Chapter 6 #2
“Is that what you’re mad about?” he asked, interest piqued. I continued walking, but he slammed on his brakes and climbed out of his truck to keep pace with me. I had to stop myself from growling under my breath.
“I’m not mad. I’m just surprised and a little disgusted. I was walking home, and—”
“Ayda, your home is clear on the other side of town. You been smoking something you shouldn’t? And where can I get some?”
“I live with my boyfriend. I moved in with him after my house burned down.”
“Jeez, and he makes you walk home?” The judgment in his tone grated on my nerves.
He probably thought he was being smart or witty, but he wasn’t.
This false concern just made me want to get away from him that little bit faster as the stirring of all the bad memories from our breakup rose to the surface.
“I’m not going to even acknowledge that,” I said, mentally cheering when I heard the growl of a Harley in the distance. I turned and started toward the shape that was still only a mirage on the horizon, but a salvation from this trip down memory lane I’d been forced to take.
“A, I’m serious,” Jacob said, reaching for my arm to stop my progress. “You shouldn’t be walking home out here in the middle of nowhere. That’s how horror movies start.”
“Horror movies start with damsels. I’m not a damsel. I don’t need saving, and I can look after myself.” I pulled my arm from his grip as the bike’s engine slowed and Deeks’ bike rolled to a stop in front of me.
I could have kissed Deeks for coming. I knew now I should have waited for him because Drew would never have left me alone at the diner without a way to get home.
“Problems?” Deeks asked gruffly, addressing me but staring at Jacob like he was shit stuck to the bottom of his shoe.
“Not anymore,” I said, pulling Autumn’s helmet from where it was strapped to the back of the bike and swinging my leg over the back.
“This your boyfriend?” Jacob mocked in a tone neither Deeks nor I appreciated.
Before Deeks could answer for me, I tapped him on the side out of Jacob’s line of sight and smiled sweetly at Jacob. “Why such a surprise? He’s more of a man than you’ll ever be.”
I could feel Deeks’ laughter as I pushed the helmet down over my head and then wrapped my arms around his waist. I was pretty sure he would give me a hard time once he found out who had been following me down the hard shoulder of the highway, but I would take the criticism.
The look on Jacob’s face gave me too much satisfaction to not allow myself to enjoy the moment.
Shifting into gear, Deeks spun the back of the bike before taking off toward The Hut, and I didn’t so much as glance back.
I just let the wind rush around me, closed my eyes and left Deeks in control for five minutes before he lectured me, too.
There was no escaping his knowledge of me being armed, considering my gun was pressed against his back, and he’d found me marching down the road away from a guy who seemed all too familiar with me.
When Deeks finally rolled to a stop in his usual spot, he waited just long enough for me to get my helmet off before he started with the questions.
“Who was that?”
“That was Jacob,” I said, swinging off the bike and busying my hands by replacing the helmet. “He pulled over when he saw me walking home. Before you ask, he was my high school boyfriend, and no, I didn’t know he was back in Babylon.”
“Little defensive there, aren’t ya? I wasn’t judging you, sugar, just worried. Looked like you weren’t too happy about him touching you.”
“I wasn’t, but I had it under control.”
Deeks studied me in that careful, appraising way of his, both of his hands landing on the gas tank of his bike as his gaze shifted to the place I knew I would find Drew beating the shit out of the punching bag. He sighed in resignation and rubbed his face.
“I know you’re going to go in there and talk to him, but put that fucking gun in the bag and let me take the damn thing to your room for you. You go in with that shit strapped to your hip, and he’s gonna go apocalyptic.”
“So you agree with him?” I asked, tugging my shirt up enough to reach the buckle and loosen it.
“I think when you arm yourself, you’re telling the world you’re looking for a fight.”
“That’s not—”
“I know it ain’t, Ayda, but not everyone thinks like you do, kid.
There’re people in this world who will see that damn gun and think you have it because you have something worth protecting in your pockets.
For Drew…” He tapered off, his head shaking before he held out for the bag.
“That ain’t my business. That’s between the two of you. ”
I loved Deeks. I had from the moment I met him, but I didn’t regret the way I pushed that bag into his open arms after I’d dropped my gun inside.
He of all people should have known why I needed that gun.
He of all people should have had my back.
I’d been to Autumn’s home and seen the armory they had there, probably for the very same reason I had my gun.
They were all hypocrites, and not one of them was going to convince me that I was wrong.
Today was a perfect example of that. That random phantom feeling had me spooked, and the only thing that had given me enough balls to start that long walk home was knowing I was protected
“All I’m saying is, you carry a gun, you damn sure better use it when that time comes.” Deeks swung his leg over his bike and hoisted my backpack over his shoulder. “And you better hope to God that it’s warranted. You ending up in prison will destroy that man in there.”
“That’s not my endgame, Deeks.”
“I know it ain’t. Now go before we have to spring for another damn bag.”
I nodded and pulled in another deep breath. The bag comment didn’t leave me with much confidence that I would find Drew cooled off and ready to talk, but a conversation needed to happen and putting it off would only make matters worse.
I crossed the yard quickly, texting Rusty to tell him that I was back, before I slipped inside as quietly as I could, pressing my back to the wall closest to the door as I watched Drew work.
He was pissed; I could see that in the taut, twitching muscles that were already covered in sweat.
His handsome face was contorted in rage as he swung and kicked, and the skull and hounds on his inked skin almost came to life as he worked, both animals glaring at me with feral rage.
It was hypnotic, left, right, grunt, kick, left, right…
The longer I let myself stand there, the more violent he became, and I knew I had to talk to him sooner rather than later.
I couldn’t stand the thought of him being upset with me anymore.
“Drew?” I said quietly.
There was no response, no break in his rhythm. He hadn’t heard me. I stepped from the shadows and toward him, slipping down onto a weight bench behind him as I built up the courage for one more attempt.
“Drew.”