Page 74 of Broken

Rosalie chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. He’sgrumpy because Petal snuck out on him this morning.”

Colt looked toward his wife, then toward him.

“You saw?” Dirty asked.

“It wasn’t exactly hard. I was craving cookies forbreakfast, and I came downstairs to eat them and saw Petal making her escape. Iput two and two together, and seeing as Myth is a friend and you look pissed, itwasn’t hard. Also, I know Petal, and she would never sleep with one of yourclub brothers, or anything like that.” Rosalie shrugged. “Plus, Petal’s stillin love with you.”

“She is?” Dirty asked.

Rosalie looked up, and she was still eatingcookies, even though it was breakfast. Kim had already given them the warningthat a woman’s cravings during pregnancy were not to be questioned.

“Yeah, she is.”

He looked toward Colt, who shrugged. “I don’tknow. She’s Petal’s bestie and they are like sisters.”

Dirty poured himself a quick cup of coffee and wasgoing to sit close to the table, but remembered Rosalie’s tenderness at thescent of coffee, so he kept his distance.

“How do you know?” Dirty asked.

“We’re not kids in kindergarten or high school. Iknow Petal, and I know she didn’t ever get over you, because if she had, she’dhave been dating someone, or even considered dating someone. It is a big thing,but I digress. I know my friend, and I know she loves you, and you don’t haveto question me about this. I know what I’m talking about.”

This was hope. This was a chance.

Dirty took another long sip of his drink, even ashis head thumped, but he ignored it. “What do I do?” he asked.

“What do you want to do?” Rosalie asked.

“I want her back. I messed up and I know this.When she told me she was pregnant, I didn’t think, and I just acted, and I … Idon’t even know why I said the things I did. It makes no sense.”

“Maybe because you’re an asshole?” Rosalie asked.

Colt cleared his throat.

“Look, I said I wouldn’t meddle, and I’m not, butsometimes they need a little push, and I know Petal. I know she can be so damnstubborn and it’s not good for her. She’s afraid. She’s terrified of gettinghurt and I can’t say I blame her, seeing as the last time she was with you, youhurt her. Then she lost the baby, and well, you were then an asshole in tellingeveryone.”

“When it comes to Petal, I’ve made a lot ofmistakes. I wasn’t thinking straight, but now I am. I’m not letting go. Not nowthat you’ve told me she still loves me.”

“Do you love her?” Rosalie asked.

“Yes,” Dirty said. “More than anything.”

Rosalie tilted her head to the side. “Then withPetal, what you’ve got to do is show up. You’ve got to be there. Don’t makepromises to her that you cannot keep. Don’t tell her you’re going to dosomething and then not do it. Don’t let her down.”

Dirty emptied his mug of coffee. “Thanks.”

“And good luck,” Rosalie said.

He was going to need it.

Making his way out of the clubhouse, he got on hisbike and took off, making his way onto the main road toward the diner. That wasthe only place Petal would be. She was verging on being a workaholic, but hegot it. The diner kept long hours, and most of the time at the club, he rarelygot a spare moment to call his own.

He arrived at the diner, and there were alreadyseveral cars in the parking lot, including Petal’s. Dirty had asked Warden totry and postpone the work on Petal’s car, but the garage hadn’t gotten a lot ofwork, so they had finished putting the new tires on in record time, which wasjust so fucking typical of the men.

The one thing he wanted, and he didn’t freakingget it. Either way, he was glad she was safe. He could sleep a little easierknowing she was going to be okay.

Petal did a lot of driving, taking Rosalie whereshe needed to go and all that.

Parking his bike next to hers, he walked inside,and Petal was already serving customers. Tanya was also there, filling up thesalt and pepper jars. The scent as he walked through the door was amazing.

---