Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
I never told anyone, but I briefly contemplated culinary school after high school. But I’m a simple guy, and I know beyond the shadow of a doubt, preparing food for strangers in some fancy restaurant would rob me of any joy being in the kitchen may bring.
Atlas holds up his hands in surrender, but before anyone can say anything else, the front door bangs open, and the woman I’ve been unwillingly losing sleep over barges in like she owns the place.
She's still dressed in her work clothes, pink scrubs she has no business looking so damn fine in, holding a store-bought pie out in front of her like a peace offering.
“Sorry I’m late,” she says, rushing into the kitchen to set the pie on the bar. “Traffic was a nightmare. Work was a nightmare. Everything’s—” She catches herself at the last minute. “Sorry.”
“You’re not late, Scar,” Nora replies, as she walks back into the kitchen. “You’re right on time. Is everything okay?”
She is most definitely late, but I guess I’ll give her a pass.
Scarlet smiles but doesn’t reach her eyes. “Just one of those days.”
“What flavor pie?” I ask, my nose wrinkling as I take in the box.
“I… I have no clue. Apple, maybe?” She cringes, and I roll my eyes.
But ever the peacekeeper—at least for tonight—I keep my thoughts to myself. I know she has a lot on her plate right now, but damn, she could’ve put in a little effort here.
“Peach.” Atlas glances down at the label as he stalks into the kitchen.
“Could be worse, I guess.” I glance back over my shoulder at James. He’s managed to maneuver himself onto his belly and is trying to inchworm his way across the living room.
“Sorry to disappoint, Officer Jackass.” Her comeback lacks its usual bite, and I don’t like it. Not one fucking bit.
So, I do what I do best, I push.
“It’s all good, Scar.” I keep my voice light. “Our expectations weren’t terribly high.”
“Of course they weren’t.” She shrugs her purse off her shoulder and heads into the living room, no doubt in search of James. “Hey there, my little angel.”
He smiles and grabs her pant leg, pulling himself to standing.
Scarlet doesn’t hesitate, bending at the waist to pick him up. “You don’t think I’m a disappointment, do you?”
He lays his head on her shoulder.
“That’s because you’re the best boy in the whole word.”
“None of us think that,” Nora says.
Scarlet snorts. “You don’t think that, and I love you for it. But they”—she nods her head toward Atlas and me—“do.”
“No they don’t,” Nora insists. “Right guys?” She narrows her eyes, staring down Atlas, until he gives a noncommittal grunt.
She turns her steely gaze my way, but Scarlet pipes up before I can think of anything to say.
“Don’t waste your breath. We all know how Ellis feels about me.”
She sounds… almost sad, and fuck if I don’t hate it. We banter, it’s our thing, but right now, she’s just sounds… defeated.
Time for a subject change. “Did I tell y’all about my new job?”
“Sure didn’t,” Atlas says.
“Congrats, Ellis,” Nora enthuses, talking over her fiancé. “Tell us everything.”
“It’s, uh, security.” I rub at the back of my neck. “With a local motorcycle club.”
“Like… Sons of Anarchy?” Scarlet scrunches her nose.
“No.” I laugh under my breath. “Not even a little.”
“Then like what?” She tilts her head to the right, studying me. “From cop to MC seems like…” she trails off, and I just know some bullshit’s about to come out of her mouth. So, color me surprised when she says, “A big change.”
“It is.” I shrug. “But it’s not.”
Scarlet laughs, and I swear I feel it in my gut. “Explain, please. I’m trying to understand you being unemployed for so long—”
“Not that long,” I grumble.
“Only to start working for a motorcycle club.”
I don’t respond right away, mostly because I’m not entirely sure what to say. In a way, she’s right. I’ve technically been unemployed for a long time, and while I played it cool, it fucking ate at me.
For the better part of the last year, I’ve felt useless, aimless. Like I’m a dinghy drifting at sea. I knew I wanted to help people, but didn’t know how.
And sure, I could’ve gone out and gotten a job just about anywhere, but I want to do something that matters.
So, I used the money my dad and his parents left me to get by, and lucky me, it barely made a dent in it.
“You actually know my new boss,” I tell Scarlet.
“Do I?” She shifts James to her other hip. “Who?”
“Silas,” I offer up the two syllables with a shit-eating grin.
“Lovely.” Her tone implies it’s anything but.
“Anyone wanna explain?” Nora asks, crossing her arms.
“Scarlet tried to pick him up at The Creek, and he turned her down.”
“That’s not… I didn’t—” She blows out a hard breath.