Grandpa Taylor tore his hand away from him, shaking a little when I put the tray on the table. “It's all here, boys. Enjoy.”
I sipped my orange soda quietly, trying to make small talk about the dog, and failing the whole time. Grandpa guzzling his coffee down, without waiting for it to cool, told me the visit was nearing its end.
“Okay,” he said, putting down his empty cup. “Think it's time I got some rest before the real bingo starts up tonight. Pleasure meeting you, Summer. Joker, wheel me back, and take the lady out for a real drink. Life's too damned short to spend it not having any fun.”
So much truth from the tough old man. Too bad I was in no position to take it to heart.
“Meet me out by the bench,” I said to Joker. “I'll be waiting.”
He nodded, wrapping the dog's leash around his hand while he pushed the old man. I watched the three of them head down the hall, finishing my soda before I collected the cups.
Then I sat down at the bench and waited. I thought about what I'd say, bounced around a dozen openers. None of them left me feeling better.
I had to let it happen. I couldn't let him walk away this time, or I'd be letting down Alex, and myself.
Time to make it or break it.
*
“Tell me why the fuck you're really here,” Joker growled, standing over my shoulder. “Couldn't have made it fuckin' clearer after yesterday, mucking up your shit.”
Bingo stood at his side, his mouth open, breathing loudly. Blissfully unaware.
I stood up, looked him dead in the eye, clenching my purse. “I came all the way from Georgia to talk, Joker. I'm not leaving until we do. Go ahead and push me down on the sidewalk if you have to. I'll get back up and I'll be at your doorstep again tomorrow.”
He snorted. “Fucking-A, you've really lost it, Summertime...”
That name again. Goddamn, that name.
It took everything I had not to break eye contact, my heart doing a full, painful loop in my chest, blurring past and present.
“I lost my best friend,” I said, stepping toward him. “Look, I know my odds. They're crap. But I'll die if I don't try to get him back.”
“You really want him back, babe? That's what you came all the fuckin' way from Seddon for? Why didn't you say so sooner?” He stepped closer, his voice softening.
My heart leaped into my throat. We hadn't shared this closeness, this intensity, for three lonely summers. The way he looked at me took me back to those hot nights when we'd made Alex, the son he didn't know he had.
The bitter lump in my throat tightened. There couldn't be something there, shining in his eyes...right? And if there was, then why the fuck was I letting the Deadhands use me to get to him and his club?
“I just...I mean...I want...” I stuttered, completely lost for words, not knowing what I wanted anymore.
“You don't know what the hell you want.” Joker put one hand against my cheek, tipped it up, thumbing the corner of my lips. “Don't fuckin' talk, baby girl. Pucker up. Let's see if there's anything left in this fuckin' chasm I used to call a heart.”
His finger brushed aside. His mouth came down on mine, hot and rampant.
Moaning, I melted into his tongue, twining mine with his for the first time in an eternity.
This kiss devoured worlds. I forgot all about the brutal threats, the pain, the loss.
For the next minute, there was nothing except Jackson and me.
Two lips.
Two tongues.
Two hearts.
One pulse, the one and only synchronized rhythm pounding in his flesh. It didn't stop until Bingo brushed up against our legs, and then I looked down, smiling.
This kiss was beautiful. And it was also very dangerous bullshit.
“There. How was that?” he whispered softly, running his hand down my cheek, stopping at the end to clutch my chin.
“Just like old times,” I said weakly, staring at him, one hand on his neck to hold me up. The other hung at my side, being gingerly licked by the giant wolfhound. “What about you?”
“Nothing,” he said. The spark in his eyes snuffed out, obliterating the magic.
“What?”
“There's nothing here, Summertime. Absolutely fuckin' nothing. I tried.” He tugged on Bingo's leash and stepped away, pulling his cut flush against his chest. “For the last goddamned time, get your ass home. You're wasting your time here chasing a crush that's never coming back. You show your face around my grandpa's place or the clubhouse again, I'll make sure a couple prospects give you a ride back to Georgia.”
I stood there like a dumb statue about to fall, watching the whole time as he walked to his truck without looking back. He put the dog in the passenger seat, got in, and took off, driving right past me without even turning his head.
“Bastard!” I whispered, balling up my fists, fighting the hot tears.
A chubby middle aged couple came close, staring intently, one more humiliation I didn't need. I'd been a complete fool for the second time since I'd shown up here.