Page 146 of Cook

“I’m fine,” he said in a terse voice.

He was hiding something from me. Something big.

“Set the table and sit down, Maddie,” he said. “You too, Roni.”

I considered plopping my ass down beside his body, holding onto his leg, just to be difficult so he would have to look me in the eye andpunish me. But his best friend was here. I didn’t want to embarrass Cook, so I vowed to earn my punishment later.

Grabbing a stack of plates, I slunk outside to set the table. Roni joined me with juice glasses and silverware. Together, we sat, and she knocked her knee into mine, wearing a soft smile. I returned it, but my smile turned into a yawn. She offered me her cup of coffee, but the thought of adding more acid to my stomach made it churn.

I needed food—and Cook—not more coffee.

“It’s bad anyway.” Roni frowned. “It’s nuked leftovers from last night.”

She’d arrived last night as I was talking to Mel about the art we had hung up around the house and then Celt had gone to whatever had been going down at Bou’s shop.

Placing my palms on the table, I pushed up. “Let me make some fresh.”

Her hand wrapped around my wrist. “It’s fine, Maddie, sit.”

“Melanie asked for tea last night,” I said a little aimlessly.

Roni snorted. “Bet Cook didn’t have any of that.”

“You would be right.” I curved my spine and leaned back, thinking this exchange was kinda nice. Normal-like.

The door opened and Cook stepped out with a platter. “Breakfast is ready.”

The others emerged behind him, each carrying something for the table. Except Celt, who scrubbed both his hands over his face and yawned. Someone had apparently woken him up to eat.

I was barely standing up by the time Cook sat down beside me and motioned for me to stay. Serving them as they went about their business was my job. Having them bring me food made me uneasy. Especially with all that had happened.

“Thanks,” I said to Cook, and he nodded before scarfing down his food.

Celt did the same, sopping up the last of the syrup with a huge bite of pancake.

I hadn’t noticed before, but Cook, Angel, and Celt were all wearingtheir leathers. Celt stacked his plate on top of Cook’s, pecked Roni on the cheek and then headed toward his bike parked in the drive.

Cook, Angel, and Mel started toward the Mini.

Words exploded from my mouth before I could think. “You aren’t staying?”

“We gotta get back to Bou’s shop,” said Celt. “MC biz.”

“Eat up and stay here,” ordered Cook, inclining his head toward the house like it was a fortified castle and I was his princess.

“Can I have a hug?” Mel asked.

Standing, I gave her an awkward embrace, then asked, “You’re going too?”

“They’re dropping me at the recovery house for the morning.” She smiled and ran her hands down my upper arms. “We’ll chat soon.”

A few minutes later, there was a roar of an engine and a crunch of gravel, the sound fading as the car and bike sped away.

I pushed around the eggs on my plate as Roni said, “They’ll be okay. It’s just business.”

Staring at her, I could see something I wanted for myself. She had survived the shit at Enigma and had become a strong woman in the aftermath. She had risen above the bad, gotten her nursing license, and had a good thing going with her man. Furthermore, she was even helping to put away Tommy G. for good.

Maybe I would have my crap figured out one day like her. I was getting better, but still didn’t trust that the ghosts wouldn’t drag me into their world again.

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