Wait, why am I doing that again? I mean… I did want to thank him for what he did. And his club for helping with Sophie. I am single now. Pretty sure Jinx is always single. He’s not the kind of guy that does serious. And right now, I think nothing serious is exactly what I need.
I wanted to have a wild vacation. Sort of. Okay, that’s what Deb wanted for me, but I wasn’t so sure. I’m not exactly the friendly type, let alone flirty. Not sure if I’d feel comfortable spending a night with a stranger. But Jinx isn’t a stranger. And he’s hot as sin.
Okay. I’ll make myself a promise. If we run into each other again… if we see each other and happen to talk… if an opportunity presents itself… Then I’ll take the risk. I’ll… flirt or ask him out or something. Hell, Jinx is a biker, I could probably just tell him to meet me at my cabin after 10 p.m. and he’d get the message. The question is… will he go for it?
Ugh! Whatever. Just let whatever happens happen, Deidra.
The first thing I did when I got to town was stop at a small cafe and called Deb while I had a hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin. We chatted for quite a while. She let me know that Garden Sip is doing just fine without me. Told me about our regulars asking about me. And apparently, not only did Sophie show up again, but I guess Theo did too.
“Why can’t they just give me some space?” I complained. “I know Sophie is entitled and apparently, delusional, but damn, you’d think some part of them would think to give me some time after what they did. Not that I’d ever forgive her, but come on.”
“I agree,” Deb replied.
My spine straightened at her tone. It wasn’t like I didn’t believe her. It just wasn’t normal for Deb to not pop off along with me. That’s one thing Deb has always been. Out-spoken. Her tone was more… distracted. Like she was trying to keep something from me.
“What aren’t you telling me Deb?” I asked outright.
Deb sighed.
“I didn’t want to say anything at all since you’re supposed to be on vacation, but I just can’t help myself. They made me so angry,” she said. “But they were very pissed off and were accusing you of calling and canceling the venue.”
I blinked as the information settled.
“Uh, what?” I blurted. “The venue was canceled?”
“So they say,” Deb muttered. “They were certain it was you.”
“But… I didn’t,” I replied. “I should have. I really should have, but part of me was hoping one of them would come to their senses and see how wrong it was. I was still hoping they’d just get married somewhere else.”
“Yes, well, because I am who I am, and I hate those two,” Deb started. “I called the venue and pretended to be you and asked who canceled it. Fed them some story about Theo’s vengeful ex canceling things.”
“Oh Deb, you didn’t,” I groaned.
“I had to know!” she said defensively. “They told me that the person who called was a man claiming to be the groom. They gave me the number too and asked if I still wanted to work something out. Told them no, that the groom’s ex turned out to be not so crazy, and the wedding was off.”
“Oh my god,” I muttered as I pinched the bridge of my nose, before all her words finally hit me.
“Wait, a man called?”
“Mhmmm, and when I called the number they gave me, you’ll never guess where it led,” she said.
“Where?” I asked.
“The Salvation Knights’ MC,” she told me.
My mouth opened, but no words came out.
“I hung up right away,” Deb said. “But how crazy?”
“But… why…? How did they even…?” I trailed off, unable to form a question.
How did any of them even know my venue or its importance to me?
“Oh, honey, I gotta go, Aaron needs help at the counter,” Deb said. “I love you. Please continue to have a good time and not worry.”
Before I could even mutter that I loved her too, the line went dead. I didn’t even get to tell her about how I ran into Jinx yesterday. I was too afraid of what she’d tell me. Especially after our last conversation regarding Jinx.
I tried to do what she said though. I tried not to think about it. I tried to enjoy my muffin and my drink. I tried to act normal and smile at everyone that I passed as I walked down the street.
But my mind just wouldn’t stop. I walked into a random store, my body on autopilot while my mind whirled. I was looking at things, but my mind was on another planet.
Who made that call? Someone from the MC clearly, but who exactly? And why? Why would any of them do that for me? How did any of them even know about it? I’ve barely ever even talked to any of them. My parents knew a few of the old-timers though. Maybe one of them knew, but still… why?
Suddenly, someone shouting from the back of the store pulled me from my thoughts.
“You little brat!”
Deldra’s P.O.V.
“You little brat!”
Was that an adult? Yelling at a child, I assume. God, that sh.it really happens everywhere?
I looked up, trying to peek at the commotion. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one either. Other patrons were glancing that way, the ones that were in the back of the store started to awkwardly shuffle to the front. Which kind of pi.ssed me off. Some adult is yelling at a child and everyone’s first reaction is to walk away like nothing is happening?
I started to move closer. I could see the adult yelling. It was a woman. One who apparently worked here by the looks of her uniform shirt and name tag. This shop is a gift shop, slash candy shop, slash bar that also sells hot chocolate for the kiddos. A pretty cool set up if you ask me. Too bad their employees are sh.it.
“You’re going to apologize to me right now for spilling that drink on me!” She screamed. That was when I noticed the brown blotches across the front of her white and red shirt.
“I’m not apologizing, lady! You deserved it!”
Oh no… I know that voice.
“Deserved it!” The woman screeched, scoffing like she couldn’t understand the audacity of a seven-year-old boy.
“I heard you talking about my daddy!” Waylen yelled right back at her. Speaking of which, where the hell is Jinx? Or his family, for that matter. “You said you were going to suck up to the brat with him to get in his pants! You think I don’t know what that means, lady!? My dad would never be with a girl like you!”
I had to cover my mouth to hide my laugh. The woman turned bright red as she glanced around nervously. Then she crouched down and grabbed Waylen’s shoulder. He was glaring at her and I stiffened when she put her hand on him.
Where the hell is Jinx?!
“Listen to me, you little sh.it,” the woman seethed. “You’re going to apologize and then help me get sweet with your daddy. Or so help me, I’ll-“
Oh, fu.ck this.
I marched right up behind Waylen and grabbed the bit.ch’s hand. She looked up at me with surprise before it quickly turned into a glare. I threw her hand off Waylen’s shoulder just as he looked up at me with a bright smile.
“Or you’ll what?” I asked her as she stood up straight. “By all means, tell us all what you were about to threaten this boy with. I’d love to fu.cking hear it.”
“Who the hell are you?” She asked, sneering at me as she folded her arms over her chest.
Before I could reply, Waylen did for me.
“She’s my mom,” he told her, lying smugly like it was no big deal at all that he just told her I was his mom.
“Waylen-“
“This is your mom?” The woman laughed, looking me up and down. “You’re with that hot biker?
Yeah right. I seriously doubt someone like him would ever settle for someone like you.”
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