed at me for leaving him standing in the hallway at the diner this morning.

“Let me go, please.” I whisper. It’s all I can muster the nerve to say. It’s lame, but it’s not every day a sexy biker with deep blue eyes, a panty-melting smile, and who kisses like it’s a professional sport he’s trained his whole life for, takes me captive in his hold. My lips form a tight, thin line. I try scowling at him. Thinking maybe if I seem indifferent or irritated with him, he’ll take the hint.

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