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“Wait, you run the diner? How did I not know that?” My eyes widen in surprise.
“I don’t tell everyone. The guys used to rotate in and out of here managing it, and I picked up on things. After a while, they offered me the spot. I have to check in with them, and they come by once a week or so. But yeah, that’s why I’m always here. I have two other waitresses, but they are both students and work when they can around school.”
Right, I remember her telling me that. I had applied here but they aren’t super busy, so they didn’t need anyone. It’s when I met Raven. Guess I could have put the pieces together. “That’s awesome that you get to run it. How many places does the MC own?”
“Lots. I don’t actually know how many, but quite a few for sure. But you will be in excellent hands. They’re super nice.”
I nod. “To answer your other question, no, I didn’t tell them. I know I need to, but I want to wait a while first.”
“I get it. But tell them. I can’t see any of them giving you the boot over it. Who runs the shop?”
“I’ll be working with Axe,” I say, trying not to let my cheeks turn pink. I must fail based on the look on Raven’s face.
“OH MY GOD.” She bursts out laughing. “You can hide nothing. I kind of love it.”
I grumble at her. I fucking hate that I can’t hide anything. My face always gives me away.
“Axe is a sweetheart from what I’ve seen. And yes, very hot. God, that beard of his is just wow. I am not even a big fan of beards, but goddamn.” She fans herself dramatically, and I feel a flush work its way up my neck.
I’ve thought about that beard in lots of ways since I last saw him…
Just as she finishes her sentence, the door opens and in walks the man himself, along with two other men and a few younger teens.
He sees me and his eyes light up before he comes walking over. No. Not walking, sauntering over. Raven notices and starts laughing way too hard. He smirks at me and then looks at Raven with a look of pure affection, like one would look at a sibling. It warms my heart to see.
Axe says, “What’s so funny? Why were you fanning yourself when we walked in?”
Raven opens her mouth, but all that comes out is another laugh, and I cover my face with my hands. One of the teens pipes in, “She was fanning herself because I walked in, Axe, duh! I’m hot shit.”
Axe rolls his eyes, and the man standing next to the kid slaps him on the back of the head. Raven sobers and looks at the teen. “Oh, Ryker, in your sweet young baby dreams,” she retorts, which causes everyone to start laughing.
Raven glances at me and smirks with a wink. Oh, no… She stands.
“Why don’t you join Presley? I am going to go grab her food, and I’ll put your regular orders in.” With that, she struts away.
I am going to strangle her. My anxiety might be low right now, but I have a feeling it’s about to skyrocket. Axe sits right next to me, with the man who smacked Ryker on the head sliding into my other side, Ryker sits next to him, and the two other teens slide in after Ryker. The last man who came in with them sits next to Axe on the edge of the booth.
And now I am trapped.
“Presley, this guy,”—he points to the guy next to him—“is Stone. Then the one next to you is Blade. Then Ryker, Grayson, and Cayden. Guys, this is Presley. She’s going to be saving my ass at the shop starting on Monday.”
Everyone greets me, and I give a small smile.
“Are you ready to start work on Monday? Because I can’t wait to have someone to help me.” He looks at me, his expression a mix of hope and relief.
I nod. “I’m ready. I enjoy taking on new projects.”
A snort comes from my right, and I look over to see Blade trying not to laugh.
“You have no idea what you’re walking into. It’s bad. I manage one of our nightclubs, and I came to try to help them get it together after they fired the last girl. Let me tell you, I turned around and walked right back out. Axe may be good at working on bikes, but he is shit at anything else related to that business.”
Something occurs to me, and before I can stop my apparent big mouth I say, “Wait, you all had to vote for him to run that business, I thought, so why would everyone let him if he’s bad at it?”
Stunned, I realize that was probably insanely rude and cover my mouth with my hand. I know my cheeks must be bright red now. Blade and Ryker crack up laughing while Cayden and Grayson both have a twitch of lips but try not to smile. Stone, well, he stays stone like. He kind of terrifies me.
Axe is staring at me with his mouth hanging open. Maybe it’s because I haven’t liked someone like I like Axe since my husband, and he was my first love, that I find myself wanting to say more when usually my anxiety stops me.
I reach up and put a finger under his chin, pushing his mouth closed and whispering, “You’re gonna catch flies.”
