“That guy looked like you were ripping his heart out. It was kinda pathetic and creepy he’s so into you after just a couple of weeks.” I tensed at that, and the hairs on the back of my neck bristled as Jackie frowned at me. “You’re not gonna see him again, right? I mean, he put you in a dangerous situation and—”
“I put myself in that situation because I didn’t listen to him when he said that biker gang was dangerous idiots, Jackie. Don’t. Don’t you say that.” Her eyes widened her face a perfect mask of surprise as my demand ground through achy teeth. I stared her down, maybe for the first time ever, and she eventually blinked to chuckle lowly. Shaking her head, Jackie sighed as she sat back to cross her knees.
“Fine. I won’t talk about the red flags waving everywhere. You can’t see them anyway with them pink lenses over your eyes.” Jackie flipped back her dirty blonde hair with grace before lifting her teacup to her lips to stare at me over the rim. “Is he that good in bed?”
“Yeah.” Flames licked up my neck, and my abdomen tightened as Jackie took a sip of her tea, unperturbed. Memories swirled behind my eyes, and I sighed as phantom waves of exhausted bliss eased the horrid stiffness that gripped me. “I don’t know how to approach him. Bruiser’s . . . Bruiser’s amazing, and he always seems to make me feel amazing, too. I know at the house before you picked me up, it was like he was preparing himself to not see me again.”
“You’d be dumb to, Nicole. That guy’s into some seriously messed up shit.” I winced at that, and Jackie’s frown deepened as she crossed her arms under her bust. “You wanna throw in with a dude like that, I’m not gonna stop you, but I am gonna warn you. He’s fucking trouble. It’s written all over him. Even if the sex is the best of your life, it’s not worth getting hurt over him and whatever shit he’s into.”
“See, I don’t think it’s like that. I think Bruiser’s just having a mess of a time right now. Everyone does. It’s no different than when you got suspended for beating up that guy that grabbed your butt in middle school, Jackie. Someone’s starting shit with him, not the other way around.” Bruiser’s words from our date in Saint George raced ruts into my brain; those guys that attacked me were wannabe gangsters on badly supped up dirt bikes. Bruiser’s gang no, club, he stressed they’re a club. They didn’t incite anyone to do anything, but they didn’t stand for snipes and jabs.
And what happened to me wasn’t something they could ignore, anyway. I wasn’t part of it, even if Jackie thought so. Those guys were there, ready to start something, and I just happened to have bad timing.
“He must have a magic dick.” I almost choked on my sister’s grumble, and my cheeks nearly melted off my face as she shot me a shit-eating grin. “What do you like about him aside from that, Nicole?”
“Huh?” My little, shocked noise earned me a pointed look, and I lifted my cup to buy myself a few seconds to think. Every interaction I had with Bruiser flashed behind my lids when I blinked, swirling in the thin steam of my tea before my eyes. “He took me out on a date to celebrate my getting that huge job. I asked about his cousin and why he insisted on coming to Provo, but really he never let the conversation change from my art. He made it seem like what I did was so great and such an accomplishment and that I was amazing for doing it. It’s been a long time since someone got so excited for me and my art. And on top of that, being around him makes me feel . . . warm.”
“Like vodka warm, or hot cocoa warm?” Holding up two fingers, I set down my mug as my sister defrosted a little over the table. “Well, I can’t exactly say that’s a bad thing.”
“Bruiser’s rough and prickly, sure, but everyone is on the outside. He’s been nothing but beautiful and kind to me, and I don’t wanna end that because of some drugged-up idiots. I mean, you’d have to be on something to assault someone in a car.” She nodded in agreement, and affirmation blossomed in my chest. I had time to think things over and over again of what happened, and this was my conclusion. That Bruiser was a good guy, and this situation wouldn’t last forever.
But then how do I tell him that?
“Um, what about you, Jackie? How was your honeymoon?” I changed the subject and shook my head, and this time, my sister was the one that tinged pink to her ears. Jackie nodded, hiding her smile behind her teacup, and I giggled as she waved a hand at me.
“Don’t look at me like that, Nicole! It was the best trip of my life for a lot of reasons. I loved Europe. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Sam and I are gonna go back for our anniversary.” I smiled broadly, and Jackie sighed wistfully as her eyes blazed with passion through the light steam of her tea. Smoothing things over was so easy; I couldn’t remember why I’d been so hesitant to see her. She took my side on everything, even if she disagreed with me.
“When do you work at the restaurant again?” I pursed my lips as I whipped out my phone, and Jackie propped her elbows on the table to stare at me. “Sam’s parents invited us out on Saturday. I know you usually work weekends, so . . .”
“Yeah, I work a double Saturday. Ten to ten. I think I’m
