Page 43 of Throttle Therapy

“Who is?Middle school is its own special little corner of hell.”Elizabeth bumped Hex with her shoulder.“Can I have one of those?”She pointed to Lacey’s drink.Hex didn’t say anything but motioned for Ryan.Before the kid had a chance to return with Elizabeth’s drink, the door opened and Shawn came in, a stack of pizza boxes nearly obstructing his view.

“I’ll be right back,” Roadkill said, sliding out of the booth and heading for the prospect.After helping the kid get the boxes to one of the long tables and setting them out, he snagged the two he’d specifically ordered and took them back to the table.The prospect went back outside to get the rest of the pizza.The one he’d gotten for Lacey he set on the bar between the kid and Joker.

“When you’re done, the rest goes on the table for everyone,” he told the girl.

“Thanks!”she said, her eyes wide as she stared at the box.

He carried the other back to the table and set it in front of Jenna.Hex was no longer at the table.A glance told him the president was at the table where the pizza was spread out, a line forming behind him.

“He’s getting yours?”he said to Elizabeth, making sure she was taken care of.She nodded, so he slid back into his seat.“Why aren’t you eating?”he asked Jenna.

Jenna shot him a scowl, but opened the box.She sat for several seconds, the box open as she stared down at the pizza.

“Is something wrong?”

“How did you know?”she asked looking up at him, then her gaze flicked to the bar, and he knew she’d figured it out.“You got inside information.And you knew this was on the way before the thing in the truck.”

Roadkill didn’t bother to deny it.He wouldn’t lie to her anyway, not unless he absolutely had to.

“I’m trying darlin’,” he said.

“Trying to what?”

“Earn your trust.”

Hex came back with two plates, he set the one with three slices in front of Elizabeth, who now had her drink, and the other in front of his spot then sat.

Jenna scowled as she tilted her head and watched him.

“I trust you.”

“You’re starting to, darlin’.You’re starting to, but I want more.”

“More?”she wondered what he was talking about.She’d left her job, she let him around Lacey, how much more could she trust him?

“Eat, darlin’,” Roadkill reached over, plucked a slice out of the box in front of her and took a big bite.

Her belly rumbled, reminding her how hungry she was.He watched as she started to eat.Watching her, he wondered if she’d had anything at lunch time.He’d have to ask Papa Smurf, and if she hadn’t, he’d find out why, and make sure that never happened again.He hated the idea of her going hungry, for any reason.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jennacouldn’thelpbutbe a little self-conscious.Elizabeth seemed sweet, but they hadn’t said much.And she was so tiny, and slender, and pretty.Everything Jenna was not.Sure, she wasn’t much taller than Elizabeth, but she was probably twice the other woman’s size and seeing what kind of woman these men were attracted to, only made her feel worse.

But if they liked tiny, slender girls, why had Roadkill kissed her like that?

She took a deep breath and pushed her doubts away.She would focus on what she had now, what was going on now and stop worrying so much about the future.

After eating two slices of pizza she closed the lid and slid the box over in front of Roadkill.

“You sure?”he asked, looking at her.

Jenna nodded.“I’m done.”She leaned back and fought the urge to yawn.As tired as she’d been before, now that she had a full belly, all she wanted to do was curl up and sleep.She wished for a moment she’d just asked Roadkill to take them home, but if she had, she would still be making dinner, she knew.A little socializing with people who were nothing but nice to her was a fair exchange for not having to cook, at least in her eyes.

“Either of you want anything more?Want some of this?”Roadkill offered the box she’d given him to Hex and Elizabeth, when they both shook their heads, he took what was left to the main table.While he was up, she slid out of the booth.

“Can you point me to the restroom?”Jenna asked.

“I need to go to,” Elizabeth said, poking Hex in the shoulder.“I’ll show you.”She slid out of the booth and stood.Jenna did a double take.Elizabeth had a round little basketball looking belly.