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3
Fist
I feel the storm of uncertainty quiet down. Relief floods me at the mere sight of Mindi, and I scoff to myself at how much I’ve missed her. At how much I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. I polish off my flapjacks and bacon and linger over another cup of coffee. Mindi has just topped it off and moved down the counter when Bow and Ghost come through the door.
They sit on either side of me, and both order the breakfast special. I keep drinking coffee while they eat, and we make small talk. Finally, their plates empty, Bow rolls his shoulders and tells me he and Ghost are going to take a little ride.
“There’s some shit we need to handle,” he tells me carelessly.
My eyes narrow for a second, and I wonder if they’re doing this so I can have some time alone with Mindi. But she’s working, so it wouldn’t matter if they were. With a shrug, I remind myself that I don’t even know where Mindi and I stand because we haven’t had a chance to talk about it. I wonder if we ever will.
“Do you need some backup?” I question.
Ghost shakes his head. “Nah. It’ll be easy to handle, and your bike is in the shop anyway.”
“All right. Ride safe.” They nod and leave, stopping at the counter to pay their tabs.
I could see Mindi giving me the eye the entire time my brothers were here, and I know she caught at least bits and pieces of the conversation as she passed back and forth. She finally comes over with the coffee pot, giving me one more refill.
“Fist,” she begins in a hesitant voice. “Are you going to be leaving soon, or are you going to be in town for a little longer?”
I give her a cocky wink and a shit-eating grin. “Why, sweetness? You want to come with me this time?”
I see her suck in a sharp breath and shift her feet like she’s uncomfortable. Or at least, she seems uncomfortable and nothing at all like the sweet, sexy, open woman I first met.
“Listen, Fist, I need to talk to you. Seriously need to talk to you, all right? But it’ll have to be after my shift.”
“All right.”
She shakes her head at me. “I actually have to pull a double and won’t get off until nine or so tonight. Will that still be all right?”
“Sure, Mindi. That’s fine,” I agree, noting with some concern that her eyes, those glorious green eyes, are shadowed with fatigue and weariness.
“Thanks.” She gives me a small smile and returns to work. I continue to sit, swilling more coffee and making lighthearted conversation with diners as they come and go. Mindi joins in when she can, and I can see she’s a big favorite. I finally pay my tab, adding a hefty tip, and decide I’ll walk down to Pete’s shop to check on my bike.
Before I can stand, Pete walks through the door. “Oh, good, I caught you here,” he tells me, running a hand through his hair. “Got some good news and some bad news for you.”
I frown. That never bodes well. “Give me the good news first,” I say.
“You were right. It’s a blown head gasket. It’ll be an easy enough fix.”
“Okay, then. What’s the bad news?”
“I had to order the part. The head gasket your bike needs is a special order, and it won’t be in for about a week. That’s with expedited shipping, too,” Pete tells me. “I reckon you’ll have to stay in Wolf Creek until then.”
I heave a sigh. Fuck it all, this is not how I wanted things to go, but it is what it is. I can’t ride without a head gasket. “All right,” I tell Pete. “I appreciate everything.” I pull out my wallet and count out three hundred dollars, handing it over to the older man. “Take this for the bill. If I owe after this, just let me know, and we’ll settle up.”
He pockets the money with a thanks. Then he picks up the order he must have phoned in, paying with cash, and hustles back out and down the street to his shop.
I catch Mindi when she comes by again and quietly explain the situation to her. “Can I stay at your place?”
She immediately nods. “Let me get you the key. I’ll be right back.” While I’m waiting, I drum my fingers on the counter, working out logistics and details and jobs in my head. I’ll tell Bow and Ghost the deal when they get back. They’ll just have to leave me behind. I’ll catch up when I can.
Mindi scampers back to me, handing me a small key. “Number eighteen,” she tells me. “Make yourself at home, and I’ll see you when I get off work.”
“Thanks,” I tell her and resist pulling her into my arms. I simply nod and then walk out of the door and turn toward the motel. Just then, Bow and Ghost hustle up to me.
“We gotta bail,” Ghost tells me.
