Page 81 of Broken

“I guess I am going to have to take your word forit.” Petal leaned against the sink, tucking some of her hair behind her ear.

“Are…” Tanya stopped and scrunched up her nose,but then started to talk. “You want to talk about it? You and Dirty?”

“Not really, I mean, I don’t think so. It’s …complicated, you know. I don’t know what I want to talk about, really.”

Tanya dried her hands on a towel and Petal sawthey were clean. She had a feeling the laundry was also getting done as well.Kim always did what she could for the clubhouse but the men, at times, wereslobs. Nothing ever stayed clean for long. Petal knew all about that.

“Do you have feelings for him?” Tanya asked.

She looked up toward her friend and laughed. “Doyou really want to know?”

“The truth, not really, but as a friend, I have afeeling you need to get this off your chest, and I am all ears.”

Petal sighed. “Dirty and I have history. It’s notgood history, but…”

“Tell me. I won’t judge, trust me. I will notjudge anyone’s past.”

“Okay.” Petal didn’t know if she should, but thenshe found herself telling Tanya what went down between her and Dirty.

Everyone in their circle had their own agenda.Myth couldn’t be impartial as he was club brothers with the man, and althoughthey were friends, club would always come first. The same with Kim. She wouldbe on her side but also hoping for a reconciliation as Dirty was club. Rosaliewas on her side, and would always think of Petal’s best interests. There was noone else, since she would never ask Colt his advice.

Once she finished she glanced over to Tanya.

“You’ve been through a lot,” Tanya said.

“It’s not that bad.”

“You shouldn’t do that. It doesn’t matter who hasbeen through good or bad, or no matter how little. It’s still a lot. Peoplehandle pain and loss differently. No one is the same, and no one should becomparing their level of pain or what they experience with someone else. I’msorry, that is just wrong,” Tanya said. “Why does there have to be ameasurement? Would you make Rosalie compare your losses and gains? Would youtell Rosalie to shut up because of what you’d experienced, compared to hers?”

“Hell, no,” Petal said. “I would never do that.”

“Then stop doing it with regard to your own levelof pain. You don’t have to be right or wrong, it’s based on what you feel.”

Petal smiled at Tanya. “And based on that, what doyou think?”

“I can’t give you advice on this, Petal. I’m nottrying to be an asshole or avoid it. This is between you and Dirty, and friendswho get in the middle tend to get blamed if it goes bad. I like you, and incase you didn’t notice, I don’t have a lot of friends. I like to keep the onesI do make.” Tanya put a hand on her shoulder. “But, what I will say is thatman, for everything he had done or not done, does love you, a lot.”

“How do you know?” Petal asked.

“I see it when he comes into the diner. I barelyknow him, but I see enough to know he is in love with you.”

Tanya pulled away, and Petal was left alone in thenow very clean bathroom. She hoped the guys did not get used to this.

She had come into the bathroom to help her friend,and Tanya had done more of the helping.

****

Rosalie made her way into the kitchen, where shefound Colt, alone, drinking a mug of coffee. They hadn’t talked properly sincetheir home burned down, and she had been with Petal. She had wanted to be withColt, but he’d been so angry.

“Hey,” she said.

Colt looked over to her and smiled, putting hiscoffee mug down, and opening his arms.

This still felt surreal to her, going into Colt’swaiting arms, embracing her husband, seeking his love and attention. She didn’thesitate, and he held her tightly.

“I’ve got you,” he said.

“What are we going to do?” Rosalie asked.

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