Page 36 of Flint

For a guy joining a motorcycle club, he is kind of smart. Maybe too smart, as he ain’t falling for my shit. I kind of want to go to this meeting, but at the same time I’m dreading it. I’ve been dealing with the memory loss for going on three weeks. I talk to Bailey but haven’t been able to really connect with the whole group she claims we have. I also haven’t gone to the office at all, so no triggering there. We’ve driven by a few times, but nothing. I’ve driven by almost every place in this Kansas town, and even a few out of it.

The only thing I remember is what I’ve been creating lately. I’m not saying I don’t connect with Bailey, because I do; we’re on that level. But she also has all these memories, and it’s kind of hard to relate a bit. Ruby and I sort of get along. There’s about a ten-year age gap, but she’s the more mature one between us if we have to put a label on it. Probably why she thinks I need to have a little meeting with the old ladies. Maybe she wants me to act more my age or something.

Whatever. I can’t really say no to her. I tried. It’s not a possibility. I mean, you say no, your mouth uses the words, and you even stomp your foot. But somehow you still end up where she wants you. You’re not even sure how you got there most of the time. Like the last two times at karaoke? Yeah, thank God I was allowed—yes, that is the right word choice—to just watch, since there was a zillion-to-one chance that I would know any of the words to the songs.

“Fine,” I huff. “But I’m not bringing you a muffin.”

“Yes you are. I’ll be back in an hour to get you.”

“Yes, Dad. Surprised you let me go out all on my own. Is Daddy finally trusting me?”

He drops his head to the steering wheel, banging it a few times. “Never, ever, ever call me that again.”

I giggle at his antics. “Yeah, it felt wrong saying it. ‘Daddy’ is reserved for someone older, like Law or maybe General.”

Now I’m full-on belly laughing from the crazy eye he’s giving me like I’m the lunatic. They’re hot older men, so it makes sense, but his reaction is the best part of all of this.

“Please God, don’t say that either. And I ain’t leaving you. Trust me, Bulldog and Chains both have enough brothers on the place to take care of you too.”

He nods forward, and only then do I take in the two bikers sitting at the café window. Then he points, and I see two more across the street, already on their bikes, but they just look like they’re waiting.

“We got a third who’ll switch off with one of them every fifteen minutes to cover the perimeter at all times. They’ll stay out here unless shit is needed. If you see one of them come running, you don’t play stupid or the hero. You do as they say and stick close to the other girls.”

“Damn, you always expect trouble for Wednesday coffee talks?” And they think I’m the crazy one. I might have lost my memory, but this shit seems like someone lost their mind with overprotectiveness.

“Never expect it, but always prepare for it. Twice now an old lady’s been attacked when we thought they were in the clear. Their men are attached, and once a brother gets like that, he does what he can to protect it at all costs.”

Okay, now that makes sense. But I still think they’re missing the obvious here. “Might be easier to just invest in opening a coffee shop closer to the club to avoid all this. You know, one that’s close enough that a guy’s got to be an idiot to think about hitting it? Makes a lot more sense, and you might get a bit of profit if it’s better than this place.”

There’s only one decent café in this place, according to Ruby, and that’s why these little coffee runs occur here. Well, that and apparently it’s the best time for the other girls to take off without kids, and Ruby gets a break in her classes to come up.

I hop down. That’s right, I can hop now. Foot is amazing, though I’m still not that graceful, so I stumble a bit till I catch myself to not fall flat on my ass. I ignore the laughter from the cab and flip off my driver as I slam the door and head inside.

I actually recognize the guys inside—Jumper and Domino, I think—and give them a nod. Mostly because I see the guys doing it all the time, so it’s sort of becoming my way to greet them too. Okay, so it’s a complete riot in my head, and I laugh each time, like now, when they do it back to me. No clue why I find this hilarious, but I do. Must have really hit my head during that fall, but I asked General. Nothing looks wrong, just a crazy girl.

“Fucking finally, tits,” Ruby exclaims. “My coffee’s been getting cold.”

“Order an iced one, then,” another woman retorts.

“Shut it, Mama Bear. That ain’t the point. She’s late.”

I settle into the vacant chair at a table with Ruby and four others, smiling at the only one I recognize, who gives me a warm smile of her own.

“Hey, Julianne, nice to see you again,” she says.

“You, too… ah, what was your name?”

“Izzy.”

“Lady.”

Both names are said at the same time.

“Get used to it, Lady. Once you become an old lady, you ain’t Izzy anymore,” Ruby mumbles around her straw.

“That only counts if we’re talking in front of other club members,” the girl who brought up the iced coffee says with a one-shoulder shrug.

“Where you think we found her? Target? She’s club. She just ain’t been collared like you two. Yet.”

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