Finally, the car pulling to a stop drags me from my thoughts, and when I focus once again, I find Jodie standing by the entrance to our favourite waffle shop, waiting for me.
She smiles when she spots me, but my heart drops when I notice it doesn’t meet her eyes.
I don’t know why I’m surprised. She has every right to be pissed with me right now.
“Ah, so you really are still alive and in one piece.”
“I’m so sorry, Jo.”
“I need caffeine and sugar before we hit the heavy stuff.”
“Let’s do it then.”
We order our usual and find a seat at the back of the relatively small café so that I can at least attempt to hide.
No sooner has my arse hit the chair than I’ve scooped up my first bit of waffle covered in vanilla ice cream and a lashing of salted caramel sauce. The bacon sandwich I had not so long ago is well forgotten as I savour the sweetness.
“I’m waiting,” Jodie asks once she’s swallowed her first mouthful.
“Ugh so… one of Zach’s friends was at the club on Saturday night. He dragged me from the stage. It was mortifying. Anyway, after a dressing down from him, he walked me out so that I could head home, only guess who was waiting for me?”
“Jet?” she guesses correctly.
“Yup. He decided he wanted to take payment in another form.” Jodie gasps in horror. “He didn’t get very far, because Zach’s mates beat the shit out of him.”
“Fuck.” The fear on her face matches what I feel beneath the surface. I might appear not to be fazed by this, but that would be a big fat lie.
I know that Jet is waiting for me and that he’ll strike when I least expect it. I’ve no doubt both Spike and Titch are on his hit list too, after what they did. Jet’s not one to take that kind of thing lying down.
“Yep.”
“So then what?”
“Spike took me back to his place. Then, because he’s an interfering arsehole, he followed me home the next morning and point-blank refused to let me stay at the house. He made me pack my stuff and took me back to his place.”
“Sounds like a white knight story if I’ve ever heard one.”
“Funny you should say that, because he has tried locking me up in his tower.”
“How’d that go?”
“I climbed out the window so I could do my shift.” Her brow rises, sensing that there’s more to the story, which of course there is.
I relay the rest of the night, much to her amusement.
“You fucked him?”
“No,” I sulk. “He’s too focused on being a good friend to Zach. He’s getting close to breaking though, I can feel it.”
“Sounds like you’ve had a good ol’ feel.” I can’t help but burst out laughing as she waggles her eyebrows at me.
“Here’s hoping,” I say, lifting my mug to cheers with hers.
“This is probably a stupid question but… is he hot?”
“Fucking smoking,” I admit with a smile.
“Zach will kill you, you know that?”
“Nah, he’ll kill Spike for ever touching me. That’s if Jet doesn’t get to us first, of course.”
The colour drains from Jodie’s face at the mention of him again.
“You’re not going to out-run him, you’re aware of that, right?”
“Yep. I just need to figure out a way to pay him off.”
“Talk to Zach,” she says, like she hasn’t already suggested it a million times since this all came about.
“Not happening. I sort my own problems.”
“That’s just it though, isn’t it? It’s not yours, it was your mum’s. Please, just let someone help you before this goes too far.”
I shake off her concerns, but I can’t deny that they only fuel the fear within me. I know this isn’t going to end well, yet I’m still not willing to take the easy way out.
We move on to safer topics, like her college course and the teacher she’s lusting after, and by the time we leave, I’m feeling much more relaxed. Well, until I stop on the path to find my Uber because a shiver of awareness runs down my spine.
I shake it off as I say goodbye to Jodie, but the feeling never leaves.
10
Spike
My first destination as it is every Monday is to my grandad.
I climb off my bike, lock the helmet into the top box, and make my way toward where I know he’ll be waiting for me.
A few friendly faces smile at me and say hello as I pass them. They might all live here, but I’m somewhat of a regular. Since my grandad moved into this place, it’s like my family quadrupled overnight. I’m not complaining, seeing as most of my life he’s been my only relative.
I duck into the summer room and look directly at his seat that overlooks the pond and water feature in the stunning gardens beyond.
My heart drops into my feet when I find it empty. My heart begins to race that something is wrong with him and he hasn’t let anyone know.
This place isn’t a nursing home, but there are always carers on hand should any of the residents need some assistance. If something was up with him, then they know to call me straight away.
“Ah, is it Monday already?” Maureen asks from her spot at the table where she’s working on what looks like the world’s most complicated puzzle. “Don’t look so worried, sweetie. He’s only visiting the bathroom.”
Every muscle in my body relaxes at her words.
“Fancy giving an old lady a hand?”
“You’re not old, Maureen,” I say, pulling out the chair beside her. “You don’t look a day over thirty-five.”
“As much as I appreciate that, sweetie,” she coos, tapping the back of my hand with her cool one, “you’re a rubbish liar, and I can see right through you.”
I chuckle at her as a shadow falls over us.
“How many times have I got to tell you to stop chatting up my ladies, son?”
“Gramps,” I say,
