Chapter 6 Valentine
Valentine
It’s a few days since I first played the getting-to-know-you game with Lyle.
We’ve played it every day since, and we’ve gone through the whole pack and invented questions of our own.
I made Lyle answer the questions too. I like finding out about him, and he can always answer the questions with more detail than I can.
Like how he loves winter, too, because summer only reminds him of the years he spent in the Afghanistan desert.
I’ve learned he’s ex-military and has no family, but the MC are his brothers as are his ex-army buddies who he works with. He does part time security, but he loves to ride, which is how he got involved in the club.
I’ve learned a few things about myself too. My favorite color is amber, and his is blue. I prefer cookies over cake. I don’t think I play any sports, which you can tell by my round belly and total lack of muscles anywhere.
Despite loving winter, I don’t think I’ve ever been to the mountains. I don’t think I’ve traveled outside the US and maybe not anywhere outside the state. I can’t be sure because I still can’t remember, but any questions about geography pulled up blanks.
My feet are slowly healing, and I’m able to hobble around without opening any fresh wounds. I’ve been helping Gina in the kitchen because it turns out I can cook. It surprised her as much as me when I grabbed an onion and sliced it with the speed of a master chef.
I cooked a vegetable soup for the club and even baked fresh homemade bread.
Maybe I was a cook or chef in my past life. I’ve stopped trying to remember because every time I do, it comes up blank.
I’m sitting in the clubhouse with my feet up on a chair. I’ve gotten to know some of the guys over the last few days. Jesse and Gage are respectful and kind, and we’ve played cards together.
Bruno is gruff but tender toward his fiancée.
Kray makes me laugh, and Quinn mopes about always talking about his law student girlfriend.
Then there’s Pans who I’ve barely spoken to because he scares the heck out of me.
Lyle says he’s loyal, which is good because I get the feeling you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of Pans.
The guys are respectful, and the women are kind, but there’s a new emptiness in my chest whenever Lyle’s not around.
He hasn’t tried to kiss me again. He’s kept a respectful distance.
I know it makes sense. He’s so much older than me, and he doesn’t know where I’ve come from.
But the more time I spend with Lyle, the more I want to feel his lips on me.
I get it. I might be married for all he knows, but there’s no ring mark on my finger, so I doubt that’s the case.
Lyle has put feelers out, spoken to local businesses and shown my photo to diners and other places up the coast.
So far, no one has come to claim me. No one recognizes me, and there’s no missing person search out for me. It seems no one misses me at all.
The sound of a bike has my head jerking up, but it’s one of the other guys returning. I try to hide my disappointment that it’s not Lyle.
It’s been about a week since he rescued me, and I still feel tired. He will probably scold me if he catches me downstairs. Even though I’ve got my feet up on a chair, he thinks I should be on bed rest for another week.
He’s been looking after me so well that I don’t want to let him down. If he thinks I need bedrest, then that’s what I’ll do.
“I’m going up,” I tell Gina as I hobble past the kitchen. I can get around on my own these days and shower by myself, which is exactly what I do when I get to my room.
I sit on the plastic chair to unwrap my bandages while I wait for the water to heat up. The hot water will sting, but the wounds need cleaning.
When someone comes for me, I don’t want to be damaged. I want to be whole.
It’s a weird place to be, waiting for someone to come and claim you.
As the water rushes over me, I wonder what kind of life I had. Was it as simple and happy as the last week? Cooking and playing cards and talking with Lyle?
But I have a fear inside of me. How good could my life have been if I’ve not even been missed?