“Toby?” Loki grinned.
I narrowed my eyes on him. “Don’t even think about calling me that.”
“You don’t go by that name anymore?” Marion asked as she reached across and patted me on the cheek. “Oh my, you’ve grown so handsome. Has your mom seen you yet?”
I shook my head, dread streaking through me. I knew I’d have to face them eventually, especially Mom, but between the regret, guilt, and grief, I wasn’t sure how long I’d be able to stand it. I was a mean motherfucker until it came to this town. Fuck the past. “We just got in this afternoon. Thought we’d get some food, get to the motel, and rest for the night.”
“Of course.” She smiled and hesitation passed over her face. “I’m glad to see you home, Toby. After you left so suddenly… we thought you’d done something stupid. We worried for you, but your mom told us you’d left town to start somewhere new. I didn’t think you’d ever return.” She shook her head, mouth curving downward. “You can’t live life with that guilt, sweetheart. It’s time to move on.”
Loki’s stare was a laser, intrigue sparking across his face like a flickering fire that had been doused with gas. He flipped his attention from Marion to me and back again. I didn’t dare turn my back to Loki because the moment I got up to go to the bathroom or diverted my attention, he’d be questioning everyone to find out what had happened. He was charismatic and would charm their pants off, and they would probably pay him for it. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him, but he was sneaky. He often got information for our club no one else could, all from talking to a few people and giving them that dangerous smile.
I gave Marion a strained grin and nodded. “Thank you.”
Her attention slid to Loki carefully and she gave me an apologetic wince before she cleared her throat, brushing a stray strand of hair off her face. “Do you need a little more time to decide what you want?”
“I don’t know, do we, Thor?” Loki gave me a winning grin, and I laughed.
“Does Jalen still do that amazing corned beef hash with scrambled eggs? Add in some fries, too, because you know I love them.” My stomach growled at the thought.
She chuckled and tugged out a tablet from the wide pocket of her apron. That was new. “As if you have to ask. That’ll never go out of style, even for dinner. I know how much you love your breakfast at night. Two orders?”
I chuckled. “Yeah, please.”
She nodded and tapped the screen, frowning before banging on it harder. Muttering about technology, she gave me a pursed expression. “There are some things that change, though, like these little contraptions.”
“Do Mr. and Mrs. Abelton still own the diner?”
She snorted. “No. Wish they did. They sold the place a few years after you left. Said they were getting too old to run it. Some young businesspeople came into town and bought it. They’re a couple, not bad people, but they want to be on the up and up with the current times.” Her mouth twisted in irritation. “Facebook page, coupons, these things.” She waved the tablet furiously. “They don’t think about old ducks like me.”
“You’re still young,” I said, and she laughed, her face brightening.
She patted me on the cheek again. “You haven’t changed a bit, Toby. Still sweet as ever.”
But I had, she just didn’t know it. It was like my Norse Lords MC cut was invisible. I wasn’t a one-percenter biker who rolled into town to these people. I was only Toby—the boy they remembered, the one frombeforethe accident. They were wrong to think I hadn’t changed from my younger self, though. I was Thor, who had a history here—a past they didn’t want to acknowledge. It’d been my fault, no matter what they said. I’d killed one of my best friends, paralyzed another, and mentally scarred the other two until one of them decided to finally take his life. I went toprisonfor six months because of it.
Bile rose in my throat. I clenched my fingers against my palm so hard my nails left indents in my skin.
“You should visit Morgan while you’re here. He didn’t think you’d show up, but I told him you would,” she said, attention stuck on the tablet in her hands. She frowned at it angrily and finally sighed, slipping it back into her apron.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I refused to look at Loki. He noticed everything, and right now, he was seeing my fists clench and my shoulders tighten. He’d have questions I wasn’t willing to answer.
Who is Morgan?
Why don’t you want to see him?
What the fuck happened here to make you this way?
Marion popped her lips. “He misses you. He always relives the moments he spent with you and the others. He tells me all about it every time I visit.”
I never knew how Marion could forgive me after what I’d done to Morgan, her nephew. If I’d been her, I wouldn’t’ve been so nice about seeing me again. I would’ve kicked my ass to the curb and told me to never return. But Marion wasMarion. She cared about everyone and was the real mother bear of the town.
“Maybe,” I said, hoping she’d drop the topic.
She frowned at me, then nodded. “We’ll talk later.” Patting me on the shoulder one last time, she turned and left us by ourselves again.
Loki opened his mouth, and I shook my head.
“You’ll find out soon, Loki.”
