Page 84 of Ordinary Girl

“Move in with me.”

I look at Joel, putting the beer I’d been holding back down on the table. “Are you serious?”

“Very.”

He didn’t miss a beat when he answered, and now I don’t know what to think.Ishe serious, or…? “Is this your way of keeping an eye on me?”

“You might want to ease off on the paranoia, Ana.”

“Forgive me if I seem to have reasons not to do that.”

He raises an eyebrow and downs a draft of beer. “I’m being serious. I want you to move in with me.”

I lean back against the counter in mine and Cady’s brand new store and glance outside. It’s been a busy first day, we’ve had a lot of customers popping in, some just out of curiosity, others who’ve come in, browsed, and then bought a few items. I think it’s been a success. The free drinks and food might have had something to do with it, though, so I guess all we can do is just wait and see how it goes moving forward.

“Ana?”

Joel’s voice drags me back into the room. “Sorry. I was just… I was distracted.”

“By what?” he asks, following my gaze.

“Nothing… it’s just, there’s been a car parked over there, across the street… it hasn’t been there all day, but it’s been there on and off.”

“Is it there now?”

“Yeah. The dark green one. Opposite the florists… Joel, don’t go out there. It’s probably nothing.” But even as I say the words, I know I’ve said too much. Of course he’s going to go out there, and I quickly grab hold of his arm to stop him. The last thing I want: the last thing we need right now is any trouble. And anyway, it really might be nothing… Yeah. Even I don’t believe that.

Joel glances down at my hand on his arm, but his body relaxes, and I let go of him.

“Have you seen your dad since he abducted you from the cemetery?” Joel downs another draft of beer, his eyes still out front. And I wish I hadn’t mentioned the car now.

“He didn’t abduct me, don’t be so over dramatic.”

“It’s called giving a shit what happens to you, Ana. Have you seen him?”

“No. I haven’t. I told you I was done with him, which kind of translates as I don’t want to see him anymore.” Which is why I’m glad Skip pulled the plug on the idea of me trying to get closer to him. I’d told them I was willing to do it, but I hadn’t felt comfortable about it.

“Okay.” Joel finishes his beer and grabs his helmet from the counter. “I should get back to the clubhouse. Skip’s called a meeting.”

“Alright. Well, it was good of you to come down here, and ask me to move in with you.” I smile, so does he, and the atmosphere suddenly changes, and I’m glad about that.

“Yeah, well, I’m still waiting for an answer.”

“I’m giving you a chance to make sure you really mean it. The last thing we should be doing is rushing into something.”

“Quite honestly, Ana, I think it’s exactly what we should be doing. Life’s too fucking short to overthink this shit.” He cups my cheek and kisses me in a way that turns my knees to jelly, acliché I’d never thought was actually possible. Until now. “Just think about it. Okay?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Good.”

I watch him leave, and I’m willing him to just get on his bike and go, I really wish I hadn’t mentioned that car now. But, despite giving one last glance across the road at the stationary car, he gets straight on his bike and pulls away. I guess the meeting must be an important one.

I take a look around the store and smile to myself. It’s been a good day, and even if this place doesn’t take off like my old business did, it doesn’t matter. It’s giving me something to do, and that’s all that matters right now. Besides, I’d be stupid to think this is anything other than another club-owned business, it isn’t really mine, or Cady’s.

“Everything alright out here?” Cady asks as she comes back into the store from out back. She’d been dealing with a new delivery of stock.

“Yeah. All quiet.”

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