Page 11 of Pop
Luna left her cellphone and purse at the diner, so it’s there we stop at first.
“Thought I told you not to come back,” Daniel snaps when we walk in the door. Luna presses her lips together and sighs. I growl.
“Don’t be like that, Daniel. This place is as much mine as it is yours. You don’t get to call the shots.”
He scoffs. “Two weeks with him and you’re talking to me like that?”
“Have some respect and let your sister speak her mind,” I command, trying to keep my voice even. But struggling because I want to shake the man.
“What are you gonna do if I don’t?” he snaps. “Wreck the place?”
“That’s your MO, man. Not mine. And I won’t be taking the fall for it again.”
“What?” Luna frowns and looks between us.
“You’re full of shit,” Daniel says, shaking his head, but I can see the fear in his eyes. He regrets bringing that up now. In my youth, I did a lot of stupid shit. But I’m grown now. I’ve left that version of myself behind.
“No. What is he talking about, Dan?” Luna demands, and I feel so proud of her for standing her ground today.
“Yeah, Dan,” an old guy says from his place at the counter. “Why don’t you tell your sister what you did.” He turns to the side and I recognize him as Bob Garret. He’s aged a ton since I last saw him. He lived next door to me while I was growing up, and since I spent a hell of a lot of time locked out of the house, he took an interest in me and taught me about bikes, how to fix them up and modify them. He’s the only person who armed me with useful skills in this world. And he’s also the only person who believed me when I said I wasn’t behind the vandalism at the school that ended my high school career.
Daniel looks from me to Bob, to Luna and back to me again. “What difference does it make now?” he says.
“I’m gonna marry your sister, Daniel,” I start. “I love her. She loves me, and you’re her brother. She loves you too. And if you care even one little bit for that sweet woman, you’ll make things right. Let her have her family and her love. She’s given you twenty-two years, and all she’s asking is a little acceptance and a little truth. And personally, I wouldn’t mind an apology.” I give him a wink and take a step closer to Luna, threading my fingers through hers.
“Daniel?” she pushes when he rubs his lips together and lets out his breath.
“Fine. I’m the one who vandalized the school.”
“What?”
“Coach wouldn’t let me pitch because my arm was a bit stiff, and I didn’t wanna be benched for the biggest game of the season. I lost it. I tore apart the equipment room, and I threw Rek under the bus.”
Luna gasps and shifts her eyes to me. “I believed you when you said it wasn’t you, but why didn’t you tell me it was Daniel?”
“Because I’m no snitch.”
She shakes her head. “No wonder you came after me to get back at him.”
“Wait. Youknewabout that?”
Bob cackles from his stool, enjoying the drama playing out.
“Of course, I knew. You two hated each other, and you were way over the top in the beginning. But I also knew when it became real for you too.”
“About ten minutes after meeting you.” I smile, and she smiles back up at me.
“I’m sorry I had even a moment’s worth of bad intentions toward you. I love you, angel,” I murmur, leaning down for a taste of her sweet mouth.
“I know. I love you too, my king.”
I release her to find a few customers looking at us with a combination of judgement and smiles. She excuses herself to go and get her things and have a conversation with Daniel while I take a seat next to Bob.
“Welcome back,” he says, holding his hand out to shake mine. “Nice Ducati you’ve got out there.”
“Saw that, huh? It’s my dream bike.”
“I remember. But I don’t see so great, I heard your motor.”
