Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Ever
Ten minutes.
That was all that stood between me and locking the door, shutting off the lights, and calling it a night.
Ten minutes that felt like an hour.
I leaned against the counter, one hip pressed to the edge, arms folded loosely as I stared at the front door like I could will it to open. Or not open. I wasn’t entirely sure which I wanted.
Because if someone came in, I’d have to dirty the scoops again.
And I had just washed them.
But if no one came in, then I’d just be standing here, waiting out the clock like my parents’ voices weren’t echoing in the back of my head. You never know who might come in those last few minutes. That’s where you make your extra money.
I sighed and pushed off the counter, grabbing a rag and wiping down a spot that didn’t need wiping.
“I could close early,” I muttered to myself.
And then I immediately shook my head. Nope. I could feel my mom’s disapproving look from the Upper Peninsula.
So I stayed open and waited.
Headlights cut across the front windows, bright enough to make me squint. I turned toward the door, my heart doing a small hopeful jump.
The low rumble hit next.
Not a car.
A motorcycle.
My stomach dipped.
Jesse?
The bike rolled into the spot right by the door, engine humming steady before it cut off.
The headlight died.
And when my eyes adjusted—oh.
Oh shit.
Jude.
And he was alone.
My brain immediately went into panic mode.
I could handle Jude when he was with the guys. It was easy to blend into the background, laugh when everyone else laughed, keep things light. Alone?
That was different.
That was dangerous.
I actually considered making a run for the door and locking it before he could get inside.
I glanced at the clock.
Three minutes.
Then back at him.
Too late.
He was already off the bike, and God, that was unfair.
He swung his leg over with that easy confidence and ran a hand through his hair like he didn’t have a care in the world. Dark jeans, black T-shirt stretched across his shoulders, cut hanging open.
My head told me to run.
My heart?
My heart was practically begging me to run straight to him.
I stayed exactly where I was because I had some self-control.
Barely.
I grabbed the rag again and pretended like I was deeply invested in the cleanliness of the counter as the door opened.
The bell chimed.
I didn’t look up right away.
I could feel him, though.
That shift in the room.
That awareness.
“Hello, Ever,” he drawled.
I looked up. “Hello, Jude,” I replied, and thank God my voice didn’t crack.
He leaned against the counter like he had all the time in the world, his eyes drifting around the shop before landing back on me.
“Slow night?”
I smiled slightly. “We close in two minutes, Jude.”
“I’m sure you and Lark are ready for the night to be over.”
“It’s Lark’s night off.”
His gaze flicked around again, sharper this time. “Bay here?”
I shook my head, confused. Why did it matter?
“Then who is working with you?” he asked.
I pointed a finger at my chest. “Just me, myself, and I. One of the perks of being the owner’s daughter. I get to close all by myself.”
He didn’t like that. His jaw tightened just a fraction and his eyes narrowed slightly like he was running through something in his head. “You shouldn’t be here alone,” he said, not harsh, not demanding. Just… firm.
I wrinkled my nose. “This is Weston, Jude. The worst thing that happens is the Social Club getting a little rowdy when Alice and the girls go out for the night.”
He huffed out a quiet chuckle and dragged a hand through his hair. “You’re not wrong about that,” he said. “But there’s more going on in this town than you know about.”
I rolled my eyes. “Please, Jude.”
“I’m serious, Ever. You didn’t hear about Clove?”
I blinked. “I saw her the other day.”
He shook his head, muttering something under his breath. “Damn, you are innocent, baby.”
“What the heck are you talking about, Jude?”
“What about Star?” he asked.
I reared back. “Something happened to her, too?”
“She was before Clove.”
I threw my hands up. “What the heck are you talking about?”
He moved around the counter, closing the distance until he leaned against it right next to me.
Close.
Too close.
“Star was attacked,” he said quietly. “And Clove was kidnapped.”
My jaw dropped.
“You are full of shit, Jude.”
He shook his head. “I’m telling you the truth, babe. Bad shit happens in Weston. You’ve just been lucky it hasn’t touched you.”
I stared at him, trying to process that.
Star.
Clove.
That didn’t make sense.
That didn’t fit with the version of Weston I knew.
“So there are bad guys here?” I asked slowly.
He shook his head. “We think they’re gone. Another MC called Northbound Reapers. The club took care of them.”
“Took care of them?” I repeated.
“They won’t mess with us again, babe. Don’t worry about it.”
I let out a breath, shaking my head. “You just told me Star and Clove were hurt, and I’m not supposed to worry about it?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I shouldn’t have told you. It’s done. Behind us.” He paused, then added, “Hell, did you hear Alice and Wrecker are throwing a hell of a party for Eden Saturday?”
Uh.
Oh.
“Uh, yeah,” I said. “Eden invited us.”
His gaze snapped to mine.
Sharp.
“Us?”
I nodded. “The guy I’m seeing. Jesse.”
His posture changed just slightly. His expression tightened just a fraction before smoothing out again. “The guy you’re dating?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t say dating,” I said. “We’re just going on dates.”
He nodded once.
Like he filed that away.
“Right,” he said.
Silence settled between us for a second.
Heavy.
Charged.
I glanced at the clock. “Are you ordering something?” I asked.
“I was gonna cash in on one of my milkshakes,” he said.
“We’re closed,” I said quietly.
He nodded once, then turned and headed for the door.
Relief and disappointment hit me at the same time.
He didn’t say goodbye.
He just walked.
And I told myself that was good.
That was easier.
That was safer.
He reached the door and didn’t open it. Instead, he flipped the lock and turned the sign to “Closed.”
“Uh…” I started.
He looked back at me. “I’ll help you close and make sure you get home.”
I tipped my head. “You don’t need to do that.”
“You shouldn’t be here by yourself, Ever,” he said.
I sighed. “We already went over this.”
He didn’t argue or listen. He just moved and grabbed my rag to start wiping tables. I watched him and tried to figure out just what in the world was going on. I finally gave up and moved to the sink to finish the dishes.
While I rinsed the last of the dishes, the water swirled down the drain as my thoughts did the same.
When I walked back out front, he was leaning on the broom, watching me.
“Done?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
I hesitated. Then blurted, “Why are you here?”
He smirked slightly. “Free milkshakes.”
I gave him a look. “You showed up right at closing, Jude.”
He shrugged. “Lost track of time helping with Eden’s party. I planned on coming earlier.”
I didn’t fully believe that, but I let it go.
“For what it’s worth,” he added, “At least I can follow you home.”
“You don’t need to.” My tire was fixed, and nothing bad was going to happen to me.
“I know.”
That was it.
No argument.
No push.
Just… a decision.
I grabbed my bag and headed out the back with him behind me. I locked the door and he looked around the lot like he was checking for something I couldn’t see.
“Wait for me. I’ll be behind you,” he said.
I nodded and bit back the urge to say I had been waiting for him for years.
He disappeared around the building, and I got into my car, rolling the window down just in time to hear his bike roar to life.
I backed out slowly, circling to the front.
He nodded once and I pulled onto the road.
And there he was, behind me again.
Something I had wanted for so long.
And now that I had it?
All I could think was, Why?
Jesse was a why, too.
But Jude?
Jude was the biggest one.
Ten minutes later, I pulled into my driveway, and he parked beside me. I barely had time to turn off the engine before he was off the bike, his hand out. “Keys. I’ll check the house.”
I handed them over without thinking.
He moved like he’d done this before, like it was second nature, disappearing inside while I followed slower and waited for him inside the front door.
He was back quick. “You’re all good.”
I laughed lightly. “I could’ve told you that.”
He stepped closer, too close. “Lock the door,” he said quietly.
I nodded as he brushed past me and my breath caught. Our eyes met and everything slowed.
“Night, Ever,” he said, voice low.
I swallowed. “Night.”
He turned and walked out.
I locked the door immediately.
Because if I didn’t, I might’ve done something stupid.
Like ask him to stay.
I stood there, hand still on the lock, listening as his bike started.
The sound faded and then it was gone. I leaned back against the door and closed my eyes. “What in the hell is happening?” I whispered.