Chapter 7 #3
“Nothing to get excited about. I said hi when I went by the first time, and he nodded at me when I went back by.”
“That’s good,” Rayne declared.
“Is it?”
“Oh, yeah. They went out to eat last night, just to get him out of his apartment and to make sure he was okay. When the waitress hit on him, Ghost said he didn’t even look twice at her.”
“What?” Rayne hadn’t told her that. Neither had any of the other women. “When were you going to tell me?”
“Oh…uh…soon. But I wanted you to get the first contact out of the way before I said anything,” Rayne said quickly.
The thought of anyone hitting on Truck made her want to pull their hair out by the roots, but what was really scary was wondering about Truck’s reaction.
She remembered how he’d acted when the paramedic at the bank had hit on him.
He’d been offended that anyone would dare make a move when he was with her.
But now that he didn’t know he was with her, Mary wondered if it was only a matter of time before he sought attention from the opposite sex.
After all, she knew how long it had been since he’d had sex.
At least a year. She wasn’t sure what his bedroom activities were before that, but she had a feeling he’d been celibate since he’d met her.
“When are they going out again?” Mary asked Rayne as they walked to their cars.
“Um…I’m not sure.”
“Don’t lie to me, Rayne. Seriously, you suck at it, and I can tell every time. Tell me.”
Rayne sighed and said, “This weekend. Ghost said Truck wanted to go to that sleazy bar near the post they used to go to all the time. Of course, he doesn’t know they stopped going there when everyone got girlfriends. He still thinks that’s their usual hangout spot.”
“I’m going,” Mary declared.
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea,” Rayne said. “I mean, I know we’re working on Operation Make Truck Remember and all, but I know you.”
“What’s that mean?” Mary asked with her hands on her hips.
“It means that if someone hits on Truck, you’re going to lose your shit.
I know it’s been a while, but I also know that you’ll have no problem getting into a brawl, and that’s the last thing you need, both health-wise and because it’ll draw unwanted and unflattering attention to yourself.
Do you want Truck to see you rolling around on the nasty floor of that bar?
No, you don’t.” Rayne was talking faster and faster, as if by continually talking, she could keep Mary from disagreeing.
“And you just made the first contact today, and it went well. Let Casey and Wendy go. They’ll chat up the guys and see if they can jog Truck’s memory. ”
Mary knew Rayne was trying to do what she thought was the best thing for her—but she was wrong. “He looked interested in me,” Mary told her.
“Truck?”
“Yeah. We made eye contact, and I could tell that he was curious about me. There wasn’t any recognition, not really, but I think if I saw him again, I might be able to keep him interested.”
“It’s not a good idea to start dating him, having sex, if he doesn’t remember you. What would happen if he did suddenly remember? It could be a disaster. He might think you were deceiving him…which you would be,” Rayne argued.
“Maybe. It’s a chance I’m willing to take.
If our roles were reversed, and I lost my memory, I’d rather Truck seduced me and I woke up in his bed than in some stranger’s.
Can you imagine how awful that would be?
To regain your memory and realize you’d slept with someone other than your wife?
He’d be devastated. I know him. Besides, there’s no way I’m gonna let any bar-hopper bitch get with my man,” Mary finished heatedly.
When Rayne didn’t answer, but instead smiled a weird smile at her, Mary asked belligerently, “What?”
“It’s just that the shoe is on the other foot.”
“Whatever.”
“No, seriously. For years, Truck has pursued you. He’s gone out of his way to do everything he can think of to make you his. And now, here you are, doing the same thing in reverse. Calling him your man. Claiming him. It’s kinda funny.”
“This isn’t funny.”
“Yeah, Mare, it is. And forgive me for being a bitch, but it serves you right.”
Mary knew she should be pissed at her friend for being so blunt, but she couldn’t be. Her lips twitched, then curved upward in a grin. Then she was laughing. Rayne joined in and the two of them laughed until they were crying.
“Shit. Anyone who says karma doesn’t exist is so fucking wrong,” Mary said when she’d controlled herself.
“Right? Seriously, it so does. But you got this, Mary. I’ll help any way I can.”
“You’ll go to the bar with me this weekend?”
Rayne sighed in mock exasperation. “You know I will. I’ll see if Harley or any of the others want to come too. We’ll make it a girls’ night out.”
“Thank you,” Mary said with heartfelt gratitude. She had no idea what she’d do without Rayne. She’d missed her so much over the last couple months. She’d been an idiot to push her out of her life when she’d needed her the most.
“I’m headed out on an overnight on Sunday though,” Rayne warned her. “It’s a flight to New York City. So you’ll have to continue Operation Make Truck Remember without me.”
“I’ll text you updates.”
“You better.”
The two women hugged and Mary waved as she got in her car and started the engine.
She had to get back to work as her lunch hour was over.
Her boss had been a little more lenient after the robbery, but Mary could tell her gratefulness no one had gotten hurt was waning, and her bitchy attitude would return sooner rather than later.
The news had reported that the two men who’d held up the bank were members of a local gang and the robbery was some sort of initiation or something.
They were in jail…but since then, there had been two different instances of customers coming in wanting to rent safety-deposit boxes that hadn’t sat well with Mary.
They’d both worn nice slacks, long-sleeve shirts, and ties, but Mary had seen tattoos on the sides of their necks that made her nervous.
She was profiling, and she knew it, but she couldn’t shake the weird feeling about the men. She’d mentioned it to her manager, but the woman had told her she was being paranoid.
There was nothing Mary could do about it. If someone wanted to rent a safety-deposit box, and was able to pay for it, it didn’t matter if they were the President of the United States or a felon. There was no discrimination at the bank.
Thinking about work made Mary think about Truck again.
And thinking about Truck made her more determined than ever to make him want her.
Even if he only wanted to sleep with her, that was better than nothing, and it would keep any other woman from warming his bed.
And if Truck, God forbid, never regained his memory, she’d do whatever she could to start their life over.
Even if she had to propose to him this time.