He chuckles and raises his arms in surrender.

“Hey, I get my coffee here every morning. As for the rest, she’s been like that for a while now.”

I watch her intently as she comes back with the mugs and the pot of coffee. She moves methodically, more out of practice and routine than anything else. After taking our orders, she disappears, only surfacing when some other customers come in. Millie serves our breakfast, so Raven doesn’t come back to our tables until she brings the check. As usual, the guys left me to pick up the tab, so I’m the only one here when she returns.

“Sit with me for a minute.”

“I can’t. I’m working.”

“I’ll take care of that. Hey, Millie!”

Millie smiles and makes her way over. She’s Aunt Nita’s age, but you’d never hear her admit it. She says she dresses the age she feels, which most of the time looks like twenty. Her hair and lipstick are always a matching shade of red. She’s probably been with half the guys in the MC. Not me. I’m not into cougars. Plus, she’s Nita’s best friend. Millie’s a good woman, though, and a keen business woman.

“Can I borrow your waitress for five minutes?”

Raven’s eyes widen in annoyance and she turns to Millie, ready to argue.

“Sure thing, honey. I can manage. Besides, Sheila will be here any minute.”

She turns on her heels and walks away, leaving us alone.

“Please, just leave. I need to get back to work.”

“Raven, sit.”

She opens her mouth to protest and I narrow my eyes at her.

“Sit.”

She sighs and glances around nervously before sliding in opposite me. She lowers her gaze, staring into her lap.

“What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t give me that. Are you sick, or in some kind of trouble?”

“I’m fine.”

“Look at me.”

She slowly raises her head and gives me a dead stare.

“Why are you acting like we’re strangers?”

“We are.”

“We may not be friends, but we’re far from strangers, Raven. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. For the last time, stay out of my business. Just go play with your stupid bike and leave me the hell alone.”

She slides out of the booth and marches back to the counter. Before she gets there, she stops, shakes her head, and then runs out the rear exit. Fuck, I knew it. Millie stops me before I can follow her out.

“She tell you what’s going on?”

“No. You?”

“She won’t say a word no matter how many times I ask. Go on. If anyone can fix what’s wrong, I know it’s you.”

God, I hope so.

***Raven***

Stupid grease monkey! Why couldn’t he just stay away? I haven’t seen him in weeks and now, all of a sudden, he’s back and in my business. Ugh! I swipe at my tears with the back of my hand and lean against the wall. I hope this doesn’t get back to Lonnie. She’d surely kill me this time. She’s been on me like a hawk even though I’ve been dating Christopher. He’s a great guy and all, but I only agreed to go out with him thinking it would get Lonnie off my back. I’ve accepted that’s not going to happen. I just need to get through the next two months. I’ve already lined up an apartment and saved enough for the deposit.

“Jesus Christ, Raven!”

Fuck! I turn to him, shaking with anger, and ready to give him a piece of my mind. He takes my hand, pulls me into his arms, and instead, I fall apart. His arms tighten around me as I begin to sob uncontrollably. This is the most dangerous place for me to be right now, and yet I feel so safe. I slide my hands under his cut and around his waist, pressing my face into his chest.

“Don’t worry, baby doll. You’re going to be okay. I’ll take care of you.”

“No, you c-can’t.”

He cradles my face and stares into my eyes with steely determination.

“I can and I will.”

“You don’t understand!”

“Then make me!”

I tear myself from his hold and turn my back to him, hugging myself tightly. “I can’t. Just leave me alone, Gage. Please.”

He pulls me back against him and squeezes my arm lightly. I flinch and draw in a ragged breath. Fuck.

“Raven?”

He takes my hand and when I try to pull away, his grip tightens. No. Please, no. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get away. “Let me go.”

“In a minute.”

He takes my sleeve and pushes it up to my shoulder. I close my eyes as fresh tears begin streaming down my face.

“What the fuck? Who did this?”

I don’t have to look at him to know he’s angry. I hear it in his voice. He’s fuming.

“Nobody.”

“Nobody? Your arm is fucking black and blue!” he shouts. Taking a deep breath, he places a gentle finger under my chin and tips my face toward his.

“Talk to me.”

I stare at the ground because the look in his eyes is too much to bear. I’ve only seen that look in Daddy’s eyes. It’s that scared but overprotective one he’d get when he thought I was hurt. I can’t look Gage in the eyes and lie. I can’t tell him that Lonnie punched me in the arm for using the milk she bought. She’s always been a bitch, but since that day she found out about Gage giving me a ride home, she’s been downright violent. The smallest things tick her off, and she takes it out on me. She left such a nasty bruise on my neck that makeup and scarves became my best friends for two weeks.

“I walked into a door.”

He releases me and I push my sleeve back down.

“Bullshit. Who’s putting their hands on you?”

“You wanna help; I get it. I appreciate the concern, but there’s nothing you can do. Just forget it. Forget me.”

I move past him and make my way back inside. After washing my face and getting myself back in order, I return to work. Gage is nowhere to be found, thank God. I can’t get away from Millie, though. She grabs my hand and pulls me to her office in the back, closing the door.

“Well?”

She places her hands on her hips, tapping her foot impatiently.

“Well, what?”

“Are you going to let Gage help you or not?”

“Help me with what?”

“With whatever it is that’s got you walking around here like a zombie. Don’t be afraid to let someone in, honey. I’m here. And MC business aside, Gage is very resourceful. We can help you.”

“What I need is more hours. You don’t even have to pay me. I’ll just work for tips.”

She leans on her desk and crosses her arms, narrowing her eyes.

“Money? What kind of trouble are you in?”

“I’m not in trouble. I’m just saving up for my own place. The extra hours would really help.”

“I see. Let me sleep on it, and we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Millie. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome, sweetie.”

She reaches into her pocket and hands me a hundred dollar bill. Fuck that. I asked for more hours, not charity.

“It’s not what you think, girlie. It’s the tip Gage left you.”

“But…that’s a hundred dollars!”

“Guess he really liked the service.”

She smiles and places it in my palm, closing my fingers around it. She taps my cheek softly and leaves me staring down at my fist. The service was not that good. In fact, it was horrible. I served him coffee, insulted him, cried all over his shirt, and chased him off. I tuck it into my pocket with the intention of giving it back to him. I’ll just give it to Dr. Emerson when he comes in for his coffee in the morning. That way, I don’t have to see Gage.

By the end of my shift, I’m in a better mood. If Millie comes through for me, I’ll reach my goal even sooner. As I’m wiping down my last table, Christopher walks in. He gives me one of his gorgeous smiles and it lifts my spirits even more. Whatever my reasons were for dating him, I don’t regret it. He slides an arm around my waist and kisses my cheek.

“Hey, beautiful.”

“Hi.”

“You ready?”

“In a sec.”

I remove my apron and toss it in the laundry basket, say my goodbyes, and we head out.