Page 61 of Spike

I sighed. “Okay,I’ll do the interview, then.”

“Sissy, youseriously need to not worry about what other people think. You’re awesome justthe way you are.”

I blushed. “That’swhat Spike says.”

“Tell me moreabout this guy. Who is he?”

“You met him, whatdo you think?”

He shook his head.“The Saints aren’t guys you fuck with, Chrissy. How did you meet a fuckin’biker? Jesus, you don’t run in the same circles.”

“Why do I feellike I’m getting grilled, Jens?” I raised an eyebrow. “Which is it? Am Isupposed to not worry about what other people think, or just worry about whatyouthink?”

He sighed. “You’reright. I’m sorry. I just want you safe.”

“I get it. And Imet Spike in high school. You know that picture you drew of me? The one where Iwas really sad?”

Jenson nodded.

“I’d met him thatnight and Mom was really nasty to him. We connected, but then he went back toprison and I went back to church.”

“And what’s withthe Trixie thing?”

“He misheard myname and I didn’t correct him because I thought it was sweet. I guess he’dtried to find me when he got out, so when we ran into each other outside ofDevlin’s shop, it was kind of a miracle.”

He tapped hisfingers on the table as he contemplated my words. “So what’s the plan here,sissy?”

“I love him,Jens.”

His eyes widened.“You’ve just met the guy.”

Before I couldrespond, our order number was called, so Jenson retrieved our food and drinks,then sat down again.

“I haven’t justmet him, big brother. We met a long time ago, and reconnected. I know him.”

“Youdon’tknow him. You met him once, then met him again. He’s an ex-con, Chrissy.”

“He didn’t doanything wrong, Jenson. He was a kid and he was railroaded.” I cringedinternally at my unintentional pun.

“Every criminalsays they’re innocent,” he muttered.

“Oh my word, I’mdone,” I bit out. “I’m not sitting here and listening to you talk about himthat way. You need to get to know him so you make your own decision, because I thinkyou’ll find you’ll like him, but if you don’t, you need to keep your mouth shutbecause I love him, and he’s not going anywhere.”

“When did you geta backbone?”

“About fiveminutes ago.”

My brotherchuckled. “I’ll give him a chance, sissy. But if he breaks your heart, I’mgonna break his kneecaps.”

I sighed. “I canlive with that.”

“Eat,” he ordered,and I mean mugged him before diving in.

We spent the nexthalf-hour catching up but he still didn’t give me any useful information. Mybrother had always been discreet, but for the last few years he was what youwould call ‘closed off.’ A vault, if you will.

Not that he was asharer. Matty was the chatty one and if I was going to tell my secrets toanyone, it would be Mattias. I just assumed it went the same way with Jenson.But now I wondered if maybe he was just as monosyllabic with Mattias as he wasbeing with me.

I decided to dropit for the moment, mostly because I didn’t want to be a hypocrite and meddle inhis business when I’d just asked him to keep his nose out of mine, but I lovedhim and I couldn’t stop myself from worrying, all the same.

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