Page 53 of Trucker
“She confronted Taji in the supermarket.” Andi gossiped. “My friend texted me about it. Esther tried attacking Taji.”
“I guess Esther didn’t know Taji woke up today and chose violence.” Lennox added.
“She put her hands on Taji?” I growled, rising from my chair.
Lennox grabbed my arm and tugged me back into my chair.
“She can’t do that!” I snarled.
“Does it look like Taji needs your help?” Lennox asked. “You start a fight now and Taji will never forgive you. I know you want to fix this—but let your girl work.”
Deep down, I knew Lennox was right. Taji hadn’t asked for my help—she hadn’t blown up my phone demanding I protect her honour.
Instead, she stood up for herself and that turned me on.
But the alpha in me raised its head.
The rage I felt in that moment was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
“Calm down, big fella.” Andi reached over to squeeze my hand. “Taji handled it. Esther had it coming though. She’s been a thorn in Taji’s side for years. If I remember, they went to school together, and Esther has always been a little shit.”
“Everyone thought she’d grow out of it.” Lennox sighed. “Especially after her family lost everything. But I guess being an asshole is soul deep.”
“Everyone was wrong.” Andi sipped from her water. “She is still a spoiled little shit. Didn’t grow out of it. Esther only got old.”
Though I kept catching Esther staring at our table, she avoided us.
And that was probably for the best.
I wanted her dead.
Lennox and Andi kept their eyes on me.
Andi kept her palm on my arm as we ate. It was as if she was trying to remind me to stay calm—a reminder that taking Esther out wouldn’t be something Taji wanted.
I knew it was her way of keeping me from snapping and wringing Esther’s neck with my bare hands.
I wanted her dead for putting her hands on Taji. But my cadets were right.
I had to control my temper.
As the others talked and laughed around us, I wondered why Taji didn’t tell me what happened with Esther.
As that thought rushed through my mind, I sighed and glanced toward the exit, debating rushing home to see her. Perhaps that was why she hadn’t told me—I would have gone off half-cocked to kick someone’s ass.
Honestly, I didn’t know what I would have done had she told me.
But there was something inside me that made me want to make sure she was safe—something that wanted to protect her. That certain thing was so strong, it almost blinded me as Lennox and Andi spoke to me.
Little by little the cadets thinned out leaving me with Andi and Lennox. As the conversation lulled, I caught Lennox’s attention.
“What do you know about Ryan?” I asked. “I was told he moved to the town a few years ago and hasn’t really left.”
“Yeah—one thing you need to know is that the only person who likes the guy is Esther.” Lennox told me. “That should tell you all you need to know. It’s a matter of the asshole in her recognizes the asshole in him.”
“Right.” Andi nodded. “Be careful around him. If either he or Esther tell you the sky is blue, you shoulddefinitelycheck.”
Lennox tapped his cup to Andi’s, a sign of agreeing with her.
