“Give me ten minutes to finish a pie and we’ll go.” I kissed his forehead and escaped.
Jericho and Romeo started in with questions before I’d moved off his lap. Smiling to myself, I headed back to the kitchen to finish my pie, satisfaction filling me to the tip-top of my curly hair.
* * *
Weeks stacked on top of each other like dominos set to fall. We’d navigated two months of this strange dance without stepping on each other’s toes. But more, I didn’t feel consumed, sucked dry, like I normally did with the men in my life. An idea planted roots in my brain—I wasn’t the failure.
My swings from elation to nervous dread lessened every day as I started to believe in myself. Dare valued and respected me in a way none of the others had despite their promises and whispered words of love. I’d take Dare’s actions over all the proclamations in the world.
Wednesdays became my favorite day of the week. Taking care of Dare had become second nature and I enjoyed it, especially since he didn’t expect it. However, cooking breakfast for the entire club—it stoked my self-esteem in a way nothing ever had. The guys showed appreciation in a playful way. The Angels of the world sneered at me in my apron serving pancakes, but she and others like her would never feel my pride in caring for people. It had been programmed into me at birth, I think, and I was done apologizing for who I was.
On my fifth Wednesday, like clockwork, I had the pancakes, bacon and sausage ready to serve by a quarter to ten. Humming a happy tune, I carried out the huge serving dish of pancakes. Another like it waited in the oven. A few more trips and I’d laid out my spread.
“Come and get it, boys,” I announced to the room.
More than forty pairs of eyes stared at me before chairs scraped back in a cacophony of screeches. I headed to the kitchen to clean up first, and then I’d chat with the guys later. Carrying out the second pan of cakes, I stared at three empty pans. I transferred the empty pan for a full one of cakes before I hurried back to the kitchen for bacon.
Placing the bacon in the empty serving dish, I scanned the room for Dare, but he was a no-show. On the days he didn’t bring me, he usually strolled in by ten thirty. What was keeping him away?
Zayn sauntered up with a wink. “Mama, that was great. I’m going to bust I ate so much.”
My laughter rang out at his always outrageous compliments. “Thanks. Why do you call me Mama?”
Zayn’s brows lifted and I think his cheeks turned pink but he ducked his head too quick. “It’s a compliment, the highest one, we give old ladies and others who go out of their way to take care of us. I guess, a sign of our respect.”
He scuffed his boot, more than ready to flee this conversation. “Zayn, you’re too sweet. Thanks, and for the other times as well. I’ll bring some red velvet cake by the shop later.”
He grinned up at me. “Do I have to share?”
I frowned and shooed him toward the door. “Get your bad self to work and open up the shop for me.”
“Dare’s not going get any the way this crew is eating today.” Zayn gave a lazy wave and left the club.
I didn’t like it that Dare still hadn’t showed up, but maybe something came up, like club somethings. I returned to the kitchen to bring more pancakes out for the third dish. I’d just set the dish on the counter when a hulk of a guy, huge and tall, walked up to the table in a vest and nothing else on his top half. I’d never seen muscles like that, he even made Rock look small.
“Hey, honey.” He looked me up and down in a way I’d seen too often from guys in the club.
This guy who I’d never even seen before stared at me with empty plate in hand, not even bothering to pretend to load it up.
“Hey, I’m Lila, nice to meet you.” I grinned up at him.
“Thorn. I wanna fuck you.”
Whoa, what an offer. No one had propositioned me before, but I hoped to avoid a scene. I decided to try a joke. It’d worked before, even if no one had been that blunt about their interest. Most of the guys had a great sense of humor.
“Unfortunately, that’s not possible.” I gave him a wink, turning to leave.
But I never made it. Next thing I remember, I hit the wall and crumpled to the floor—my face on fire.
Hands over my face, I curled into a ball, afraid the next blow was seconds away. I hadn’t even seen the first one coming. Panic hurtled through me at the thought of how much damage the giant could do to me.
How could I think I am safe?
MJ’s face blurred in front of mine. She spoke, but the words were jumbled by the ringing in my ears. Slowly her face came into focus and the ringing subsided. Shouts sounded loud behind MJ, but her words finally penetrated my fog of pain.