Page 26 of Dodge

“If it becomes a problem, I’ll let you know.”

“What about your girlfriend? Won’t she be upset?”

The question was valid, but her supposition was wrong. “Mallory is not my girlfriend.”

“Ex-wife?”

His back tightened at the question. He was pretty sure she was mining for information, and it became very important to make sure his present relationship with Mallory was as defined as he could make it. “We’re not back together, if that’s what you think. It’s… complicated.”

The quiet deepened. Dodge sensed there were unseen landmines—one misstep and something would blow up. “We grew up together,” he explained. “Her mom was too busy to be a mom. My dad was around, but he didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to me. Anyway, Mallory used to come over to my house every day after school and stayed for dinner most of the time. We did our homework, took our clothes to the laundromat, pretty much lived our lives side by side. We depended on each other all through school, and it seemed the next natural step to get married when we graduated.”

Dodge’s eyes burned a bit as he pictured the day of his wedding. A simple ceremony at the courthouse with no frills. Just the bride dressed in new jeans and boots and the groom in a Dragon Runners MC cut that declared him to be a prospect. None of it mattered, as all he could see at that time was a beautiful future with the woman he loved and cherished above all. He had no clue back then that it was a smoke-and-mirrors kind of day. Once that ring landed on Mallory’s finger, she considered it her ticket to freedom rather than linking herself to him as his wife.

He coughed and cleared his throat. “Long story that’s growing longer. I found out the hard way that she needed more than just me to be happy. It’s over, and it’s been over a long time. I’m helping her out is all.”

Fauna nodded and thankfully dropped the touchy subject. “Okay, then. I’ll take the help when you have time and feed you. I need to cook some test meals, so you can be my guinea pig.”

He popped the last of the warm, crusty bread in his mouth. “You’re on. Thanks for this, Fauna. It’s what I needed.”

She burped lightly. “No problem. I’m finally ready for bed. See you soon, okay?”

He left and stayed outside long enough to hear the click as she locked the door. It was a short ride to his place, and exhaustion was making him a little dizzy.

Mallory met him at the door when he pulled up. “Where you been?”

Dodge looked at her skimpy outfit and full makeup. No doubt she’d been waiting for him. “Church at the Lair and then dropped buy a friend’s place for a bit.”

“A friend? One of the boys?”

“No one you know.”

“A woman?”

He was starting to sway on his feet. Tomorrow morning started another workweek, and by the amount on the scheduling board, overtime might be in the picture. His irritation flared up. “Look, Mallie, I’m tired. I have a long week ahead of me, and I don’t want to deal with any shit tonight.”

“You sleepin’ with her?”

Yes, I did, and it was the best night I’ve had in a long, long, long time.“You don’t get to ask those kinds of questions, now do you?”

At his firm tone, her face morphed from combat mode to conciliatory. “I’m sorry, baby. It’s just that being home means a lot, and I want to spend more time with you.”

He wanted to debate that, but he was too tired. Taking a deep breath, he did something he’d never done in his life: he put himself first. “I’m taking the bed tonight. You get the couch.”

His room showed signs of her occupation—clothes on the floor, bed unmade, pillows scattered. In the bathroom, the sink space had been taken over by makeup bottles and brushes.

He took another breath. Then another.Nope. Not working this time.

He strode back out to the main room where Mallie stood in the same place, her arms crossed and a petulant expression on her face. “You want to spend more time with me, how ’bout showin’ me you actually give a damn. You don’t pay rent or buy food, and your ‘few days’ was up weeks ago. If you’re not workin’ somewhere and spendin’ your days hanging around here, it would be nice if you’d clean up a little, fix dinner from time to time. I don’t think it’s asking too much from you to help me out if you’re still livin’ here.”

Her eyes bugged out, and she gasped at his harsh tone. Perhaps he was going overboard a bit, but he was almost at the end of his patience. “Mallie, I’ve got a lot goin’ on at work, and—”

“Okay.” The small remorseful voice had a different ring to it.

“Come again?”

She took a ragged breath. “You’re right, Dodge. I haven’t been helpin’ out like I should. You been real good to me, and I ain’t never treated you right. It’s ’bout time I did since you done so much for me all these years. I cain’t make up for all I’ve put you through in the past, but I can make it up to you in the future. I’ll start by sayin’ thank you.”

Dodge was floored. He couldn’t remember if those two words had ever passed through Mallory’s lips in regard to him. For years, she came to him asking for money and a place to stay, sometimes crying on his shoulder after a bad breakup. Never had she acknowledged his help with any kind of true gratitude.

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