Page 17 of Forbidden
Another all-nighter. Shit, I’m getting too old for this. Who would have thought I’d be saying that shit at thirty-two? E rolls up next to me and gestures to his stomach, making me realize I’m starving, too. He points toward Millie’s and rides ahead of me. Millie’s. Fuck. For the last month, I’ve avoided that place like the plague. I told myself I’d leave her alone and I have. The problem is she’s still a permanent fixture in my thoughts. She’s built a fucking house and moved the fuck in.I guess I can’t hide forever.I signal to the guys and pull in next to E’s bike. He’s still sitting there waiting for the rest of us.
“You sure you up to it, man?”
He knows I’ve been trying to stay away from her. Hell, he even encouraged me; told me I was doing the right thing. I take a deep breath and run my fingers through my hair. I’m about as ready as I’ll ever be. “A man’s gotta eat.”
I push the door to the diner and the chimes announce our arrival. She’s behind the counter making coffee, but her back is turned to us. A few people glance nervously in our direction, a couple leaving hurriedly. It surprises and amuses me in equal measure how scared some people are of us. We’ve never given them a reason to be. This is home, so we keep our shit outside its borders.
“Welcome to Millie’s. Just sit where you like and I’ll be with you in a sec.”
Her voice. It’s like the sound of a brand new Dyna to my ears. Not the most romantic analogy, I know, but I’m a biker. Deal with it. She hasn’t even turned around yet and she’s having an effect on my bone-tired body. My cock twitches.Shit! Stop it, Gage.Crow, Motor, and Razor slide into a booth, while E and I take another. Our eyes meet when she finally turns around. She gasps and touches her fingers to her neck. I expected a little surprise, but I see something else in her eyes. I’ve seen it enough to recognize it even at this distance. It’s fear.Why would she be afraid of me?She quickly regains her composure and walks toward our table, head held high. She passes the menus around and removes a pad and pencil from the pocket of her apron, all while she avoids looking at me.
“Can I get you all something to drink while you decide?”
The guys at the other table order coffee and then she turns to me and E.
“The usual, Dr. Emerson?”
“I’ve told you a million times, Raven. Jon is fine, or Einstein; that’s what everyone calls me.”
A million times? Jon?I narrow my eyes at E and he shrugs. She smiles weakly and jots something down on her notepad.
“Coffee, cream, no sugar. And for you, sir?”
E snickers. Fucker.
“Sir? You talking to me?”
She takes a deep breath and finally looks at me. The vibrant girl I met a few weeks ago is nowhere to be seen. She looks tired, worn out. There’s no fire in her eyes. She looks pale and…defeated. That’s the only word I can think of.What the hell happened to her?
“Are you okay?”
She tilts her head to the side and furrows her brows.
“Of course. Why would you ask that?”
“You just don’t seem like yourself, is all.”
“How would you know? You don’t know me.”
Ouch. Harsh but true.
“What can I get you?” she asks, with a little impatience.
“Coffee, black.”
“I’ll be right back.”
I watch her walk away before turning to E.
“What was that all about,Jon?”
He chuckles and raises his arms in surrender.
“Hey, I get my coffee here every morning. As for the rest, she’s been like that for a while now.”
I watch her intently as she comes back with the mugs and the pot of coffee. She moves methodically, more out of practice and routine than anything else. After taking our orders, she disappears, only surfacing when some other customers come in. Millie serves our breakfast, so Raven doesn’t come back to our tables until she brings the check. As usual, the guys left me to pick up the tab, so I’m the only one here when she returns.
“Sit with me for a minute.”
