Page 44 of Ordinary Girl

“It’s Cady. She’s out front. Do you want to see her?”

I climb off the bed and run my fingers through my hair, and I can’t shake the disappointment that it isn’t Joel. I haven’t seen him for days, because I haven’t given him a reason to shadow me. Was that deliberate? I don’t know. But I do know I’ve relived that kiss over and over in my head, so many times.

“Tell her I’ll be right there.”

“Okay.”

I take a second. What does Cady want? Is she here because Skip sent her, again, for some reason or another? I guess I’m about to find out.

“Hey, kiddo!” She’s sitting on the front porch steps drinking a mug of freshly brewed coffee. I could smell it as I walked through the kitchen. “Come and sit down.”

I stay standing for a second or two, not even hiding my wariness, which Cady doesn’t miss.

“Relax. I’m not here because anyone sent me.” I’m still suspicious. But I sit down anyway. “You doing okay?”

“Yeah. I guess.” I keep my eyes out front, watching the neighbor across the street mow his lawn.

“I hear you tried to make a run for it the other day.”

I give her a slightly withering look. “I was trying to find my friends.”

Cady flips a cigarette between her teeth and lights up. “They’ll be long gone, sweetheart.”

“What does that mean?”

She takes a drag and blows smoke up into the air. “It means, they’ll be someplace else, living their lives without you, because that’s the way it has to be.”

“Why, though? Surely if this other biker gang were going to do something they’d have done it by now?”

“Doesn’t always work like that.” She offers me the cigarette, which I decline. “No one’s telling you to forget about your friends, Ana, but right now, don’t get your hopes up that you’ll see them again any time soon.”

I drop my head and take a deep breath. “Why are you here?”

“’Cause I think you need a friend.”

She seems genuine. I mean, she’s been nothing but kind to me, but I still don’t feel like I can trust anyone. “I’m fine.”

“You should come to the clubhouse more. It does you no good hanging out here on your own.”

“I like it here.”

She raises an eyebrow. “How old are you? Early twenties? And you’re happy hanging out here?”

“What else is there to do?”

There’s a moment of silence, just the sound of the lawnmower opposite and birds tweeting in the distance.

“Being a club girl isn’t all bad, Ana. And you’ll be looked after, because you’re different.”

I frown. “Different, how?”

“Skip thinks of you as his daughter, or as good as, anyway. You’ll be safe, nothing will happen to you.”

“Nobody can guarantee that.”

She shrugs and takes another drag on her cigarette, another sip of coffee. “As much as they can, they’ll keep you safe. You need to do your bit, too, though.”

“Are you sure Skip didn’t send you?”

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