“Hey, Drake,” I say. “How’s it feel to be a legal adult?”
He rolls his eyes and snorts. “I was a legal adult when I was twelve.”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes. “Of course you were.”
He grins. “It’s good to be able to finally get into these places without having a fake I.D.”
I shake my head. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
He chuckles. “You look tired. Working double shifts again?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’ll catch a break someday. Luckily, I like working with you all so much.”
“You want a drink?”
“Actually,” I say, fighting back a yawn, “I’m going to go outside and get some fresh air before I fall asleep.”
He nods and leans in close. “If you happen to disappear, I’ll cover for you.”
I beam at him. “I knew I liked you for a reason.”
He hugs me, and I turn, disappearing through the crowd. I’ve only had one drink, and it feels like it ran straight to my head. I practically run out the front doors and inhale as soon as I get into the fresh air. Gosh. If I don’t go home soon, I’m going to pass out right here on the sidewalk.
“Anyone would think you were running away from me.”
I turn and see Jack leaning against the wall, cigarette in one hand, foot pressed up against the brick. He looks so ... good. God. So fucking good. It’s hard not to want to reach into my purse, pull out my phone, and capture a picture of the effortless charm and style he’s showing right now.
“Did you follow me out here?”
“Yep,” he says, unfazed. He brings the cigarette to his lips and inhales, those gorgeous eyes holding mine, not wavering even a tiny bit.
“Why?” I ask, shifting from one foot to the other as my legs ache. My stomach grumbles, too.
I need to eat.
I can’t remember the last time I actually ate.
That’s terrible.
“Saw you rush out, wanted to make sure you were okay. Then I thought I’d stand and watch you just stare at that road, not really knowing what the hell you want to do. It’s cute, really.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Stop calling me cute. Do you know where the cab line is?”
He pushes off the wall, drops the cigarette, crushes it with his boot, and walks towards me. “I’ll take you home.”
“No, thanks,” I say quickly, putting my hands up in front of me. “A cab is fine.”
“I’m not going to chop you into a thousand little pieces, Baylee, although, it wouldn’t take much ...”
I fight back a smile. “Are you always so creepy when trying to pick up women?”
He winks at me. “What makes you think I’m trying to pick you up? Perhaps I’m just being nice.”
“You’ve been stalking me, unless you stalk everyone, I’d say that’s you trying to pick me up.”
He crosses his arms. “Again, maybe I’m just being nice.”
I raise my brows.
He holds my eyes.
“Can you just point me in the direction of a cab, please?”
“Nope.”
“Jack, seriously ...”
“Nope.”
I exhale, drop my hands, and turn, glancing down the street again.
“You eaten?”
My stomach grumbles. Damned traitor.
“I’ll take that as a no.” He laughs. “Come on, there’s a nice place just a few blocks down.”
I am so hungry.
But dammit. If I give in now, he’ll never go away.
Not that I want him to, if I’m being honest.
But still.
Dammit.
“Stop overthinking, it’s food, not a marriage proposal,” he says, suddenly closer than he was a second ago. His breath tickles my ear as he leans in. “There’s no harm in eating with a friend, right?”
I turn around and damn, he’s so close I can smell him—he smells incredible. “We’re not friends.”
“We will be,” he murmurs, eyes dropping to my lips. “Until then, consider me a very good stalker. Now, let’s go. I’m hungry.”
“Are you always so bossy?”
He smirks. “Mostly.”
I sigh. “Fine, but only because I’m hungry. I’m never going to go out with you, are we clear?”
He puts his hands up. “Stalker. Friends. The end. I get it.”
I fight another smile.
He grins down at me. “One day, I’ll even get a laugh out of you.” He takes my shoulders in his hands and turns me in the direction we’re going to walk. “Imagine that.”
Yeah.
Imagine that.
I wonder what it’ll feel like to really laugh again?
CHAPTER 6
NOW – BAYLEE
I take a seat when Jack pulls out a chair, slightly uncomfortable, but not the way I’d usually be around a perfect stranger. Jack has an ease about him; he’s casual, light, and funny. It would be hard to have an awkward moment with someone like him. He’s just breezy, charming and always has something to say.
He sits down across from me, at the quaint little burger place he brought me to. The smell of the food fills my nose, and my stomach grumbles angrily. I really should learn to eat more. Jack laughs and leans forward on his elbows. “Let’s get you fed first, before you fade away to nothing.”
I flush and look down at my hands. “Yeah, I really don’t eat enough.”
“Why is that?”
I jerk my head up. “Oh. No reason.”
Jack studies me as a waitress approaches our table. “Jack, nice to see you,” she smiles, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
God.
Does every woman in this place know him?
“Hey, Penny. How are you?” he asks.
“Good, now,” she practically croons.
Gag.
“This is my friend Baylee,” he says, eyes swinging over to me.
Penny, who is a very attractive redhead, looks to me and her mouth tightens just slightly. “Nice to meet you.”
I smile and give her a pathetic wave, just as my stomach grumbles again. Jack grins at me, and leans closer, murmuring, “You one of those girls that is going to insist on nibbling on a salad even though I know you’re starving, or are you going to eat a burger with me?”
I hold his eyes. “Burger.”
He nods. “Good girl.”
He looks back to Penny. “Two cheeseburgers, fries, and two chocolate milkshakes, please.”
She writes that down then disappears. Jack turns to me, and I instantly say, “I thought you’d be drinking after being at a bar, not having a milkshake.”
He shrugs. “Good company calls for sacrifices.”
My heart flutters, but I keep my expression blank. “Bring all your girlfriends here, do you?”
He gives me a cheeky grin. “I’m a local. I grew up here. Everyone knows me. But yes, for your information ‘girl who isn’t interested’, I have brought a few girls here.”
I scrunch up my nose. He laughs.
“Tell me a story, Baylee.”
I shake my head in confusion. “A story?”
“Well, yeah, for my stalker books. I need something to work off when I’m peeking through your window.”
I roll my eyes. “What kind of story?”
“If we’re to progress to friends at some stage, you need to give me some information about you. I mean, you could be a stalker for all I know, and this is just your act.”
I snort. “Do you come up with this crap all on your own?”
He laughs. “Basically. So, tell me a story.”
I shake my head, but I can’t help the way my lip lifts up just a little in a poor attempt at a smile. His eyes drop to it, and he grins.
“I don’t really have a story,” I say, rubbing my hands together.
“Everyone has a story.”
“Then tell me one of yours.”
He leans his elbows on the table. “Okay, I’ll go first, you??
?re obviously shy.”
I raise my brows and he winks, again.
“I’m the son of a biker.”
A biker? A biker? Is he serious?
“Like ... leather jackets, ride motorbikes, scary looking bikers?”
He grunts. “Such a cliché!”
“Isn’t it correct, though?”
He thinks about that, then shrugs. “Yeah, probably. And yes, those bikers.”
“I wouldn’t pick it,” I say, then instantly retract my words. “Actually, now that I think of it ... yes, I would.”
“Because of my charm and good looks?” he wiggles his brows.
I huff, nearly a laugh. “Yeah, something like that.”
“My dad is a member of the Jokers’ Wrath MC.”
The Jokers’ Wrath. Seriously? Wow. Everyone knows them, I see the members around town all the time. They don’t seem to bother anyone, but I’ve never gotten close enough to find out, either.
“That’s definitely an unbeatable story,” I mumble. “Are you going to become a member?”
He shakes his head. “Nah. I don’t want involvement in the club. I’m going to take a different path.”
Noble.
“Fair enough,” I say as the waitress places our meals and drinks down in front of us.
I’m so hungry.
So, so hungry.
I pick a fry off the plate and put it into my mouth. Jack does the same.
“So, what about you? What do you do?”
I shrug, eating another one before answering. “I work two jobs, just basic waitressing. I have ...” I hesitate. “I have my sister living with me. She’s young and pregnant.”
His brows go up as he chews. He swallows and then answers with, “Wow. That’s a big thing. You’re not that old yourself. Must be hard taking care of someone else, too.”
“Yeah.” I shrug. “When she has the baby, she’ll give it up for adoption. Pressure will be released then. It’ll get easier, I’m sure.”
“She doesn’t want to keep it?” he questions.
I shake my head. “She’s so young, and she’s just not ... She’s not fit.”
I don’t tell him about the drugs. It’s a hard subject to talk about with anyone. Let alone a random stranger.
“Well, she’s doing a good thing giving the baby to someone who can take care of it then, I guess.”
Oh, if only he knew.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
We tuck into our food, having basic conversation as we finish it up. When we’re done, I’m so full I can barely move. I groan as we stand and Jack still insists on driving me home.
“This doesn’t mean we’re friends,” I grumble as I practically waddle to his truck.
“Of course we are,” he says, opening a door for me. “You don’t get to choose.”
“I think I do,” I point out.
“I’ll win you over, all it’ll take is persistence, a good deal more stalking, and maybe more food.”
“Seriously, Jack,” I say, holding his eyes before I climb into the truck. “I’m not interested in anything right now. I know guys like you. I know what you want. I’m not that girl, and I’m warning you now, you won’t get anything that you’re expecting from me.”
He leans in close. “I get that. But we can be friends. You can never have too many friends.”
I study him. “You don’t seem like the type who can have just friends.”
He winks at me. “Well, for you, I’ll make an exception.”
I frown.
He shakes his head and laughs. “I hear you, Baylee. Friends only. You’re not interested in my smoking hot body, my devastatingly handsome face, or my ridiculous charm.”
My chest shakes as I try to fight a laugh. His eyes dance a second, before zoning back in on mine. “I swear.”
He’s genuine. I can hear it in his voice.
“Okay,” I say, climbing into the truck. “But this doesn’t mean I’m giving you my number.”
He chuckles. “Oh. You’re giving me your number.”
“Nope.”
He pops his head in before closing the door. “You’re giving me your number.”
I smile the entire time it takes him to walk around the truck and jump in.
Jack.
I think I might just like him.
~*~*~*~
“Baylee!” Rae shrieks, jerking me awake from my sleep. “Wake up!”
I sit up in bed, rubbing my eyes, trying to get my bearings. The shrieking sounds of Rae continue down the hall. Is something wrong? I leap out of bed, and on wobbly feet, rush to the door. My eyes are blurred, my body is still half asleep, but I manage to push out into the hall to see Rae standing, holding her stomach.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. “Rae, what’s wrong?”
“My stomach hurts,” she moans.
“Is it the baby?” I cry, rushing over.
“I don’t know,” she snaps, rubbing a hand over the top of her rounded belly. “I think it’s my actual stomach.”
“Have you eaten something bad?”
“I’m always eating, I don’t know,” she groans.
I study her face. Her eyes have dark rings beneath them, and her cheeks are pale. Perhaps she has some kind of bug? I don’t know if that can be dangerous for her while she’s pregnant. I don’t know much about any of this stuff.
“Do you feel like you’re going to throw up?”
“Yes,” she moans, putting a hand out and balancing herself on the wall.
“Go into the bathroom, I’ll get a bucket. Go, Rae.”
She turns and waddles to the bathroom, and I rush into the laundry to get a bucket and a clean washcloth. Then I turn and rush back to the bathroom just in time to hear her lose the contents of her stomach. I stop at the door, take a deep breath, and wonder if I’ve got enough patience for this tonight. Or any night for that matter. Exhaling, I walk into the bathroom, knowing I’ve got no damned choice.
I wet the cloth and squat down, wiping it across Rae’s forehead once she’s flushed the toilet. She slaps my hand away, snatching the cloth and draping the whole thing over her face. I want to beat her sometimes, but I don’t. I don’t because of the bump hanging on for dear life on her body. I glance at it, and my heart aches.
“Are you okay?” I ask her.
“Do I look fucking okay?” she snaps.
Right.
“You woke me up, Rae. If you don’t want help, I’ll go back to bed.”
“I need water,” she demands.
I push to my feet with a sigh and plod out into the kitchen, filling a glass with water and taking it back to her. She’s scooted over to the bath mat on the floor and curled herself onto it, wrapping her small frame around that ever growing bump. She’s trembling, sweating, and she looks like hell. She’s not well.
“Do you need me to take you to the hospital?” I ask her.
“No,” she snaps so quickly and so firmly I’m taken back.
“Rae, you’re pregnant. You could be sick. It could harm the baby.”
“I said no,” she barks. “Now go away.”
One part of me, probably a solid eighty percent, wants to reach over and just slap her. Just slap the cruel out of her. Just slap her back to the soft girl I once knew. But the twenty percent of me—the twenty percent that seems to hold me here—knows that I’ll never do that, even if I should. Because I do remember the soft girl. I also remember how that soft girl was crushed and destroyed.
So, I do what I always do and say in a quiet voice, “I’m going to keep my door open, and listen out for you. Be angry at me, Rae, hate me if you will, but if you need me, please, come and get me.”
I don’t give her the chance to answer, I turn and walk out the door, trying to fight back the anxiety building in my chest. Trying to fight the tingly, trembling sensation in my hands, and the heaviness in my chest. It can’t get any worse from here, right? It can only get better.
I climb back into my bed with a sigh and ro
ll over, lifting my phone. I glance down and see there’s a message on the screen. I had it on silent, and haven’t checked it, so I quickly unlock it, hoping everything is okay with Shania and nothing is wrong anywhere else. I can’t take anymore tonight. I don’t recognize the number, so I click into it and read the message.
Unknown - My stalking skills are improving. I bet you can’t even guess who it is.
I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips, lightening my mood instantly. I save Jack’s number in my phone and then respond, only realizing the time after I hit send.
B – I have no idea who it is. I really couldn’t guess. I mean, who else would stalk me? Hmmmm.
B – Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize the time.
A moment later my phone buzzes and a message flashes on the screen.
J – Now who’s the stalker?
J – What are you doing awake so late?
B – Sick pregnant lady.
J – Oh, that sucks.
B – Yep. She’s making it fun, too. I’m sorry if I woke you.
J – I don’t mind being woken by you. Although, I am a bit pissed you haven’t rejected me yet. I feel like our friendship can’t handle it if you’re being nice.
I laugh softly.
B – Of course. How dare you text me. Stalker. Go harass someone else.
J – Finally. I thought you were going soft.
B – I don’t like you, Jack.
J – But you will, Baylee. I’m going to annoy you until you’re my friend.
B – I can’t wait. Insert eye roll
J – The fact that you just wrote Insert eye roll makes me question this entire friendship and I think we should see other people. Hashtag weirdo.
I’m laughing now. I can’t help it.
B- Did you just write the word hashtag?
J – Hashtag yes. Hashtag awesome. Hashtag epic.
I’m laughing so hard tears run down my cheeks.
B – I’m concerned for you.
J – Hashtag you love it.
B – I’m dialing a doctor. Don’t move. They’ll be there to collect you soon. You’re going to be okay.
J – Hashtag hahahaha.
With a yawn and a smile, I decide I really should get some sleep. God only knows how long Rae is going to torment me tonight.
B – I think I’m going to try and get some sleep. Goodnight, stalker. Stay away from my window.