Page 25 of Jack

“Didn’t think so.” Jay sends a text and slides his phone into his back pocket. “It’s why we’re not going there.”

“Then where are we going?” This fool has had some crazy ideas over the years. He’s got me scared now.

“Since your dad wants you out of here for a while, the guys are meeting us at the diner.” Jay starts his bike and leads the way to town.

Okay. The diner isn’t so bad. Angie’s is a historical landmark in Willows Creek and has the best food in the state. The restaurant opened when my grandparents were in high school, giving the teens a place to hang out. The owners named the restaurant after their only daughter. Angie is a real person. She went to school with my mom. If I gotta kill time in town, I can’t think of a better place.

Chapter 11

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Jack

We find four empty parking spaces across the lot when we get to Angie's. Normally, we park closer to the doors when we meet up. Angie’s is a family restaurant. We leave the closer spaces for the kids and elderly.

Coty, Bankz, and Hendrix pull up about the same time we do. We park all six bikes in the four spaces and walk inside. I wish I could say we’re well received here. The Viking Warriors have been in Willows Creek for more than forty years. Half of this town still turns their noses up at us.

The only table available that is large enough for the six of us is in the front dining area, right in the middle of the room. It’s fine. We don’t hide when we’re out in public, and we don’t let snotty people get to us.

“Good morning, boys.” Angie hurries around the counter to hug each of us. She’s part of the half that likes us, and she doesn't care who knows it.

“Good to see you, Angie.” I hug her tightly when it’s my turn.

“Glad you came home. You’re family sure missed you.” She slaps her palm against my chest before leading us to the empty table.

The moment we’re seated, a lady in a fancy pink pantsuit in the booth to my right huffs and lifts her chin. After thoroughly assessing the parking lot, she turns back to find all of us staring at her. Angie even has her hands on her hips. The lady snaps her gaze right back out the window.

Hendrix glances at his watch and lays his menu on the table. “You still serving breakfast?”

It’s eleven. It’s definitely lunchtime. And this fool wants breakfast? Geez.

Angie smiles sweetly at Hendrix. “For you, sweetie, all day long.”

“Cool.” Hendrix grins like a Cheshire cat. “Pancakes, eggs, and bacon for me.”

The others order the same with soda to drink.

“Jay, you want a bacon cheeseburger?” Angie takes his menu.

“I’m not turning down your pancakes. I’ll have the same with sweet tea, though.” Jay isn’t fond of soda.

“Jack?”

“Make it easy, Angie. I’ll have the same as everyone else and the sweet tea.”

After our drinks arrive, I glance over at the pink pantsuit lady. She’s shifted to try and turn her back to us. I applaud her effort. That’s kind of hard to do in a booth. Her young daughter sits across from her. She’s not scared to look at us. Her eyes dart away every time her mother moves. Oh, she’s not ashamed to look at us. She’s just scared of getting caught looking at us.

I know the look in her eyes all too well. Young rich girl looking for a bad boy. These girls need to give up that fantasy. This girl isn’t old enough to drink. She’ll have to wait until some of our college-age brothers come to town. Our group has already been through our wild and wooly days. Well, for the most part, anyway.

“I hear some more of your brothers will be here tonight,” Hendrix says to Shepherd.

Shep leans back and straightens one of his legs. It’s not enough to block the aisle between the tables. It’s enough to offend the pink pantsuit lady, though.

“Yeah. We gotta help welcome these prodigal brothers home,” Shep teases.

Coty sets his soda on the table. “Hey, man. We weren’t prodigals. We were just traveling around the country.”

“Okay.” Shep thinks for a moment. “Wayward brothers?”

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