Page 142 of Ghost

“Not a word. I get enough shit from everyone else.”

The waitress dropped off our food, told us the bill was paid, and before I could ask who paid it, a voice shouted from across the room.

“I’ll be seeing you soon, Jessica Montoya.”

The jingle of the bell signaled the door opening as Grayson Powell left the diner. Jessie groaned and dropped her head on the table.

“He’s very handsome,” I commented.

“He’s fucking gorgeous.”

“So, what’s the problem? He clearly wants you. And you obviously want him.” I took a bite of my burger and groaned to myself. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.

“Too much baggage” was all she said before digging into her own plate.

We ate our food and talked like friends. Jessie was borderline rude with her blunt, forward way of speaking. But I found it endearing. Too many people were practiced in spouting bullshit, so you never knew what they felt or believed.

“So, what’s your plan?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Ellie said Ghost was yours. Yet you’re here, with no escort. Which tells me the boys don’t know you left yet. So, what’s your plan?”

“He’s not mine,” I said, shaking my head, unsure if the denial was for her benefit or mine.

“But you want him to be.”

“It’s not an option. I can’t be with a biker.”

“Why the hell not? Bikers are hot. And from the TMI Ellie has shared with me, they know how to fling a girl around.” She waggled her eyebrows, and I couldn’t help the small laugh at her antics.

“Too much baggage.” Repeating her words cut through quickly. She nodded her understanding and went in a different direction.

“Ok, what about Dani?”

Shrugging my shoulders and laying my napkin on my plate, I said, “Sometimes you have to give up the thing you want the most, so the person you love can be happy.”

“You think she’ll be happy without you? From what Ellie said, you’re her mom in every sense of the word. Like she is with Chrissy and Tabby.”

That was nice of Ellie to say, but it wasn’t true. Dani had her dads. And as much as I wanted to be in Dani’s life, Ellie’s situation was completely different.

“Ellie sure talks a lot.”

“She does. She’s a writer, so everything is drama to her. But me and Ryder are the only two people she really gossips to.”

“I don’t really have a plan. I just can’t stay at the clubhouse anymore.”

Jessie sighed heavily. “I like you, Melissa. So, I am going to do something very painful.”

I eyed her curiously. “What are you going to do?”

“The giant pain-in-the-ass cowboy that was here has some cabins on his ranch. I’ll take you over there and get you set up in one.”

“Oh no. I can just stay at the hotel.”

“Absolutely not. Have you seen that shithole? It’s not fit for rats, let alone humans.”

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

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