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My gaze raised, clashing with hers. Somehow, we’d wandered closer to each other in the river. Our fingers were just inches apart now.
I thought over what I should say and what I wanted to say. I should tell her I did it because I just felt like it…but I wanted her to know the real reason. I was curious how she’d respond. “I came because I didn’t want to wait to see you. I hit him because he was touching you, and he made you cry.”
She watched me as the trees swayed above us and the water burbled. It felt like we were the only two people on the planet.
When I assumed she wasn’t going to say anything else, I felt her finger barely touch mine under the water.
I kept still as her entire hand suddenly found mine, her fingers lightly brushing over my bruised knuckles.
I closed my hand around hers, and we continued walking around the river, holding hands under the surface where no one could see.
With one hand, the girl I couldn’t stop thinking about hung on, and with the other, I felt the ache of a battle I knew I’d rage again if anyone else ever tried to hurt her.
SEVEN
CALLIE
Laura was riding shotgun,with a red rope of licorice dangling from her mouth. She had on a pair of oversized sunglasses and her feet up on the dash. Maxwell was in the backseat with his head out the window. From the outside, it seemed as though we were on a fun road trip, one where the AC had died in my car and my best friend kept telling me to let my hair down. It was tied back into a low bun so no annoying pieces would hit my face while I was driving.
It took two days for me to notify my employers and clear the time off work.
Considering I had just taken three days for the funeral, none of them were very pleased with the idea of me taking even more time. Jacks told me he wasn’t holding my chair or space. Mr. Meyers from the law office told me he wouldn’t fire me, but I would need to get in touch with them by midweek to discuss my return.
The trip took four hours, but we’d left late, so by the time we rolled into Rose Ridge it was already evening, with purple and orange streaking across the sky. The stagnant air was still thick and sticky as I climbed out of the car and stretched. It felt so strange to be back so soon, considering this was the most I’d seen my hometown in the last seven years. Out of habit, I looked around for any motorcycle members or menacing glares. Wes had promised a war when I arrived, and I wasn’t sure what form that would take.
“This is the motel?” Laura looked it up and down as she pushed her sunglasses into her hair. It was as wild as a thistle patch, with strands sticking up. I smiled, grabbing Max’s leash. I had forgotten she grew up rich, and while her parents didn’t fund her lifestyle now, she was accustomed to a very different way of living than what I had grown up with.
“Yep. Only one in town.” I walked toward the office and prepared myself for the scent of homemade soap. Gerald, the owner, liked to sell it in the office, like a gift shop. Last time I had arrived, the elderly man with graying hair and a round belly had greeted me with a smile. This time, as the bell dinged and we pushed through the door, his smile was replaced with a frown.
My gut sank.
Without even hearing a word, I already knew what he was about to say.
“Sorry, ladies. No vacancy.”
Laura scoffed, thinking it was a joke.
“Your sign says vacancy, and there’s not a single car in the parking lot.”
Gerald busied himself with brochures, fixing and straightening them.
“Private party booked all the rooms.”
Translation: Wes had told him not to rent a room to me.
There was already someone watching the motel, or us. Fuck, he’d probably had us followed. Wes had likely investigated why Gerald had allowed members of the Death Raiders to party here, as well, which would give the motel owner extra incentive not to help me.
“Okay. Thanks anyway, Gerald.” I turned away, taking Max with me.
Laura chased after me, right on my heels with her hands held wide. “Wait, you’re just going to leave? He’s lying, Callie. He doesn’t have a private party, that’s bullshit. He must have a room available.”
Tugging on the car door, I loaded Max and then reclaimed my seat in the driver’s side. Laura reluctantly followed, slumping into the passenger seat.
“You’re not surprised. Why?”
The engine came to life as I turned the ignition over. There had to be a vacation rental or something else in town. Laura was already scrolling on her phone as I pulled out of the parking lot, veering toward the river. Tourists loved the river.
“Anything?” I looked over at my best friend, while also stealing a peek into my rearview mirror. No motorcycles yet.
