Page 77 of All Your Firsts

“That’s like jumping in the deep end when you don’t know how to swim.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to realize that. Then he goes and does sweet things for me that he doesn’t have to, and deep down, it makes me want him that much more. I swear I’ll get my heart broken, but I don’t even think I’d mind at this point.”

“Okay, we’re closing and going to the fair. You need a night off, maybe a drink or two, and some deep-fried Oreos.” She pushes in the chair.

She looks over at me just as I grab my bag. “If you ever want to talk about anything, I’m here. I’ve been around these boys my whole life, so I know quite a bit more than I want to, actually.”

The temptation to get a little insight into Vic’s life is too much to pass up. He’s a vault, and my curiosity compels me to delve deeper, eager to unravel the mysteries within him, especially after his nightmare.

“So you knew him when he was a teenager?”

“Yeah, and even before that,” she says as she locks the door and leads us to her car. I get into the passenger seat, and we head to the fair.

“What was he like when he was small?”

She looks out the front windshield with her lips pressed into a thin line. “He was quiet and kind of sad. I once heard him talking to Ax about his shitty parents, about how they abandoned him, and how he had no one. It broke my heart because Vic was always sweet to me, like a big brother. The whole thing was such a big story. His father was from a wealthy family, and all the secrets came out when he died. Drugs, child abuse, child endangerment.”

“What?” I ask horrified.

“Yeah, the article read that the little boy was severely malnourished, sick, and left alone for days.”

My heart pounds violently in my chest, and suddenly, everything falls into place. His weird fascination with stockpiling food, the need to eat as soon as he wakes up, and always making sure that I’ve had enough food. A lone tear leaks out of my eye.

“Once he got older, he changed drastically. Got into a lot of trouble. Stealing, fighting, drinking. It probably had to do with being in foster care and then with the MC. Then, he went away for a couple of years and came back different again.” Jess looks over at me as I take it all in.

“Why did he go away? He said something went wrong, but he never said what. Did he kill someone?” I whisper the last part.

It freaks me out a little to think of him murdering some innocent soul. I could never get over the fact of my father doing that. Alexa could always separate the two worlds when it came to her father, but Alexa’s father differs greatly from mine. He’s always treated his family with love and care. Leaving the monster at work and not bringing it home. My father, not so much.

“No, nothing like that,” she whispers, as if we aren’t the only ones in the car. “The day that happened, I overheard Trey on the phone talking to someone. I guess they were transporting gunsand drugs. Something went wrong, and it was supposed to fall on Axl, but Vic took the fall instead.”

I’m relieved to hear he didn’t hurt someone. I sound like a bad person, but guns and drugs don’t hit any nerves. I’ve been around both my whole life, so I’m pretty desensitized.

“Okay, detour! Let’s have a quick drink, then we’ll go to the fair,” Jess says.

“Deal.”

We pull into the bar parking lot, which is just as empty as Sweet Escape.

“Hey, girls,” Char says from behind the bar. “Why aren’t you at the fair with everyone else?”

“Girls’ night... A quick drink and then we’re headed there,” Jess says.

“I got just the thing.”

“Make it strong, Char!” Jess yells to her.

Char slides the drinks across the worn wooden bar top. “You’re in luck. That’s the only kind I make... and it seems like you two will need it. Don’t look now, but Victor and Richard have their eyes set on you two.” She tips her head to the front door.

We both turn to see Vic and Axl advancing in our direction. I forgot to text Vic about my plans to leave with Jess, so I cast him a sheepish smile.

Why does he always make me so nervous?

“Shit, down that shot quick, girl,” Jess whispers in a rush while downing her shot and bringing mine to my lips.

“Ladies...” Axl says with a predatory smile aimed at Jess.

Jess tips the glass and starts pouring it into my mouth, the cool liquid seeping from the side of my lips and running down my chin.

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