Chapter 22 Georgia
The diner hums with energy and life—the hiss of the griddle, the clatter of forks, the syrupy drawl of Naomi calling out orders behind the counter.
They are all sounds that I’ve become accustomed to and are as much home as my house with Nana.
Despite how some people in town have treated me, I love it here and really never want to move.
I stir my coffee, smiling across the table at Tony and Lara.
Lara sits pressed up against the vinyl booth, her elbows tucked in like she’s afraid to take up too much space.
Her copper-red curls are pulled back in a loose braid, but a few tendrils escape to frame her freckled face.
Her eyes are sharp—green, bright, and curious.
She has that fragile look of someone who’s learning to trust the world again.
Tony’s her opposite—lean and restless, dark hair falling over his eyes as he demolishes a plate of fries.
He’s always moving, even when he’s sitting still.
His fingers tap against his leg, his body held tight like he’s expecting someone to tell him he doesn’t belong at any moment.
Neither one has had it easy. I hate what they’ve gone through.
I wish I could do something to help, but I’m kind of useless.
I mean, I love all my students, every last one of them.
But these two are special to me. I think back to the day they wandered into my art class.
I could tell right away that they didn’t come for the class.
No, it was because they were starved to death and were hoping we served food.
Their faces were pale, their worn and ragged clothes all but falling off of them and their eyes sunken with no hope shining out of them.
It looked like they hadn’t eaten in weeks.
I’d made a point of checking on them throughout the class and bragging on their sketches—which were surprisingly good for never having attended a class or even have art as a hobby.
Then, I’d invited them to dinner here, at Naomi’s Diner. They hadn’t hesitated.
That was three years ago now. Since then, they’ve gone from my students to my assistants, my little family.
After a year of lessons, I started paying them to help with murals that I was commissioned for.
They’ve been placed in a better foster home now—thank God—but I still take them out to eat every week.
Nana jokes that besides her, they’re my closest friends. She’s definitely right.
“I still can’t believe you’re dating a biker,” Lara exclaims in a mixture of half-scandal and half-delight. “I think it’s cool,” Tony mutters around a mouthful of fries.
I grin at him. “You would.”
They’ll both graduate out of foster care in a couple years, and that thought ties my stomach in knots.
Nana and I have spoken about it often. There’s not much in Dreary for kids like them.
Lara’s applying to colleges, and I’ve been helping her with essays.
Tony, though … he hates school. He’s good with his hands—very talented actually—but he doesn’t know what he wants.
I worry about what will happen when there’s no one looking out for him.
“Griffin’s been really good to me,” I tell Lara, smiling.
Tony leans back, smirking. “We can tell. At least he doesn’t treat you like you’re going to steal his blood and curse his whole family line.” I can’t help but laugh, even though the truth of it stings. It hurts him — the way people still whisper about me, about Nana.
“Actually,” I say softly, “he’s been helping me stand up for myself.”
Tony grins, pride lighting up his whole face. “Good.”
Lara smiles shyly. “So… are you two going to get married?”
The sip of Coke I just took goes down the wrong pipe, and I cough, choking. “What?” I squeak. Before Lara can ask the question again, someone clears his throat beside me.
“Hey, Brushes,” Alex says, using the name the club has given me as he shoves his hands into his pockets—obviously nervous. “Can we talk for a minute?”
I frown. “I’m kind of busy, Alex.”
“Please. It’ll just take a minute.”
I should say no. I know I should, but I’ve never seen this side of Alex. There’s no cocky swagger, no anger or coldness about him. Instead, he’s oddly nervous and that gets my interest. I glance at Tony and Lara. “Order us some of Naomi’s pie, okay? I saw apple’s the pie of the day.”
Tony nods, already grinning. “Sure thing.”
“Don’t forget the ice cream!” I call as I stand, then walk with Alex.
“You know it!” I hear Tony call out and Lara’s laughter rings through the noise, too.
Alex gestures toward a table near the door. I roll my eyes but follow him anyway. “I don’t have long,” I mutter, sitting across from him. “I’m not letting my ice cream melt, and my pie go cold all because you want to insult me.”
He looks uncomfortable, shifting in his seat. “I’m not here to insult you, Brushes. I’m here to apologize. I shouldn’t have done what I did. I don’t even know why I did it.”
“That’s easy,” I say, voice cold. “You did it to make money off a bet about how soon you could take my virginity.”
He flinches before exhaling a sigh that sounds sad and forlorn. “It was stupid. The worst part is that I really liked you. But when my buddies found out I’d asked you out, they started in on me. Laughing and talking shit. I brought up the bet to shut them up. It felt like they were mocking me.”
I laugh bitterly. “So, you thought it was better if they mocked me instead?”
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “I was an asshole, Brushes.” I puff out air so hard that my bangs move.
He’s frustrating me. Something about Alex using my club nickname softens me a little.
Well, that combined with the fact he doesn’t even seem like the same person who hurt me.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I hope, with time, you’ll forgive me.
But if you can’t—if you want me gone from the club — I’ll leave. ”
I frown. “You want to leave the club?”
He shakes his head. “Hell no. It’s the only home I’ve ever known. But you’re Grifter’s old lady, and if I make you uncomfortable, I’d rather move on. You deserve to be happy.”
“Where would you go?” I ask, confused. It’s not like Dreary is that big, we’d still run into one another.
“I don’t know. Maybe Kentucky. They have some good MC’s there.
That’s why Grifter is there right now doing business with the Devil’s Blaze while getting a car worked on for us to sell.
I’ve heard they’re looking for new members.
Someone mentioned the Savage Brothers has a Tennessee chapter near Cherokee Lake.
I’d find somewhere. I just really wanted you to know how sorry I was and that I truly want you to be happy.
You deserve that more than anyone I know. ”
I study him and shake my head slowly. “Alex, I don’t want you to leave The Kings. The club is Griffin’s family. If you’re part of that, it would upset him for you to leave. Besides from the things he’s said, I know you guys need all the manpower you can get right now while you rebuild.”
He lets out a small laugh. “I think as long as you’re beside him, Brushes, Grifter can handle anything.”
I blush. “I’m not sure that’s true.”
“Not sure what’s true?” That voice — low, rough, and warm. My heart flips. I turn and look over at the door to see my man standing there.
“Griffin!” I exclaim, jumping up without a thought and running into his arms. I don’t care.
He’s back, all muscle and masculinity and mine.
It doesn’t even bother me that he has road dust stilling clinging to his clothes.
I just need to touch him. The minute he wraps his arms around me, everything is better.
I smile, my brain completely ignoring Candyman who is beside him, smirking. “You’re back from Kentucky!”
Griffin’s mouth curves into a grin as his arms wrap tightly around me.
I relish the feel of them, strong and sure, and screaming of safety.
I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to how perfect it is.
I give up wondering about it when his lips find mine and he kisses me—deep and intense—like he’s been starving for me as much as I have him. The whole diner disappears for me.
When he finally pulls back, his thumb brushes my cheek. “I missed you, Georgie,” he purrs softly.
“I missed you, too,” I confess, glowing under his stare. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
“Nothing would keep me away,” he murmurs, “not even C trying to start a club war.”
C raises a hand from behind him. “Haven’t started one yet. But give me time.”
“But I thought you were just taking a car up there for Beau’s Customs to paint? How would you start a club war doing that, C?”
I arch an eyebrow, when no one answers, but Griffin shakes his head. “Later,” he says. Then, his gaze sharpens on Alex. “Now what’s going on with you two?”
“Nothing is going on with us,” I say, swatting his chest because his phrasing annoys the crap out of me. “Alex just wanted to apologize for something that happened a long time ago. We’re good now, aren’t we, Alex?”
He nods quickly. “Yeah. I just wanted to tell her how sorry I was. Brushes deserves to be happy and clearly you do that for her, Prez. That’s why I offered to leave if I made her uncomfortable.”
“Leave the club?” C says with a whistle.
Alex nods. “Yeah, but Brushes told me if I was part of the Kings, I was family, and you wouldn’t want me to leave. I told her you wouldn’t care much, as long as she was beside you.”
Griffin’s expression softens. “You’re both right. Glad to see my faith in you wasn’t misplaced, Alex.”
Alex smiles faintly. “I’m glad you were smarter than I was, Prez. Brushes is a good woman,” he says briefly smiling at me. “I guess, I’d better get moving. Ollie and the others are cleaning out the garage for the renovations coming up. I just came to grab food when I saw Georgia.”
Griffin nods. “We’ll head back soon. I just want some time with my woman first.”
“I’ll ride out with Alex,” C says, tipping his chin at me. “Later, Brushes.”
“Later, C,” I reply, grinning.
Griffin watches them go, then turns to me. “You eating? I’m starved.”
“I’m in the back with Tony and Lara. I’ve eaten, but my pie’s waiting. You can eat while I enjoy the dessert my hips don’t need.”
He slides an arm around me, his hand finding my hip, squeezing lightly. “I happen to love your hips, baby.” His hand moves around to my ass and squeezes the right cheek, bringing me close to his body from his hold alone. “And your ass.”
“Griff,” I hiss, using the name I call him mostly in private. I find myself blushing as Naomi shoots me a knowing look from the counter.
He chuckles, brushing his nose along my temple.
“Also love your tits. Later, if you’re a good girl, I’ll show you why,” he whispers against my ear where only I can hear him.
I do a whole-body shiver, my knees going weak.
I lean on him as he guides me back to the booth.
Tony grins, Lara blushes, and the whole world feels lighter just because Griffin’s home.
Actually, for the first time in days, everything feels right. Griffin’s back and my pie’s still warm.
Perfection.