Page 10 of Hawke

“But why? You said you were going to stay longer,” Journey asked, visibly upset.

I shook my head. “I can’t stay here anymore. Hurts too much. I’m gonna miss you, though. I think you are the first girlfriend I’ve had that felt real, even if it was for a short time. But I promise I’ll write to you,” I blurted. “I’ll write to you as soon as I settle down, but I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything.” Journey’s eyes widened, leaning forward.

I was telling her too much about my departure, but I felt like she should know. She didn’t have any close friends, just like me. But I felt a connection to her I’d never felt. It was like she was,on my side.

“Don’t tell Hawke.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “He can’t know, or he’ll stop me. I’m not even doing this as a game anymore to get him to come after me. I’m really done.” My eyes pricked with tears, but I blinked to push them away.

Not yet.

“He’ll come find you,” Journey retorted. “I know he will.”

“I doubt that. He made it very clear last night that nothing would happen between us.”

She scowled.

“And I’m not wasting my life any longer. I deserve better, want more, and if he isn’t willing to give it, then it’s time I leave. Otherwise, I’ll be stuck here and never get out.” I could feel my lashes dampen.

But Journey didn’t judge. She just laid her hand on mine, and I gave the best smile I could. With each passing moment it was getting harder and harder. And it only made it worse when I would seehimpeering at me in the corner.

I pulled the tray away from the bar, taking the last three pints of beer to the far end of the room. I set them down, feeling the cool condensation on my hand when Locke banged on the bar to get everyone’s attention. The bar went quiet while me and several other servers finished picking up random glasses to bring back to the kitchen.

“Members to the church, we’ve got business to attend to,” Locke shouted. Chairs scraped against the concrete floor. The harshness of the noise made me wince.

My perfectly neat hair bun was falling, the strings of hair irritating my eyes. At least, that was what I was telling myself instead of letting the tears fall.

“You alright, Delilah?”

I jumped, putting my hand over my chest. These guys could be sneaky, and normally I was prepared, but my mind was elsewhere.

“Delilah?” I wiped the sweat from my brow and saw Bone’s eyes soften. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, giving him a wide smile. “Of course! Just a long night. You all know how to party.” I wiped the table down with the now dirty rag from my apron and tossed it over my shoulder. “Shouldn’t you be heading to the meeting?”

Bones eyed me up and down skeptically, then stepped forward to put a hand on my shoulder. “You know you can talk to me, right?” He lowered his voice. “That I’m here not just for the club, but for your well-being, too?”

As sentimental and doctorly as he was, we both knew who he really worked for. Locke and Hawke were both his best friends. I couldn’t tell him anything because I needed to get away from his friend.

Hawke may have spat out those words of indifference like I didn’t matter, but I knew he cared about my safety. Running off to another town, he would have thrown a fit saying my safety couldn’t be guaranteed there, and that I needed to stay.

But I was running from my protector now.

“I’m fine,” I said, pulling the tray up on my shoulder. “More than fine, actually. Tips have been pretty good this week. Might go shopping downtown for a new dress.” Bones eyed me suspiciously. “Go on, now. You’ll be late for your meeting. I’m sure Locke gets grumpy when you’re late.”

Bones looked carefully at the door and then back at me with a questioning look. My overwhelming urge to hug him was too strong to ignore, so I wrapped my arms around his waist, and he stumbled.

“Thank you.” I took in his scent. At first, he didn’t know what to do. His arms were wide as he stared down at me. “You can hug me, you know. You are like the dad I never had.” Bones let out a bark of laughter and wrapped his arms around me.

“You’ve really made this place a lot happier since working here. Some of the stuff you do and say to get these guys to smile is comical. I just want to know you’re happy, too.”

I moved so the side of my face rested on his chest. His hand rubbed up and down my back, like he had done it all his life. But that’s what he was, a comforter. The doctor with no degree to his name.

“I am,” I lied. “Now that I’ve got my hug, you’re set for a while. Now get out and don’t make a mess on your way.” I flicked the towel at his butt, leaving a sharp sting. He yelped, rubbing his butt and strode out the door, laughing.

I was going to pick up the tray once again, but a hand whipped out of nowhere and slapped the tray upwards. The glasses went airborne and smashed to the floor with a loud shatter. My head jerked to the offender. His eyes were dark, and his face was gaunt.

“What the hell was that?” He pointed to the door that was left slightly ajar. I could feel the cold trying to sweep into the bar, but thankfully the now absent bodies had left their warmth.

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