Page 48 of Bloom: Part 2

Gunner walked over to the bar and crooked his finger at Ben, who didn’t bat an eye but moved forward to kiss him.

Fuck, now I miss Logan. Why didn’t he text me back?

I double-checked, but I had no message from him.

“I’ll see you later,” Gunner said.

“Where are you off to?” Ben took a sip from his drink.

“To repay a debt. Found out where the doc’s car is. Gonna get it back.”

“You found Logan’s car?” I cried.

“You’re not going alone, are you?” Ben’s eyebrows were drawn.

Gunner shrugged. “Shouldn’t be a hard task.”

“I don’t want you going alone.” Ben placed his glass on the bar and crossed his arms. “If you can wait until tomorrow, I’ll go with you.”

“Tomorrow, they may move the vehicle, so now’s the best chance.”

“Get someone to go with you.”

Gunner’s grin only irritated Ben, but he seemed oblivious. “You worried about me?”

“Fuck you, Gunner. You wouldn’t be happy about me running off on my own. Why do you get to do it? Last night you went on my stakeout with me for no damn good reason!”

“I can handle myself.”

“And I can’t?”

I rose to my feet. “I can go with you.”

“You just got out of the hospital,” Ben said.

“You want him to go alone?”

“If you take him, the doc’s gonna be mad. Crowe too.”

You promised Logan to stay out of it.

I hadn’t. Not really. I’d told him I wouldn’t do anything rash. If I accompanied Gunner but did not interfere, technically, I was staying out of it. He didn’t have to know a thing.

“It’s my choice. Let’s roll, Gunner. I don’t have my bike, so I’ll have to ride pillion.”

“That’s fine. One of us will need to bring back the car anyway, so this way is better.”

“You two better not get into any trouble,” Ben said. “Somehow I can’t see you two working on something together and it not going sideways.”

“Have some faith in your man, Ben. Don’t I always come through?”

I picked up the disposable plate and utensils and dumped them into the garbage.

“I have faith in you, Gun. Too much faith that you bring nothing but trouble.”

“Damn right I do, and don’t forget it.”

I shook my head at their banter. Love really did strange things to people. First time I met Gunner, he was a moody bastard who didn’t look like he had the will to live. Now he laughed more, told jokes, and actually looked like he was enjoying life.

---