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’syoursection?”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.
“We do.Love this woman like the sister I always wanted,” Tristan says with pride in his voice and a smile on his face as he gives me a side hug.
“You’ll be seein’ a lot of us while Wren’s here.Our big sister won’t be able to get away from us this time,” Zach says, giving me a meaningful look before I look down and stop the tears from spilling over at his words.
“Good.I’m glad to see you boys are gonna take care of her when you can.She needs good people in her corner,” Leah tells them before she leaves us alone once again.
“I’ll be in Briar Glen in a few days,” I tell the guys while we eat.“I have a doctor’s appointment for the baby and can’t get into one here for a while so I thought I’d keep that one.I plan on stopping by Mrs.Smythe’s while I’m in town.Maybe we could all have dinner or something that day.”
“Just let us know what day you’ll be there and we’ll talk to Fury so you’re not alone,” Zach says after swallowing his food.“Fury will let us leave for the day if he knows it’s to be with you.You’re not goin’ to that appointment on your own, Wren.”
“Okay.”
“I thought I told you I didn’t want you spendin’ time with them again?”I hear asked from the side of me and look up to find Judge standing at the end of the table with his arms folded over his chest, looking down at me.
“I don’t really care what you order me to do, Judge.You have no say in my life,” I tell him, turning my focus back on the pizza in front of me.
“What the fuck are the two of you doin’ out here?”he asks the guys as they continue eating their meal.
“Fury knows we’re here and said it was okay to leave.The rest of the Prospects are at the clubhouse and we’ll be back in a few hours,” Tristan says, his voice holding an icy edge to it I’ve never heard from him before.