Chapter Nineteen
Wren
JUDGE AND DEATH showing up at the diner when I was working is the last thing I expected to see a few days ago.
They ate, I spoke to Death a little bit, and then they left.
When I cleaned the table and saw the tip they left behind, I was ready to throttle them.
Well, I was ready to hit Judge because I know it was him.
He left me five hundred dollars for a bill that might have been a little over twenty dollars.
I wanted to give it back to them, but I knew they already left because I heard their bikes roar from the diner and down the road as I continued to work.
Leah could tell something was going on and that’s why she made me sit down to eat.
She knows I rarely take a break if she doesn’t force me to and with how upset I was because of Judge being here, Leah didn’t hesitate to make me sit down and relax for a few minutes.
I’m glad she did because I wasn’t at the table when they left.
I didn’t have to see Judge again and realize just how sexy he truly is.
Judge was wearing a pair of jeans that clung to his thighs and the standard boots I’ve seen him wear every single day.
He was wearing a black tank top that showed off his arms and his cut was on over that.
Even though he looked exhausted and ready to collapse, Judge still looked really good.
I don’t think that man could ever look horrible if I’m being honest. It looked as if he hasn’t been sleeping for some reason and I wonder what’s going on at the clubhouse.
Or maybe he’s just been fucking too much to get proper sleep.
That wouldn’t surprise me. I mean I didn’t see another woman go in or out of his room while I was at the clubhouse, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t with anyone else.
After all, I’m nothing more than a hole for him to get off in.
Yeah, I won’t be forgetting that anytime soon.
My thoughts turned to Tristan and Zach when I allowed myself not to focus on work.
If something is going on at the clubhouse, I want to make sure they’re okay, but I don’t want to call them yet.
I’m still too close and I know they’ll show up if given the chance.
Tristan and Zach won’t be able to focus if they think I’m upset or something is wrong with me.
Zach pretty much said that before I left the clubhouse during one of our many conversations.
He told me that for the last five years, he’d been so thoroughly worried about me that there were days he couldn’t focus on anything other than how I was doing or what I was up to.
I’m surprised we never ran into one another over the previous five years considering we were still in the same town.
Briar Glen isn’t that big and we should have seen one another over the years.
I guess I just stayed away from the locations they frequented.
Today, I’m at the diner and it’s the busiest it’s been since I started.
I guess that’s what happens when the weekend comes around and no one wants to stay home in the nice weather.
Men and women, kids, of all ages come in to enjoy a meal and get out of the heat for a little bit.
I greet each of them and take their orders while moving on autopilot.
I haven’t been sleeping the best since I saw Judge again and it’s making getting through each day rougher than normal.
Leah can tell and she watches me closely while I’m on shift, but doesn’t say anything.
She would rather I come to her on my own instead of her forcing me to talk.
It’s one of the reasons I truly enjoy spending time with her when I’m not working.
We’ve had dinner a few times when the diner is slow and I enjoyed our conversation.
I’ve opened up to her more than anyone else ever before her.
As I make my way back from the kitchen after dropping off dirty dishes, I hear the bell ring above the door and look over there to see the last two people I expect to see here walk in with the largest smiles on their faces.
Tristan and Zach make a beeline for me and don’t stop until Tristan pulls me in for the largest hug I’ve ever been given in my life.
He holds me tight and doesn’t release me until Zach practically pushes him out of the way.
Zach gives me a bear hug and I feel my back crack from his hold.
He looks at me with a sheepish grin before setting me back on my feet.
“Where’s your section?” Tristan asks me, looking around as Josie, the other waitress on duty right now, walks up.
“My section is right over here. I’ll take better care of you than Wren ever could,” she says, reaching out to run a finger down Tristan’s chest before he steps back out of her reach.
“Don’t fuckin’ touch me. You don’t know me and don’t have a chance in hell of gettin’ in my bed or on my bike. Wren, where’s your section?” he questions me, his voice hard and cold as he glares at Josie.
“Don’t look at me either,” Zach states when she turns her attention to him. “You’re not my type. And just so you know, desperate doesn’t look good on you.”
Josie stomps away as I laugh and lead these two troublemakers over to my section of the diner. I lead the guys to the same booth Judge and Death sat when they were here. Once both of them are seated, Leah walks over to the table.
“Wren, why don’t you take your break? Take a seat with these two and catch up,” she tells me with a smile on her face.
“Leah, this is Tristan and Zach,” I tell her, pointing at each man as I introduce them. “Guys, this is Leah, my boss and the owner of this diner. She’s great.”
“It’s nice to meet you boys. Make this one take a break because she’s stubborn as hell and I have to force her to take one when she’s on shift.
I’ll bring you all over some drinks and food.
No need for you to order,” Leah says, turning and walking away as I join Tristan on his side of the booth after he slides over.
“She seems interestin’,” Zach comments with a smile on his face.
“I love her. She gave me a job and the apartment above the diner. It’s really nice.
Leah’s good with the fact that I won’t be here for very long and knows this is just a stop along my way,” I tell them as Leah brings over water, soda for the guys, and a shake for me.
They’re my current craving and I have at least two a day.
If I keep doing this, I’ll gain a hundred pounds just from milkshakes.
“I don’t see why you have to leave Briar Glen at all, Wren.
You know we’d help you get settled in an apartment somewhere closer to us and we’d always come over to visit when we’re not busy.
Mrs. Smythe would also visit you,” Tristan says as I turn to face him because I can hear the sadness in his voice.
“I know, Tris. Other than the three of you, there’s nothing in Briar Glen for me.
I can’t find a job, the college is nowhere near town, and I don’t want to see Judge.
Speaking of him, I’m guessing he’s how you found out where I am,” I say, looking between both of my foster brothers and I can see the answer in their eyes without a single word being spoken.
“Actually Death told us. No one is really talkin’ to Judge right now.
Fury hasn’t spoken to him since the day after you left.
He won’t even stay in the same room as Judge if they’re in the clubhouse at the same time.
Everythin’ is so damn tense. I’m sorry for what you overheard that day, Wren.
If I’d been there, I would have said somethin’ to him,” Zach says and I know he means it.
“No, you wouldn’t have. I won’t have you jeopardize your chances of gettin’ patched in because of me.
Judge said how he feels about me and it’s okay for him to have his own feelings.
I didn’t make more of the relationship between the two of us than what it was—sex and nothing more than that.
I also know myself well enough to realize I’d give him every piece of me one at a time with nothing in return.
I deserve better than what he can give me,” I say as I look between the two of them again so they know how serious I am about this.
“Speaking of Judge, you know he doesn’t want either one of you near me, don’t ya? ”
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks or wants,” Tristan states with a hard edge to his voice.
“Judge might be our President and we have to follow his orders when we’re at the clubhouse as Prospects.
When we’re off and on our personal time, he can’t tell us shit about who to see or what to do.
Fury won’t let him. In fact, Fury knows we’re here.
The only reason he’s not with us is because he went to spend time with Millie and the kids for the day.
He says to tell you hi and we’re to give him a full report when we get back. ”
“Tell him I said hi and that I’m okay. None of you have to worry about me. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time and I’ve managed to survive this long,” I say as Leah steps back up to the table with our plates in her hands.
She sets down a personal pizza with chicken and extra cheese in front of me.
Zach gets a steak, baked potato, and the roasted vegetables.
Tristan has a BLT with fries and asparagus.
My mouth waters as I look at each plate and the guys start laughing knowing already I’ll be asking for a bite of their food because it all looks so good.
I pick up a slice of my pizza and take a bite while Zach asks for an extra plate for the table.
Leah doesn’t hesitate to go grab one. By the time she drops it off, the guys have portions of their food cut up and place it on the plate before pushing it closer to me.
Leah starts laughing when she realizes what’s going on.
“You two know her so well, it appears,” she says, knowing they’re my foster brothers.