Read Online BITTER SWEET CRAVINGS (The Kingsmen MC Book 6) by Tara Oakes - Free Book Online Page B

I’ll do that, too. It’s your call.”
    I’m caught between the two bikers, one on either side, as they stare each other down.
    “I need to get out of here,” I announce and take the helmet from Jay as he offers it to me.
    I’m busy buckling the chin strap as he takes a minute to finally notice my Jeep. “What the hell happened here?”
    “Driving while impaired.” Clink sells me out in a heartbeat.
    I snap my head around to face him and scowl. “Don’t you dare!”
    The evil gleam to his eye is back. “Oh no, baby. You wanna get your brother all mixed in with our shit? Then he’s gonna get ALL mixed in.”
    Jay turns to me. “What’s he talkin’ about?”
    Fuck .
     
    ~*~
     
    “Two coffees, black, and a plate of fries.”
    Jay waits for the waitress as she writes down the order on her little pad. I feel his eyes on me but find that I can’t meet them. I do anything I can to avoid the look of disappointment that I know is in them.
    I stare at the salt shaker, the paper placemat, the little table-top jukebox, the neon lights through the window… anything to distract myself.
    “How long’s this been going on?” he finally loses patience with me.
    I exhale deep. “ Nothing’ s going on, Jay. I took a few pain pills for my back since the procedure. Nothing illegal. Nothing that wasn’t prescribed.”
    I can’t believe I have to explain myself. I can’t believe Clink ratted me out.
    “How many you got left?” he asks. I search his voice for the hidden judgment that should be there, but can’t seem to find it.
    I shake my head, “None.”
    It’s true. Clink took the last ones.
    The waitress sets down two saucers, one in front of each of us, with a generic-looking mug atop.
    “Thanks,” he acknowledges the kind woman, before she sets the steaming plate of crispy fried potatoes between us. “Could we have some honey mustard?”
    The woman smiles and nods, taking the request before leaving us. I grin.
    “What?” he asks.
    I take a sip of the coffee. “Nothing. It’s just… I like honey mustard on my fries, too. Never met anyone else who does.”
    Jay arches his eyebrow. “Guess it’s a gene thing.”
    We both laugh.
    “So… about the pills…” He redirects the conversation right back to where he wants it.
    “Jay,” I blurt out. “It’s over, really. I promise. It’s just… it’s been rough.”
    He purses his lips, “I’m not gonna go through all the people who need for you to not go down that road, Charlie. It’s too long. You’re a Cauley, whether or not you want to admit it. I think I’ve always seen it in your eyes without actually recognizing it. It’s a strength.”
    He sips his steaming cup before adding, “And of all those people, all those reasons for you to turn this thing around before it turns into something bad, the biggest one is Brendan.”
    The mere mention of the small boy’s name is enough to break my heart and cause an immeasurable amount of guilt to well. I feel a lump forming deep in my throat, blocking words from escaping.
    “All things happen for a reason, sis.” The title seems odd, but ironically soothing, coming from him. “I have to believe that. There’s no way that all the shit between Lil’s and I could have worked out the way it did unless there was a higher power working to set things right. You coming into town just in time to help save Pops… there ain’t no other way to explain that either.”
    I’d never thought about what would have happened if I hadn’t made the decision all those months ago to move to this little town…
    “And I know it doesn’t seem much compared to those things, but you coming here proves something else to me. See… I’d watch people like Lil’s and her older brother, Tiny, and I’d feel like something was missing. A part of me felt like I needed that, like I was not whole. Turns out… I had it the entire time, just didn’t know about it. It’s not something I’m lookin’ to give up anytime soon,