Page 47 of Until I Found You
Eighteen
Graham
Pulling into a parking spot outside of Brodie’s, I turn the key in the ignition and grab my phone just as it dings with a text message. Jumping out of my pickup, I hit the lock as I swipe the screen checking the message.
Halle:Remember that one time we locked ourselves out of my house?
Chuckling to myself, I think back to the night Halle and I had been hanging out. It was a Friday night and her parents were out of town. She had told her parents she was going to stay with Kinsley that night, but like every Friday night, we all met up for the game and then went out with our friends.
Halle had left her key in her house, but we had been desperate to spend time alone together. She had practically begged me to help her get inside. Like every other time, I couldn’t deny her. I still remember hoisting her up to her bedroom window and the sarcastic comments she made about me touching her butt.
Graham:I’ll never forget it. I’ll never forget how great your ass looked in those jeans either.
Halle:You better not!
I can’t help but chuckle. Pulling on the back door to Brodie’s, it’s a quiet crowd for lunch on a Friday. People are seated at the bar, starting their weekend early with a beer in their hand.
Spotting Mason, Brannon, and Wes at a table off to the side, I give a quick wave to Brea who’s working at the bar, as I head toward them.
“We weren’t sure if you were going to be able to make it,” Brannon says, as he waves me over.
Sliding into the booth next to Mason, I reach over shaking each of their hands in greeting as I feel the stress of the day ease just a little.
Truth be told, I needed to get out of the office for a little bit and meeting up with the guys seems like the perfect way to do it. We haven’t seen each other since the wedding and things were crazy, we haven’t really had a chance to catch up.
“How are things going at the office?” Mason asks, looking over at me. “Dean mentioned shit has been tense lately with Krate coming around. What the hell’s going on?”
Running my hand over my face, I settle into my seat resting my arm along the back. Glancing around, I make sure no one is around that could overhear our conversation before I look back at Wes wanting to ensure he’s hearing this.
“He’s been coming around Halle when she’s alone, saying shit to her. It’s freaking her out. She plays it off like it’s not a big deal, like she can handle it herself, but I know better. It’s evident how uncomfortable he makes her.”
“You’re shittin’ me?” Brannon asks, resting his forearms on the table. He can play it off like he’s the jokester, but I know he feels the same way I do. You don’t treat a woman that way. You don’t put that kind of fear in her.
“Nah, man, I wish I was though. We’ve been trailing him.” I pause, adjusting myself in my seat again.
“Mav and I have been working with some people, keeping an eye on shit. He’s just a loose cannon, unpredictable. He cornered her the other day outside Hudson’s, middle of the damn day. He knows we’re onto him, told her if I didn’t stay away and mind my own business, he’d put me six feet under next to Gage.”
I feel Mason freeze next to me.
“Hell, no,” Brannon says, balling his hands up into a fist. “He’s sayin’ shit to her like that, there’s no way she’s doing okay.”
“Yeah, I know. She’s stubborn as a bull though.” I emit an exhaustive sigh while running my hand across the back of my neck. I’ve tried going by after I found out what happened, but she denied me. I tried talking to her about it at the wedding, but she insists she’s fine.
“I don’t think he’d do anything to Kinsley. He’s targeting me, but you know they’re always together.”
Wes nods his head, obviously not liking this. “Kinsley have any idea this is going on? She hasn’t mentioned anything to me.”
“I’m not sure, man. It’s hard enough getting Halle to talk to me about it. She swears she’s okay, but every time I bring it up, she changes the subject. She turns it around, about how she isn’t going to turn to me if something’s bothering her. I fucked up in the past and she is being stubborn about letting me be there for her again.”
Wes’s eyebrows furrow as he leans forward, rubbing his thumb over his lips in thought.
“Honestly, we haven’t talked much this week.” He squints, as he runs his palms over his weary eyes. “Brannon and I have been so busy with the motocross event coming into town. I was contracted to do some work on a bike to help get it ready. I had to cancel on our plans on Wednesday because of it. She wasn’t happy with me about it. We just have both been so busy between Callum and Ellie’s wedding and things taking off at the shop.”
This is the first time I’ve ever heard of them having problems and I can sense it isn’t sitting right with Wes either.
“I was thinking about taking her out of town for the weekend now that things will start calming down a little.”
“You know, if you guys want to take off, I have no problem taking care of things for a bit. Hell, we all know I ain’t got nothin’ or no one waitin’ on me at home,” Brannon comments with a glint of humor.
