Page 85 of Bone’s Choice

I was tired of walking around hard every time I thought about what would’ve happened if Kori hadn’t opened that back door Friday night.

I needed Hazel off my mind.

More like I needed to get off.

That would solve the problem.

I turned into Bing’s parking lot and circled around the building.

The employee lot was in back, and I’d noticed where Hazel parked Friday night. I pulled into the space beside her SUV and killed the engine.

Silence settled around me.

I stayed on the bike, looked at her SUV, and then shook my head. “What the fuck are you doing?”

No answer. Probably because there wasn’t a good one.

I didn’t chase women. Never had.

Yet here I fucking was.

Eleven-thirty on a Tuesday night sitting outside Hazel’s job. That looked a hell of a lot like chasing.

I reached into my cut and pulled out my cigarettes. I lit one and inhaled, the smoke filled my lungs as I stared at her SUV.

I wasn’t chasing Hazel. I was finishing something we’d already started.

That was different.

Friday night had been leading somewhere.

We both knew it.

Last night, she’d asked for the ride.

She wanted to spend time with me. I wanted to spend time with her.

And if that time ended with Hazel underneath me? Even fucking better.

I finished half the cigarette before I decided sitting in a parking lot arguing with myself was fucking pathetic.

I dropped it, crushed it beneath my boot, and headed for the back door. The same door I’d followed Hazel through Friday night.

I pulled it open and the music hit me.

Nothing like Friday.

Bing’s wasn’t dead, but it wasn’t packed either.

One pool table had a game going. Maybe ten people were scattered along the bar. A couple sat at one of the high-top tables near the dance floor.

Nobody was dancing.

Nobody was yelling.

I scanned the bar for Hazel, but I didn’t see her.

I knew she was here. Her SUV was outside.