Page 87 of Guarding Glenda

Allie wiggled my arm. “That’s because you were young and dumb then. He was not secretive about that shit. Leigh has followed you around like a puppy all this time. You know me. I wouldn’t defend any of these idiots, even my brother, if he was doing stupid shit. Leigh’s not with a woman.”

“Then something’s wrong.” I hated this. Either way, something didn’t add up, and my gut was already knotting. I would be heartbroken if he turned out to be like the rest. Hell, it would be worse. Allie was right. Reggie didn’t try to hide it. He passed it off as part of the life. If Leigh was sneaking around, that was worse. Deceitful.

The other option would be something bad happened to him. He always answered me. Sometimes it took a few minutes, but I’d eaten a whole meal, and I don’t eat fast. He was supposed to go to the clinic and then come here. Even if he stopped somewhere, he would’ve been here by now.

“Okay. Was he still at the shop when he told you he was going to the clinic or on the road?” Allie asked.

“On the road already. Around five.”

Linny pulled out her phone and sent a text. “I’m asking Sam if he’s there. Easy peasy.” She stopped typing, still holding her phone. “He gave me the number in case of emergency when you were recovering.”

Allie said, “Clearly the brains of this operation. See. We’ll sort this out.”

Linny’s soft smile melted away after her phone buzzed and she looked down.

“What? What did he say?” I asked, leaning to look at her phone.

She bit her lip. “He left over an hour ago.”

My heart sped up and sweat beaded over my lip. “I don’t feel so good.”

Pinkie grabbed a glass and filled it with ice, then shot water in and pushed it across.

Allie grabbed fresh napkins and dipped them into the drink then patted my face. “Better than spacing out. Give her a straw for that.”

Pinkie shook her head. “No, it’s best to sip.”

My hands shook so I was afraid to grab it. Allie picked it up and held it to my lips. The water cooled me down a little.

Bama walked up to Linny. “What’s up? Glenda, you okay?”

Linny turned. “Can you try to reach Leigh?”

Bama’s brows pinched but he pulled his phone out, dialing. He listened for a minute then ended the call without a message. He sent a text then grabbed my shoulder. “What’s up?”

Allie said, “He should have been here by now. He left the clinic over an hour ago. Did you eat? Maybe you could go look for him.”

He nodded. “Yeah. Y’all keep an eye on Sofie. I’ll run to the house. He probably just stopped to get his Harley.”

Nodding, I said, “That makes sense.”

Except it didn’t. I wanted that to make sense, but his house was on the way from the clinic, and not that far. Even if he let Bruce out and ate, he would be here already. Plus, he said he was eating here, even if he didn’t have to go out.

Bama patted my back. “I’ll double check. I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Thanks, Bama.”

The minutes that followed were tense. I peeled at the label on the beer bottle and managed to drink half the water. Even though I stopped sweating, my stomach was still in shambles and my heartbeat muffled the sounds around me.

We were waiting on news when several guys abruptly jumped from their chairs, finishing drinks before hustling out the door.

We all turned but I knew something was up. I hopped down from my stool and ran to the door, grabbing Butterbean since he was the closest. He looked down at my grasp on his cut. He had such a sweet face; even when he tried he didn’t look mad, but he also towered over me as he was probably at least six-five.

“I gotta go.” He tried to peel my hand away.

“Where? What’s going on?”

He pulled my fingers away and jogged off. I stepped into the hallway and Hammer was coming down the hall. He slowed a few steps when he saw me, then picked up the pace, trying to go past me.