"Anthony," I whisper breathily as I stare into his eyes that seemed to have darkened after I said his name. The sound of the toilet flushing reminds us that we're not alone, and then he lets me go. Roxie comes into the room and seems to not notice the tension between us, going back to work in the front of the store. A look of relief sneaks across his expression, catching me by surprise, and I feel an ache deep in my chest that is hard to explain.
I can't keep this up for long. I'm too young for Anthony, and he's bothered by it no matter how hot he thinks I am. Fine. This is the last time I'm going to see him.
Quitting is a must.
I go to the register and empty it for the day, counting it out while he goes to work on the mess. “The cases are good to go,” Roxie says as I stuff the money into the pouch to lock up in Penny’s office.
“Great. Thanks for your help, Roxie,” I add, giving her the slightest smile.
“Girl, it’s no big deal. Let’s go get our things. I’m ready for a beer.” She marches back into the kitchen, and I follow behind to see Anthony on his haunches, swiping up the last of the glop.
After he cleans the mess, he stands and washes his hands without uttering another word to me. He walks up to Roxie and then whispers something to his sister before pushing through the swinging kitchen door to the front.
"He's going to make sure everything is locked up tight, and then we'll be ready to go."
"Thanks, Roxie." I can’t hide the defeated tone in my voice. I can’t explain why I’m so heartbroken, but I am.
"Are you okay, Jules?" Roxie’s perceptive ass asks.
I shrug, sliding on my lightweight coat. "I guess. Today was pretty crazy."
"You guess?" She tilts her head with a sympathetic frown.
"I'm not sure what you want me to say. I'm ready to go to bed in my home, not to be around a bunch of violence. I can’t even understand how anyone can put up with this." It's a lie. I'd be anywhere Anthony is if we were a couple, but I know that isn’t going to happen.
"Understood. Let's just get through today." We walk out and head to a black-on-black SUV. Anthony holds the door open for me. I slide in behind the driver's seat while Roxie rides shotgun. Anthony steals glances at me from the rearview mirror, but I look out the window because I can't deal with this. The best thing for me to do is to forget him, Steeleville, and the bakery. I have studying to do anyway. I go to college online, but I start my classes full-time in Dallas, so I'll be far away from Anthony. It's for the best.
My phone rings inside of my messenger bag. Pulling it out, I look at the caller ID and hiss to myself, “Of all the people.” I silence the ringer and watch Anthony eye me suspiciously. I toss him a scowling, “Mind your own business,” look before stuffing my phone back into the front pocket of my bag.
"You could have taken the call," he grunts as he turns down another road.
"I don't like to have private conversations in front of strangers," I bite out, silencing him.
I don't say another word to either of them on the rest of the short ride to the Steele Riders' clubhouse. They escort me inside. Anthony gives me a passing look before going in the opposite direction from Roxie and me.
"Would you like something to drink?" she asks me.
"No, thanks,” I reply curtly.
"Fine." She grabs a soda for herself and plops down onto one of the large sofas. I take a seat in an armchair and play with my phone, checking my emails for school. I feel like I’m making an enemy out of Roxie, but suddenly I don’t care. I can still see the look on Anthony’s face when he saw his sister come out and not pay attention to us. Like she already doesn’t want me in his life. That’s fine, because I’m not going to struggle to be around people who don’t like me. I focus on my list of assignments for my Literature class. I need to pick up some books from Barnes and Noble this week.
I don’t know how long I wait for the guys so I can go home, but they finally stroll into the room. Catching me by surprise is the sight of Penny’s dad, my uncle Denver.
"Sweetie, it's good to see you.” I stand, and he pulls me in for a hug. “Are you doing okay?”
“I’m good. I’m just super ready to go home.”
“Okay. I'll give you a ride back to your car and follow you back home."
"Sounds good, Uncle. I have a lot of things to do before Monday." I don't say a word to the rest of the people, but I give Roxie a wave goodbye. I have nothing to say to Anthony.
Once we get in the car and he pulls out of the driveway Uncle Denver gives me a strange look, but thankfully doesn't say a word about the tension in the room back there. "Are you okay? I know you're not comfortable around that kind of tension." My parents have a history of dealing with unsavory characters. Unfortunately, I’ve witnessed one too many confrontations for my own liking.
"I'm fine. Honestly, I don't think it's wise that I work there anymore."
"I understand. I'll find someone else to hire so Penny’s not understaffed. There's plenty of people looking for work around here."
"Thanks. I hate to do this to Penny, but I'm stressed enough with my schoolwork."
"She’ll understand. She’s had reservations about it, but we wanted to get you some experience under your belt. So how’s school going?” Uncle Denver questions, changing the subject effortlessly.
“It’s going well. My grades are great, and winter break is around the corner so it’s even better.”
“Are you still dating that one guy I don’t like?” I laugh because the second he met Brandon, he threatened to bury him. It made me giggle because my uncle is such a softy, but seeing him with the Riders, I wonder if he’s hiding a darker side.
“No, Uncle Denver. I’m not. We broke up a month ago.”
“Good. You need a good man, not a little boy.”
“Thanks. I’ll do my best to stay away from little boys.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He nods with satisfaction as he pulls behind my car outside the bakery.
“Thank you.” I give him a hug and then I get out.
“Drive safe. I won’t be far behind.” I nod and say goodbye. I also say a silent goodbye to the bakery.
The second I get into my car, I turn it on, plug in my phone, and then pull out of my space. I don’t look back at the town I’m leaving behind because it’s too much to handle. As I get on the road that leads to the expressway, my heart aches, knowing I’m pulling away from any hope I had of Anthony falling in love with me.
Chapter Two
Blade
I’m not sure what the hell happened back there at the bakery, but I almost let my feelings slip and kissed Jules in the kitchen. For the past month, I’ve been fighting the urge to make her mine. Today has been the closest I’ve been to her. It felt like heaven to have the heat of her body against mine.
I’m glad I didn’t, because I wouldn’t have let her go. She has no idea how much I held back from pinning her to the counter and stuffing her with my own filling so deep that she’d never leave me. It took all of my willpower to refrain.