Chapter Four. #2
I checked the peaches for bruising before placing them in my cart.
Clara was craving peach cobbler, and who was I to say no?
Of course, she’d give instructions, while I was her hands and fetcher.
Whipped cream was needed, too; you couldn’t have peach cobbler without it.
I pushed the cart around the corner and banged into someone.
“Sorry!” I muttered and began to manoeuvre past them.
“Oh God, April!” a woman exclaimed, and I stiffened. I recognised that voice.
“Edie, how are you?” I said weakly as Stone’s mom came out from behind her cart and grabbed me in a bear hug. I limply patted her back and tried to break away.
“April. You look amazing,” Edie stated as she checked me over. I continued to try to free myself.
“Thanks, you too,” I replied politely.
“Stan! Guess who I found,” Edie announced loudly as I glanced up and saw a pair of blue eyes, so like his own son's. I flinched. Stan reflected my wince, and we stared at each other. He’d been like a dad once. Pain surfaced, and I swallowed hard.
“You look well, lass,” Stan muttered.
“Thanks, you do too,” I repeated, seeking an escape route.
“Come to dinner; we’ll catch up,” Edie exclaimed, getting excited.
“No, that’s not happening, not ever. Excuse me, I need to get back to Clara,” I said and rushed away.
I heard Edie utter a muted cry, and Stan murmured some soothing words.
I wanted to beg their forgiveness and apologise, but it wasn’t me who should be doing that.
Only one person was to blame for the estrangement and distance between us. And Stone wasn’t here right now.
Harlequin
I stared at the house; nothing had changed much. As I was dithering about what to say and how to approach, the door opened. A middle-aged woman stepped out. Rose.
“You’re him, aren’t you?” Rose called.
I didn’t bother wasting her time or mine. “Yes.”
“Leave. Neither Clara nor April wishes to see you. From what I can tell, you’ve done enough damage to their family. Should you continue to linger, the police will be contacted.”
Rose shut the door in my face, and I started my bike and rode away.
◆◆◆
“What’s with you and the nurse?” Chance asked later as I sat at the bar. It was my day off.
“It’s an old story and not relevant today.”
“No? Seems to me, prospect, the hate emanating off her isn’t history,” Chance challenged.
“It’s simple. We were together, then I broke up with April and fucked her best friend. Nothing more to say,” I said and rose to my feet.
“Yeah, alright,” Chance murmured, but his eyes held worry. “Why were the cops talking to her?”
“Don’t know, don’t care. Pres, April’s not my business anymore. I’m going for a ride. Catch you in a bit.” Before Chance could reply, I left. Maybe on the road I’d find some peace and quiet. Sadly, that wasn’t to be.
As I raced down the highway, planning to head to Rapid City and back, I spotted a vehicle stopped with its hazards on. Growling at the sight of a female shape, I pulled over and headed towards the car.
“Hey, you okay?” I called out, stopping a short distance away. I groaned when I saw who it was. Nanci, Inglorious’s woman, glowered as she kicked the wheel of her car in temper.
“It’s screwed,” Nanci stated.
“Is that so?” I asked, amused at her analysis.
“Yup. I’ve been meaning to take it in as it’s been making a right noise, but I kept putting it off. An hour ago, it released a puff of smoke, and I smelled burning. Ain’t gonna be able to fix that on the roadside,” Nanci griped.
“I’ll stay until Inglorious comes,” I replied. No way would I leave the old lady of an ally standing alone on the road.
“Small problem, my phone died, so I couldn’t call Inglorious, and this is a dead zone.” Nanci sighed. She clearly felt put upon.
I pulled out my cell and checked for a signal.
Nanci wasn’t wrong, which left me with a serious dilemma.
Nobody got on the back of a bike unless they were our old lady or a blood relative.
Plus, Nanci was a Queen Bee, a president’s woman, which made her getting behind me one thousand times worse.
And on top of that, it could be construed that I was challenging Inglorious for Nanci.
But I also couldn’t leave her standing here while I fetched the Unwanted Bastards president. Fuck my life.
“Any chance he’ll come looking?”
“Probably, but he’ll search the wrong area. I detoured,” Nanci said cheerfully. A smile had crossed her lips, and Nanci knew the issues I was facing.
“Damn it, Nanci, I can’t leave you here alone,” I complained.
“Nope. Inglorious will have your balls.”
“You’d enjoy that, woman! Come on, there’s only one option,” I muttered, and Nanci grabbed her purse and locked the car up.
She sauntered over and smiled sweetly. Nope, I wasn’t fooled.
We all knew Inglorious’s old lady was a ballbuster, and none of us wished to get on Nanci’s bad side.
Nanci swung up behind me with ease and wrapped her arms around my waist.
“Put your damn bag between us!” I ordered, and Nanci’s laugh boomed out. Muttering as I pulled back out onto the highway, heading towards the exit, I wondered whether I’d survive the next hour.
Ten minutes later, I was wondering if I’d pissed off God or something.
As I sat at a set of lights, a car pulled up opposite me.
Angry eyes glared through the window, and I shook my head.
Nanci, thinking it was a judgmental asshole, waggled her fingers at April.
A sneer covered April’s face before the lights changed, and she drove past. Nanci offered another finger wave before I rode on.
If Inglorious shot me, he’d save me a load of grief that I was sure was heading my way in a tempest called April. Fuckin’ women!
◆◆◆
“Get your damn ass off his bike! I’m gonna kill someone,” Inglorious roared as I booted the kickstand down. Behind him stood Vortex, Razor, and Chill, all looking murderous.
“Don’t blame Harlequin; he saved me from death,” Nanci said loudly as she got off.
Inglorious’s mouth opened and then snapped shut, and he literally snatched Nanci up and rubbed himself all over her. Then her words sank in, and a horrified look crossed his face. Inglorious placed her at arm’s length and checked Nanci over.
“Get Doc!” he bellowed over his shoulder.
“What happened?” he demanded.
“Oh, honey, I was so scared. If Harlequin hadn’t been a hero, my body might have been discovered in a ditch. We owe Harlequin everything,” Nanci spouted with a practised little hitch.
Inglorious’s eyes went wild as he turned to me and hauled Nanci back in.
“What? Who do I kill?” he ground out.
“Nobody. Nanci was at the side of the road. Her car had broken down, and she’d been there an hour.
Her battery had run out, and we were in that dead zone, so I couldn’t call.
It was just easier for Nanci to ride behind me rather than leave her alone.
I apologise for putting Nanci on the back of my bike.
Whatever penance you want, I’ll do,” I said quickly.
“If Harlequin hadn’t come along, a serial killer might have found and murdered me horribly,” Nanci interrupted.
A smile flitted across Inglorious’s lips as he recognised what Nanci was up to. “I see. And this potential serial killer would have caught you because you didn’t get your damn car checked?”
“Not the point. Harlequin saved me, and everything is wonderful now!” Nanci exclaimed. She patted Inglorious’s chest and waltzed away just as Doc arrived at a run.
“Who’s injured?” he demanded.
“Nobody, although I might need you after they beat me down,” I replied dryly.
Doc’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. “That bad?”
“Nope. Thanks, Harlequin, I get what a sticky situation you were in. If you’d left Nanci there, I’d have buried you. The back of your bike was the only option—this time. No penance needed. You fancy a drink?” Inglorious asked.
“After the night I’ve had, I’d love one,” I replied, and Inglorious chuckled.
“Come on, prospect, let’s get you a beer.”
That was the best offer I’d had all night.