Page 74 of The Biker and the Loner
"Maybe." I give a one-shoulder shrug, nervous. Then quickly add, "Or do you guys think a food truck would be better?"
To that, Toni and Cookie answer in unison, "Rent the space."
Kendra nudges my shoulder with her booted foot, giving me a genuine smile and a wink as she mouths, "Progress."
"Say you're serious," Cookie says as she picks up her phone from the coffee table. "'Cause I'm texting Joan right now to tell her not to rent that spot to anyone."
I don't know, but I half-expected some resistance from Toni and Cookie, which is why I immediately suggested the food truck. Both women own food businesses on that street, so it would have been a normal reaction for them to see another food joint on the same street as potential competition. But Toni looks so excited at the prospect, and Cookie is already texting away on her phone to lock down the joint for me.
Unreal.
"Yeah, I am," I murmur, blown away by the unexpected support. "I'm thinking of AM only opening hours. Six to eleven maybe. I dunno. Lots of crazy ideas bouncing around in my head. But, yeah, I want to open a breakfast joint for sure.”
Toni claps her hands together, beaming, enthused. "Yes, girl. Yes!"
Cookie side-eyes her. "Here we go. She's gonna bully you into letting her manage the inter—"
"I'm in charge of interior design!" Toni blurts before Cookie can finish.
Cookie points her gaze at me. "There's no other answer to that except ‘yes’. Trust me. For everyone's sake, just let her do it."
I glance at Toni, and she honestly looks far too aroused by the idea for me to tell her no. "Okay. Besides, you're going to have to teach me the ropes about running a business. I might have an MBA, but you women are real-life girl bosses."
Cookie leans back and takes a puff of her joint, kicking her feet up on the coffee table. "Girl, we’ve got you."
Chapter 18
Leyana
Scratch texts metwo days before he’s supposed to come home. We've had no communication with each other since our encounter in the parking lot two and a half months ago.
With my emotional baggage under control, I’ve been eager and impatient to reunite with him. But when the eight-week mark rolled around, he never came home. It was Kendra who informed me that his training was extended for two more weeks.
He’d calledKendra, not me. No courtesy of a heads-up for me.
Not that I blame him. I did him dirty after Kathy died, and he didn't deserve that kind of treatment from me.
Hard to admit it, but Scratch is truly a changed man. The Scratch pre-army and Scratch post-army are two completely different men. I spent our entire time together waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never did. He remained constant and solid.
I'mthe one who screwed us up, I’m the one who did the hurting, and now I can only hope he still wants me when he gets back. Despite his declaration in the parking lot,a lotcan happen in ten weeks. That “out of sight, out of mind” thing? It's real.
Now, as I stare down at the text on my screen, I feel a twinge of panic.
Scratch:BACK IN 2 DAYS.
That's all. No “I miss you”, no emojis, no personalization, no endearment, nothing. It could be a mass text message to everyone in his contacts for all I know.
My heart squeezes in on itself.
I'm in love with Landon Michaelson, that much I know. I've been in love with him long before I offered myself to him in that trailer. Long before I ever believed there could be an us. I don't want to lose him. I don't want him to ever stop wanting me with that determined fierceness that he does, so I'd be lying if I said I'm not scared shitless right now.
With jittery fingers, I tap out a reply.
Me:I miss you baby. Can't wait to see you!
He doesn’t reply.
The weeks followingmy return from rehab have been hectic, eventful, hard, educational. A huge chunk of time was spent at my lawyer's office and the bank. So. Much. Paperwork. And so much money! Before rehab, when I’d read that Kathy left me everything, I didn’t understand the magnitude of what that meant. Now, I do.
