Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Jude
The clubhouse door slammed behind Clove, her boots loud against the worn wood floor as she crossed straight for the couch like she owned the place, which we all kind of did. Ender was already sprawled out there, one arm hooked behind his head, looking like he hadn’t moved in hours.
“I want ice cream,” Clove announced.
Ender didn’t even open his eyes. “We were just there two days ago.”
Clove planted her hands on her hips. “And?”
“And normal people don’t need ice cream every forty-eight hours.”
She snorted. “You’re in a motorcycle club, Ender. None of you are normal.”
That got a grin out of him. He finally cracked one eye open, looking up at her. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“I’m saying it like you should know better than to question my ice cream habits.”
I leaned back in the chair near the wall, watching the two of them go at it like it was a sport. It usually was. Half the time, you couldn’t tell if they were arguing or flirting, and I didn’t think they could either.
Clove tilted her head, studying him. “Besides, you agreed last time.”
“That was two days ago,” Ender shot back.
“And you can’t beat good ice cream,” she said, like that settled it.
Ender huffed out a breath, scrubbing a hand over his face before sitting up. “Yeah,” he muttered. “Yeah, you can’t.”
Clove’s grin was immediate. “So we’re going.”
He pointed a finger at her. “You’re relentless.”
“And you love me for it.”
He didn’t argue that.
From across the room, Fox laughed under his breath. “You two done negotiating, or are we voting on this?”
Oliver pushed off the wall where he’d been standing, arms crossed. “I’m in. Haven’t had anything decent all day.”
“Same,” Fox added. “Better than whatever the hell’s in the fridge.”
“That’s because you don’t cook,” Oliver said.
“That’s because I like living,” Fox shot back.
Alice came in from the back hallway right then, wiping her hands on a towel. “What are we talking about?”
“Ice cream,” Clove said immediately. “We’re going.”
Alice raised a brow. “We?”
“You’re coming.”
Alice glanced toward the door, then back at Clove, like she was weighing it. “It’s eight.”
“And?”
Alice smiled, slow and easy. “Let me run it by Wrecker.”
“That sounds like a yes,” Clove said.
Wrecker stepped in behind Alice, one hand resting on her hip like it belonged there. “What sounds like a yes?”
“Ice cream,” Ender said. “Apparently, we’re all going.”
Wrecker looked between them, then down at Alice. “You want ice cream?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “I could be convinced.”
“That’s a yes,” Fox said.
Wrecker huffed out a laugh. “Alright. Let’s go before she changes her mind.”
Clove threw her hands in the air. “See? Easy.”
“Nothing about you is easy,” Ender muttered, but he was already standing.
I pushed up from my chair, grabbing my keys off the table.
Nights like this had gotten easier lately.
Quieter. No tension sitting in the walls, no waiting for something to go sideways.
The Northbound Reapers had gone quiet, and for the first time in a while, it felt like we could breathe without watching our backs every second.
“Have I mentioned how nice it is to not have the camera crew following you guys around?” Alice sighed.
“Mac’s still got the cameras running, though,” Fox said, glancing toward one of the corners.
“Yeah,” Wrecker muttered. “But we shut down anything outside the clubhouse after that Northbound shit.”
“Probably for the best,” Oliver said.
“Yeah,” Wrecker added. “They want a show, they can film what happens in here. Not dragging cameras into club business anymore.”
Didn’t mean it would stay that way. But for now, it was enough.
“Jude?” Oliver called, already heading for the door. “You riding or what?”
“I’m coming,” I said, following them out.
The night air hit cool as soon as I stepped outside, carrying the low hum of engines starting up and the faint smell of exhaust. Fox was already on his bike, helmet hanging off the handlebar, while Oliver swung his leg over his.
Wrecker climbed onto his, Alice settling in behind him like she’d done it a thousand times. Clove hopped up behind Ender, wrapping her arms around his waist without hesitation.
I kicked my bike to life, the engine rumbling beneath me, steady and familiar.
Clove leaned forward, her voice carrying over the noise. “If they’re closed, I’m blaming all of you.”
“They won’t be closed,” Fox said. “Relax.”
“They better not be.”
Ender shook his head. “You’re dramatic.”
“And you’re slow. Let’s go.”
We pulled out together, engines echoing down the street as we headed toward town. The ride didn’t take long. It never did. Just enough time for the wind to clear your head and the road to settle something in your chest that didn’t have a name.
The Dairy Bar came into view a few minutes later, neon lights glowing in the windows, the sign still flipped to OPEN.
Clove let out a cheer from behind Ender. “See? Meant to be.”
“Or it’s just a business with regular hours,” Oliver said.
“Don’t ruin this for me.”
We pulled into the lot, cutting engines one by one. The place looked the same as it always did. Red booths, black-and-white tile, lights warm against the dark outside.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
We headed inside together, the bell over the door jingling as we stepped in.
Lark was behind the counter, rag in hand, mid-wipe. She looked up when we walked in, her face lighting up.
“Well, look who decided to show up all at once,” she said.
Bay was working the register, glancing over from where she’d been punching something in. She nodded at Fox. “You bring the whole crew or what?”
“Not even half,” Fox said.
Alice stepped up to the counter, looking around like she was searching for something. “Where’s Ever?”
Lark paused, then leaned her hip against the counter. “Not here.”
Alice frowned slightly. “That’s weird.”
“Yeah,” Lark said, dragging the word out just a little. “She’s out.”
Clove perked up immediately. “Out where?”
“On a date.”
That got a reaction.
Clove’s eyes went wide. “Shut up.”
“I’m serious.”
“With who?” Alice asked, interest sharpening.
Lark grinned. “Some new guy in town. Been coming in for two weeks. Orders the same thing every time. Finally asked her out.”
“Vanilla cone guy?” Bay asked.
“That’s the one,” Lark said.
Clove leaned forward, elbows on the counter. “Tell me everything.”
“There’s not much to tell,” Lark said. “Guy’s been sniffing around for a while. Tonight was his big move.”
Alice smiled, something approving in it. “Good for her.”
“Right?” Lark said. “About time.”
I stood a little off to the side, listening without really meaning to.
Ever on a date?
It should have felt like just information. People went on dates all the time. She could go out with whoever she wanted. Didn’t have anything to do with me.
Fox nudged my shoulder lightly. “You zoning out already?”
I shook it off. “No.”
“You getting something or just standing there?”
“I’m getting something,” I said, stepping up to the counter.
Lark looked at me. “What’ll it be?”
“Chocolate shake.”
She smirked. “Do you ever get something different?”
“Not really.”
She gave a humph under her breath and grabbed the cup.
Clove rattled off her order next, then Alice, then the rest of them.
I leaned back against the counter, arms crossed, watching it all play out in front of me.
“Here,” Lark said, sliding the shake across the counter to me.
I grabbed it, nodding. “Thanks.”
We took everything to one of the tables near the windows, chairs scraping lightly against the floor as we sat. Clove was already halfway through her ice cream before Ender even got settled.
“You inhale that?” he asked.
“You hesitate, you lose,” she shot back.
“That’s not how food works.”
“That’s exactly how food works.”
Fox laughed, leaning back in his chair. “She’s not wrong.”
“Thank you,” Clove said.
Alice shook her head, smiling as she took a bite of her own. “You’re all ridiculous.”
“And you love it,” Wrecker said, draping an arm over the back of her chair.
She didn’t argue that.
Conversation moved easily after that. Nothing heavy. Nothing that needed thinking about. Just jokes, bullshit, the kind of talk that filled space without asking anything from you.
Fox said something that got Oliver laughing, and Clove threw a napkin at Ender when he made a comment she didn’t like. Alice leaned into Wrecker, relaxed in a way that only came when things were quiet.
I took another drink, and my gaze drifted back toward the counter.
Lark was wiping it down again, Bay ringing someone up who’d come in after us.
No Ever. She was out on a date.
I dragged my focus back to the table, catching the tail end of whatever Clove was saying now.
“…and if he doesn’t like it, that’s his problem,” she finished.
“Who?” Ender asked.
“Hypothetical man,” she said.
“There’s no hypothetical man,” he replied.
“There could be.”
“There isn’t.”
Clove rolled her eyes. “You’re exhausting.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Fox leaned forward, elbows on the table. “You gonna get another one, or are we heading out after this?”
“I’m getting another one,” Clove said immediately.
“Of course you are.”
“You knew what this was when you agreed to come.”
He laughed. “Yeah, yeah.”
I finished the shake, setting the empty cup on the table.
Fox pushed to his feet. “Alright. Round two for whoever wants it.”
Clove shot up right after him. “Me.”
Ender groaned. “Unbelievable.”
Alice smiled, watching them go. “She’s not going to stop, you know.”
“I know,” Ender said. “I just like complaining about it.”
Wrecker chuckled under his breath, tapping his fingers lightly against the table.
This was the life.
The club. The routine. The kind of nights that didn’t ask for anything more than showing up.
It should’ve been enough. Still… I leaned back in my chair, and my gaze drifted for half a second longer than it needed to the counter.
Ever was on a date.
I pushed the thought away. Ever dating had nothing to do with me.
Chapter Three
Ever