Page 44 of Jack

Everyone looks at me like I’m insane, Jack included. Yeah, I kind of am, but okay. I get it. No cops.

Trace drops his head back and laughs. “Look at you, McLeod. Stooped so low you got a cop lover in your bed. I was going to say she was gorgeous, but I’ve changed my mind.”

Jack straightens and places a palm on the counter. “Emily, you wanna call Nathan?”

“Not if they buy something or leave peacefully.” Emily reaches for a set of tongs next to the other display case.

Trace huffs. “Think I’d rather have ice cream.”

Jack crosses his arms. “Good. Get that on the other side of the mountain in your time zone.”

“Come on, Trace. Let’s go.” The biggest man pushes the door open. The other two follow him out. Trace is the last to leave. He pauses at the door and places a finger on the side of his forehead.

“Next time, Ghost.” He gives an odd one-finger salute before walking out.

The tension in the bakery slowly fades. Two young girls come from the backroom. I have no idea what just happened. The only thing I know is I don’t belong in this world.

Chapter 19

__________

Jack

Work doesn’t bother me. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. I’m not as comfortable as Jay and Cloudy are, though. They do this every day. I won’t lie. After two years of wandering, I’ve gotten lazy. I love Jay and want to help out, but I’m tired. My first day felt more like three. Seeing the ’57 Chevy was worth my time.

Thank goodness I only have to do this three days a week. I can choose any three days I want from Monday to Thursday unless Jay needs me. Since I’m expected to be the next club president, Dad wants me with him or out doing club business from Friday to Sunday. Club business is every day, all day, and it comes first. Dad has his work or school rule, so here I am.

The tension at the clubhouse was still on edge. Maci and Ember come home from college every weekend. Mom’s running ragged between Dad and Harley. My older sister is dead seton destroying herself and the entire family. Everly, Logan, and Granddad are helping as much as they can. Nana’s overseeing the kitchen at The Den. Everybody’s spread thin.

Dad and I haven’t spoken since things exploded between us. It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the rough night with Harley. My family has a lot to deal with, and none of us seems to know how to navigate through any of it. Changes are definitely coming, though. We can’t keep going like this.

For three weeks, I’ve worked at the shop with Jay. Lily’s doing okay at the bakery, not great but okay. She and Emily have become good friends, but she doesn’t enjoy working there. Emily keeps her in the back doing prep work and teaching her to bake. Lily’s passion is being a nurse. This job is slowly draining her. A little piece of her seems to die every day. I’m struggling, too.

For three weeks, I’ve followed the advice from Mom, Nana, and the counselors we secretly employ for Ariel’s Angels. I’ve been gentle and soft-spoken with Lily. For every step I make forward with her, a memory hits, and things are thrown ten steps back.

Mom insists Lily needs gentleness and time. The pull I feel with Lily is more than attraction. I haven’t admitted it, but my family and brothers see it. Jay thinks it’s downright funny. I may have to hurt my cousin.

Lily’s slipping into depression. Mom mentioned our counselors to her, but she refuses to speak to one of them. I may need to, though. This soft, sweet, gentle side I have to show around Lily is driving me insane. I care about her, so I do it. I feel like a caged bear ready to explode at any moment. I definitely have a split personality now.

The thundering sounds of bikes on Main Street fill the air. Hearing them has me itching to ride. I drove my truck again today. Lily’s still not ready to live dangerously enough to get on the back of my bike. She wants to. Her eyes fill with excitementfor a moment every time I mention going for a ride. Fear pushes her excitement away too quickly. Eventually, I’ll get her behind me.

“We might get some work done if everybody wasn’t coming to see you. It’s not like they all haven’t seen you already.” Cloudy throws a shop towel at me and walks toward the street to see who’s coming this time.

“Those aren’t ours.” Jay steps beside me in the open bay door.

How he knows those bikes aren’t our members just from the sound is a mystery to me. Sure, I can recognize a few of our guys’ bikes, but most of those are custom designs. The sounds of the engines get louder, sending an eerie cold feeling up my spine. If Jay’s right, does it mean we have trouble coming?

I glance at my cousin. There’s not a doubt in his mind those aren’t our brothers. He’s never been wrong on this before. He and I walk across the drive to where Cloudy’s watching Main Street.

A few weeks ago at The Cupcake Cottage flashes in my mind. My eyes dart toward the bakery. If Willow Creek Market wasn’t on the corner, I could see the front of the bakery. Surly, Trace went home after our little run-in. My first thought is to run across Main Street. Lily’s safe. Emily knows what to do if trouble starts.

The three of us watch as four bikes, and not our brothers, travel east on Main Street toward the center of town. Every bone in my body stiffens, and my hands ball into fists. The only reason I’m not running across the street now is because they kept going.

“Well, I be darn.” Cloudy’s eyes harden. “Midnight Mavericks.”

Trace didn’t listen. He should’ve gone home and stayed there. Chattanooga is about three hours away. What’s got him hanging out in Willow Creek?

“That’s not good.” Jay pops the top on a soda.

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