Page 41 of Thunder

Maybe she was still exhausted. Whiskey said she’d stayed with him the whole time and only left to eat.

“Sit, eat. You need to build up your strength.”

He looked down at a veggie burger decked out just the way he liked it, a mound of fries, and a gallon of ketchup. His favorite.

“How did you know?” He popped a fry in his mouth.

“I asked the girls, and they said it was your favorite, extra lettuce, no tomatoes, and a tanker truck full of ketchup.” She could’ve made him anything to eat, but she took the time to ask the girls what he liked and made that. It bode well for their future. She cared about him and she was not faking it.

“You’re not hungry?”

She smiled and stole a fry, then sat on the bed to put on her shoes.

“I ate when I made yours. Besides, I had a last-minute client book. Shop’s closed, but I need to keep the clients happy, so…” She stood, walked over and kissed him on the forehead. It felt a lot like goodbye. Not the physical kind, but the emotional one. There was a distance that hadn’t been there before.

Maybe he was reading into it because he had so many things he needed to share with her so they could move forward. Thunder wrapped his arms around her thighs and looked up at her. Hoping she couldn’t tell his arm hurt like a bitch holding her, he asked, “You coming back here after? We have some shit we need to iron out, but I want you by my side tonight, and when I wake up in the morning.”

When he leaned his cheek into her belly, he breathed a sigh of relief as her hands fell to his hair. “We do need to talk, but I need to check on Fern and you need a proper night of sleep. How about I bring you donuts in the morning? Taps told me there is an amazing vegan bakery that I have to try.”

The groan that escaped him wasn’t just because imagining Taps eating donuts in front of Andy didn’t sit well with him.

“You sure you don’t wanna stay here and we can make the donut run together?”

“I’m going to be late and you need to rest and recover. We’ll talk tomorrow, I promise. Right now, though, I have to jet.” She dropped a kiss on the top of his head. Lingering her lips there before she turned away.

“You have my number programmed into your phone?”

Andy swiped the screen and turned it his way. “Yep, along with Granite’s.” Swipe. “Pound’s.” Swipe. “Whiskey’s, and pretty much every Phantom there ever was.” She smiled and pocketed her phone.

Thunder watched her walk out of his room and pushed the plate away. Something was off and it spoiled his appetite. As his mind reeled, he pulled a tee over his head and stalked down the hall.

Granite and Pound sat at the bar, while Whiskey and Taps shot pool. “Hey, look who is among the living.” Pound saluted him with an amber bottle.

“That looks good, how about it, Trixie?” She turned to Whiskey for approval. Being a “patient” sucked.

“Go on, not like your stubborn ass would listen to me, anyway.”

Thunder downed a good portion of the bottle right off the bat. “Did Andy seem. . .off when she left?” He heard the pool stick softly thud against the surface. He knew what that meant even before Taps opened his mouth.

“Well, well, well, seems the big bad pilot who complained anytime a feeling come anywhere near him, wants to discuss what else, but feelings.”

Taps hopped up on the empty barstool, placed his elbows on the bar, and dropped his chin onto his fist like a schoolgirl. To top it off, he swung his feet back and forth.

“I have been waiting for this day since you patched in.”

Thunder rolled his eyes hard. Turning his back to Taps, he asked the rest of his brothers. “Anyone, and I do mean, anyone else want to help me out here? I cannot talk to a grown-ass man who tongue fucks donuts and pops wood at the thought of gabbing like a girl.”

Not that he didn’t value Taps’ assessment. Hell, it would actually be pretty accurate… if the fucker could be serious for five minutes. But his,The More I Drink The Better I Danceshirt didn’t instill confidence. If the words didn’t do it, the chipmunk wearing a button-down shirt and gold chains giving finger guns would.

“Did you tell her yet?” That was Granite’s contribution.

“Didn’t get a chance. She had a client and bolted before I was even dry from my shower.”

“For what it’s worth,” Whiskey added. “I don’t think the prospect of being your ol’ lady will freak her out as much as you’re worried it will. We had a lot of time to talk while you slept.” Whiskey must’ve seen the murder in his stare, because he raised his hands in surrender. “Calm down, brother. I didn’t out you. Not my place, but I think she cares deeply for you. Can’t imagine why, but she looks at you the way Taps looks at dessert.”

“Aw hell, when’s the wedding then, because I would fucking marry me some dessert.”

“Can it.” Pound slapped Taps on the shoulder. “My question is, do you look at her like that?”

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