Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
“You on a diet or something?” Julie asked, her eyes sliding over him.
“Not that hungry.” He glanced at Julie. “Give her your order. She’s busy.”
Julie glared, then turned away. “I’ll have a cheeseburger—medium—with extra pickles, no onions, and fries.”
“Anything to drink?” Maddie said.
“Do you still have the double fudge shake?” Julie’s gaze drifted to Rags. “I’m dying for one.”
“Yep. You want medium or large?”
“What do you think I should get?” she asked Rags.
“Medium.”
Julie let out a breath.
“So, it’s a medium?” Maddie asked her eyes darting between them.
“It’s her damn shake. Tell her what the fuck you want.”
“I’ll just have a Diet Cherry Coke,” Julie said, sliding her menu aside.
“Got it. I’ll be back with your fountain drink,” Maddie said, hurrying off.
“What’s your problem?” Julie asked.
“Nothing.”
“Why are you acting like we’re strangers?”
“I’m here because you said you’re in trouble. We’re not just getting burgers and chatting.”
“Are you gonna punish me forever for doing something stupid all those years ago?” Julie unwrapped her straw.
“I know I made the worst mistake of my life. I was young, stupid, and lonely. You were always with your club. I felt like that came first, then your Harley… and maybe me.” She took a sip of her drink.
“Julie, that’s in the past. We were both young. That’s how life goes. No reason to drag it back up now. You went your way, I went mine.”
“But you hate me. I see it in your eyes. I’ve been in town for months and you’ve never called me. You came by to see my mom, but I swear you waited until I wasn’t there.”
Rags laughed. “I’ve got better things to do then play spy at your house.”
“Then why haven’t you called me? Why is this the first time we’ve seen each other since I ran into you a few months ago?”
“Cheeseburger, extra pickles,” Maddie said, setting the plate in front of Julie. “And your bacon cheeseburger, extra cheddar, handsome. Need anything else?”
“I’m good,” Rags said, reaching for the ketchup.
“No,” Julie mumbled.
“Enjoy.” Maddie scurried away.
“You want some?” Rags asked, holding out the ketchup.
“Yeah.” Julie took it and slathered it on her burger and fries. “Why can’t you forgive me?”
Rags took a big bite and chewed slowly, his gaze drifting to the wall clock.
“I don’t hate you,” Julie said, her voice soft. She picked up a fry and popped it in her mouth. “We have a history together, Rags.” She reached across the table and brushed her hand across his.
He jerked back like he’d been burned.
“Really?” she muttered, looking away.
“Look, we hitched up years ago. I made mistakes, you made a doozy, and we went our separate ways.” He took another bite.
“What does that mean?”
“It means it’s over. It was a few chapters in our lives and they’re done.”
“Whatever. I’m don’t get why you never called.”
“Because you’re not a part of my life anymore. That ended when I caught you and Larry fucking. I was pissed for a long time, but I’m not now.”
“I don’t believe that. If you weren’t, we would’ve gotten together by now.”
“No. There’s nothing between us. I don’t hang out with Barton or Andy either, and we were tight in high school. I see them, give a chin lift, and keep moving.”
“You’re not friends with them?”
“No. Just because people share history doesn’t mean they stay connected.
We did stuff together because we went to the same high school, that’s it.
You and I thought we had a future, but it didn’t work out.
Our time together was just a few miles on a long road.
” He paused. “You’re part of my past, not my present. ”
“But—”
“There are no buts.” Rags leaned back, the vinyl creaking under him. “Like I said, you’re part of my past. That’s it.”
“You’ve gotten hard,” Julie said, pushing her plate away. “There used to be warmth in your eyes. Now there’s just cold.”
Rags’s phone vibrated. He pulled it out and glanced down. His gaze skimmed over the text from Casey: When r u coming over? Miss u.
A small smile tugged at his mouth.
Rags: Be over around eight. That cool?
A reply came quickly.
Casey: Perfect. See u then.
He set the phone face down on the table.
“What’s the trouble you’re in?” he asked.
“Who was that?” Julie asked.
“No one you know.”
“It was a woman, wasn’t it?” Her voice cracked. “I can see it in your eyes. They’re warm and soft.”
“What the fuck’s up with you and my eyes?” he snapped. “Now tell me what’s going on. I’ve got shit to do.”
Julie leaned back and folded her arms. “You can still be a real asshole.”
“I know. What’s your point?”
“Forget it.”
“Julie, you dragged me here because you said you’re in trouble. So start talking or I’m outta here.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Okay. I’m in trouble. Big trouble.” Her fingers flew to her lips. “I owe someone a lot of money.”
“Who?”
She stared out the window. “This guy. He keeps calling. I made some payments, but not in while.”
“You borrowed from a loan shark?”
“I guess.” She twisted her napkin. “I was desperate. I had to pay off another loan for my car and I don’t know. I got in over my head.”
“When’s the last time you made a payment?”
“Five months ago.” She tore the napkin into pieces.
“So now you’re hiding out here.”
“No. My mom’s sick.”
“I know. She told me she’s been sick for almost a year.”
“She’s worse,” Julie said. “I came because of that, not to hide.”
“It’s just a coincidence you owe this guy money?” A smirk pulled at his mouth.
“Fuck you.”
“What do you want from me? Rough him up? Pay it off? Or both?”
“I just needed someone to talk to. I can’t tell my mom. You’re the only one I have.” A tear slipped down her cheek.
“I’m flattered. How much do you owe him?”
“With interest, it’s about thirty grand.”
“Damn. How much did you borrow?”
“Fifteen.”
“And the payments you’ve made?”
“They don’t matter. Late fees keep piling up, so it never goes down. And the interest is crazy high. I was keeping up with the payments, but I lost my job, then Larry skipped out on me. It’s been a mess.” She dropped her head into her hand, shoulders shaking.
“Take it easy,” Rags said, resting a hand over hers. “He found you, right?”
“Yeah.” She hiccupped.
“When?”
“Three weeks ago. He knows where I’m staying. My mom’s address… everything.” Her voice broke. “I’m scared he’ll hurt her.”
“That’s how they work.”
“She’s sick. I can’t tell her anything about this. I don’t want her worrying.” She covered her face, her breath hitching.
A dull ache stirred in Rags’s chest. It wasn’t love, but a heavy tenderness. The kind felt for someone who lost their way. He hated seeing her like this.
He pulled out a paper napkin from the dispenser and slid it across the table.
“Don’t worry, I got this.”
She peeked through her fingers, nodding. “I feel like shit having to ask you.”
“Don’t. If I didn’t want to help, I wouldn’t.” His voice was softer.
“Oh, Rags,” she whispered.
“I’ll meet the guy and pay him.”
“Thank you. I’ve been scared for so long.”
“It’s handled.”
“I knew I could count on you. I was a fool to blow what we had.”
Rags handed her more napkins. She wiped her face, then smiled.
Julie slid out of the booth and moved beside him. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face against his chest as she cried. He rested a hand on her shoulder, trying to steady her. “Come on, Julie. It’s okay.”
“Rags,” she whispered.
The front door swooshed open. Rags glanced up and froze. Casey stood at the cashier’s counter, a takeout bag in one hand. Their eyes met, and the raw hurt in hers hit him like a punch to the gut. She slid her wallet into her purse and turned.
Julie tightened her grip as a small sob shook through her. Without looking at him, Casey walked out.
Fuck.
Rags untangled himself from Julie. “I gotta go.”
“What? Where?”
“Now. Move.”
Julie scrambled to her feet and stepped back. Rags shoved his way to the front of the diner. “Put everything on my tab,” he shouted to Maddie as he burst through the door.
He ran into the lot just as Casey’s headlights flared. “Casey!” He slammed his hand on the hood as she backed up, her tires crunching over the icy gravel. For a split second, her face flashed in the windshield—pale, wrecked, determined. Then she gunned it and drove off.
Rags stood in the freezing lot, snow stinging his face, as he stared at her vanishing taillights.
“Damnit!” His voice echoed in the stillness.
He pulled out his keys and hurried toward his SUV, catching a glimpse of Julie’s face pressed to the window, her hand waving him back.
He ignored her. All he could think about was Casey.
There was no way he letting her go without at least explaining that what she saw wasn’t what she thought.
Rags pulled into Casey’s driveway and took the porch steps two at a time, his heels slipping on the ice. He rang the doorbell. Nothing. He rang it again, then pounded against the wood.
“I know you’re in there, Casey.” He dragged a hand through his wet hair and knocked harder. “Open the damn door, or I’ll break it down.”
“Stop it,” she said, her voice muffled through the heavy wood. “You’re making a scene. I don’t want to see or talk to you.”
“It isn’t what you think. Open the door so I can explain what—”
“I’m tired of explanations. I’ve had a lifetime of them. Go. Away.”
Rags clenched his fists forcing down the volatile mix of anger and the fear churning inside him. He leaned his forehead against the door, feeling her presence on the other side.
“Case. Open the door. I chased you through a damn snowstorm because losing you”—he paused, glancing at the snow shimmering under the porch light—“scares the hell outta me.”
The sharp click of the lock warmed him. The door cracked open just enough for one dark, guarded eye to appear.
“You have thirty seconds,” Casey said.
“The woman you saw was my ex. She’s in trouble. I said I’d help.”
“It looked like you were helping her real good,” Casey said. “You’ve got twenty more seconds.”