Page 68 of Nomad

“Don’t get testy with me just because you’ve got your own head up your ass.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

Brant slammed the Scotch back. “I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I believe that girl was put in your path at the exact moment she needed you. And I think maybe it had somethin’ to do with you needin’ her, too. It’s always a mistake to walk away from a gift, especially when it’s like a bird nest on the ground.”

Cann slammed his Scotch back. “Bird nest on the ground. Where’d you hear that one?”

“I don’t know. Someplace.”

“I got a room?”

“Number ten. It’s always been yours.”

“All right.”

The room filled with noise from the common rooms as soon as the door opened. Music was blasting and the guys were starting to get smashed. Brant sighed when the door closed and shut it out again. Sometimes he felt like he had to be a father to his club. Sometimes a shrink. Sometimes a priest. Sometimes he cursed his grandfather for putting him in that position. Not often though.

Cann made his way around the edges of the party without anybody noticing. When he got to number ten, he looked to his right. Bud was right across the hall. She was absolutely right. He was a liar. What he wanted more than anything was to walk right through that door, curl up in that silly flower-covered bed, and make love to her until he could remember what it felt like to be human. But that wouldn’t be fair because he had a date with death.

He’d made up his mind.

He was just going to stay alive long enough to make sure that she was going to be okay. Then he was going to do it.

When Cann arrived at breakfast, Bud was buzzing around like she’d been in charge of the kitchen for years. Car Lot said something Cann couldn’t hear and she laughed in response. Then she glanced up and saw him. The laughter went away fast and she turned back to the hash browns she was turning on the griddle.

“Cannon Johns,” said a female voice to his left. “I’m Brenda. I’ve been holdin’ down the fort here for a while. This girl’s got the job down though. Didn’t take her no time at all.”

Cann nodded. “Mornin’. Smells good in here.”

“Have a seat. We’re doin’ short order cookin’ this morning. Don’t do it often, but since there’s two of us… How’d you like your eggs?”

“Over easy?”

Brenda eyed him up and down. “Three? Four?”

He chuckled. “Three. Please.”

“He likes bacon,” Bud tossed over her shoulder without looking at him.

“Okay. We got lots,” Brenda said.

Cann took a seat at the table.

“You ready to go to work?” Brash asked.

“You got somethin’ for me?” Cann replied, taking a sip of the coffee Brenda set in front of him.

“Always,” Brash said.

“What are you doin’ here anyway? Didn’t I hear you got married?”

“Yeah. I’m as whipped as a man can be, but I come in for breakfast most mornings. It’s easier to coordinate the day if we all start out on the same page.”

That made sense to Cann. “So you’re a business man. The real deal.”

“It’s a livin’, brother.”

“Speakin’ of brothers. I met yours in New Mexico. It was a trip. Somebody who looks just like you, but ain’t you.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t stop starin’.”

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