“What?” I can’t help but interrupt her. I knew she was dating a biker, and to tell you the truth before today I’m not even sure she has mentioned his name. But now that I know his name I’m getting a funny feeling about this. So Adam is her version of mister right and I wonder, how many bikers in this town are named Adam?”
“What’d I say?” She asks.
“Your new guy,” I begin. “His name is Adam?”
“Yes, that’s what I said. Haven’t you been listening?”
“Adam Whiner?” I reply.
Her mouth drops open. “How’d you know his last name?”
“I kinda treated him in my ER last night.”
Her face is a mask of concern. “Oh my god, is he alright?” She asks.
“Yeah…it was minor really. It seems someone doesn’t like your new beau too much and took a shot at him.”
Her mouth drops open. “Oh no! Is he still in the hospital? Why didn’t you call me?”
“How was I supposed to know he’s your new boyfriend?” I complain.
“Oh…guess not. So what happened? Spill it Kari.”
“I don’t really know. He came in with a gunshot to the back of his upper thigh. It was minor really. A .22 caliber bullet passed through the back of his leg just below his…his butt. It was maybe a quarter of an inch deep if even that. I just cleaned it out, gave him an injection and sent him on his way.”
Of course I couldn’t tell her I’d secretly already married him in my daydreams and that I’d drooled over his fine ass or that I’d actually seen the man’s ding dong. TMI…too much information.
“I wonder why he didn’t tell me?” She asks as she pulls out her cell phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Well I have to call him don’t I? I mean he’s just gone through a traumatic shooting and he needs me. I can’t believe he’s all alone out there suffering from a gunshot and I’m sitting here with you drinking coffee. The poor-”
“Whiner?” I say, emphasizing the long I sound.
She’s about to retort then stops mid-sentence and then listens intently into her phone.
“Adam honey sweet baby I can’t believe what happened. Are you okay? No of course you’re not okay, you’ve been brutally shot! But don’t worry I’m coming right now so you just stay put-”
Then her face changes and the color drains. She listens intently as her mouth slowly forms an O in shock.
“But honey… no I don’t under-. What do you mean you met someone? I thought what we ha-”
Tears are beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. This is not going well at all. She listens for a few more seconds then quietly hangs up her phone.
“What happened?” I whisper.
“I think he just broke up with me.” Jenny replies.
“What do you mean think? Did he or did he not break up with you? I ask, in a bit sterner tone than I intended.
“You know how relationships are…it takes two to tango. He wants to break up but if I don’t agree-”
“Sweetie,” I begin. “I love how you’re so smart about some things and so naïve about others…but you’re not married so it’s not up for a vote here. If he said it’s over it’s over. He doesn’t need your consent to end it with you.”
“Of course I know that,” she replies. “But I don’t accept it. If he’s gonna break up with me he has to do it in person or it doesn’t count; at least for me it doesn’t!”
‘What exactly did he say to you?”
“He just said he’s not that into me. Who says that? Not that much into me? I can’t believe it. He must be in shock; that’s it. I bet he’s never been shot before and he’s just in shock.”
“Did he say why he wants to break up? I mean other than he’s not that into you?” I ask.
“Apparently he’s already found someone else.” She replies through her tears.
“I’m so sorry Jenny, I really am. You seemed so happy with this guy…”
“And here’s the kicker,” Jenny continues. “He thinks he’s fallen for another nurse. Can you believe that? Then he asked me if I believe in love at first sight. Apparently he does and he thinks he found his match. I can’t wait to find out who this bimbo is that he thinks he’s fallen for.”
Oh shit!
“And if you meet her,” I begin. What are you going to do?”
“Kick her ass, for starters.” She begins. “Well first I’ll talk to her. I wanna find out what’s so special about her that he thinks he’s in love, and then I’ll kick her ass!”
“What makes you think you’ll ever meet her?”
“I’ll figure it out. She’s an ER nurse Kari. That means she most likely works either in my hospital or yours so one of us knows her; we just don’t know we know her.”
This is getting sticky. I have to turn her attention away from thinking we know who this mystery nurse is.
“Jenny, she could be in anyone of the other hospitals in the area, not just the ones in Cave Junction.”
“Really? Then why would he have gone out of town to a hospital a long ways away after being shot instead of going to one five minutes away? Oh no. One of us knows her and you’re going to help me find out who this home wrecker is and-”
“Home wrecker? Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself here Jenny?”
“Whose side are you on Kari?”
Do I dare tell her I’m on the home wrecker’s side? But I’m no home wrecker. I didn’t even encourage the guy. What a freakin’ ego he has.
“Choose.”
“What? Oh… uh, your side of course sweetie.”
“Then you’ll help me find her?”
I try my best to appear enthusiastic about it but I’m not sure I’m doing such a good job of it. “Of course I’ll help you find her. What are friends for right?” And like a good friend who’s ruining her best friend’s love life, I’ll do my best to not find the home wrecker.
That rest of breakfast pretty much went like the first part with Jenny obsessing about who this ‘other’ woman is and she forced me to write down every nurse I know at my work. Then we had to analyze each and every one until she came to the conclusion that it wasn’t anyone on my list. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that half the people on the list were made up. This is really getting bad and I hope I never see Adam again.
It’s nearly ten when we finish our extended breakfast/brunch and prepare to go our separate ways. I just about slip out without any real harm being done when she turns and drops a bomb on me.
“Kari, I’m going to go confront him right now and I need your support.”
Oh shit!
“So… you want me to like….say a prayer then?” I ask hopefully.
“Funny, no. I want you to go with me of course then maybe you can help sniff out this other bitch he’s seeing. I’m too close to it but you, you’re just an innocent bystander and you’ll probably be able to tell if he’s lying or trying to hide something.”
Whoo hoo, great idea. Just what I was hoping to do with my afternoon.
“Sure,” I reply. “I’d be happy to come along.”
I suggest we take separate cars and I’m glad she agrees. After this little meeting of ours I’m pretty sure us riding in the same car will be dangerous. And then for the hundredth time I think about telling her that I’m the home wrecker but I know my best friend. She is so worked up she’ll never believe in my innocence. She will be sure to believe I am involved; especially if Adam is standing here professing his undying love for me. What a mess.
Twenty minutes later were pulling into Cycle Gear, the motorcycle shop that Adam works at. The minute we pull up I can tell this is more than just a place where he works. Above the door to the main shop area is a giant replica of the patch on Adam’s jacket. This is also the clubhouse for the Sons of Ash; just great. Reluctantly I get out and follow Jenny to the front door praying that Adam is out for lunch; for the rest of his life.
Behind the counter is another biker sporting a Sons o
f Ash cut. He is also a looker and I can tell even Jenny with her current level of bloodlust has taken notice. The guy is about the same height as Adam but about fifteen years older. For a man who is probably in his mid- forties, he is hot. He has short black hair and several day’s stubble on his chin. The man has guns, and not on his hips. They dude’s biceps are nearly as big as my thighs! How does this guy find the time to work? He must spend hours at the gym maintaining those arms of his, not to mention the rest of him.
Jenny interrupts my slavering. “Is Adam in?” She asks.
The man’s face brightens. “Oh you must be K-”
“There he is!” I shout over the man. I’m not positive but I think he was about to say my name and that would have been a disaster!
“Actually he’s around back,” the man replies, looking a bit startled. “I’ll tell him you’re here K-”
“Hi biker guy…” I shout out. I pretend to see someone I know standing back in the shop area behind the counter.
Both biker guy and Jenny are looking at me like I’ve completely lost my mind; and maybe I have.
“Sorry,” I explain. “Thought I saw someone I know.”
Jenny gives me a weird look but lets it drop. Biker guy walks back into the shop area to fetch my love sick biker Adam. It takes just about everything I have to not just bolt for my car right now. I just don’t know any way this can end any way but badly. I just hope that when Adam sees us both he’ll realize there’s a problem and play it cool.
“Kari baby!” Shouts a familiar voice. Then following an awkward pause… “And Jenny sweetie you’re here…”
He tries to cover for his slip but I’m not sure Jenny’s buying it. He just looks too confused.
“We need to talk,” Jenny begins.
Adam looks at us both. “Y-you t-two know each o-other?” He stammers as he walks from around the counter to meet us.
“I guess you’ve already met my best friend Kari,” Jenny says. She steps up to Adam and makes like she’s going to give him a kiss on the mouth but he deftly turns his head to the side and she gives his ear a smooch instead.
“So what’s going on here Jenny?” He asks. “We’re over. I thought I made myself clear on the phone.”
“Clearly confused is more like it,” Jenny counters. “You’re suffering from a gunshot wound and of course you’re not thinking clearly.”
“No I was pretty straight forward. I’ve found someone else and besides, there never really was much between us right? I mean, we had some fun between the sheets and all, but I really have found someone else.”
Jenny’s beginning to get angry. “I wanna know who it is you think you’ve fallen for and Kari here is going to help make sure you’re not lying about it.”
“Why is this important?” Adam asks.
“So I can get closure,” my best friend replies.
I really don’t think she’s looking for closure. She’s a black belt in some Chinese martial arts so I really think she’s leaning more towards delivering an ass kicking kind of closure.
“You may not like it,” Adam replies.
“I already don’t like it,” Jenny begins. “I don’t see how this can get any worse.”
“It’s gonna get worse.” He replies.
“I just wanna know,” my friend pleads. “I already know she works at either my hospital or Kari’s and that she’s a nurse. You gave that away yourself. Now if you don’t tell me who I’m gonna spend all my time at work hating every female nurse I see thinking she’s the one. So for the sake of all the innocent nurses out there you have to tell me.”
“That’s right,” I pop in. “No point hating on all the other nurses. And being that she’s a nurse, you’d probably end up liking her, may even like her now. Who knows, she’s probably a really great person and a true friend.”
“Okay that’s a weird thing to say,” Jenny replies. “Who died and appointed you head of the home wrecker’s cheerleading section? She is not a good person. She can’t be.”
“I’m just saying…” I trail off lamely.
The more I stand here looking at Adam the more I find it enjoyable to stand here looking at Adam. He’s wearing a faded pair of black Levi’s, a black Metallica concert tee from the Master of Puppets tour, and of course his trusty cut. Oh, and black motorcycle boots. He looks like a real shit kicker and I feel sorry for anyone who gets on his bad side. I’m sure he can handle himself in just about any situation. I also notice he’s got his trusty knife back. I can tell from the worn leather sheath that this is one weapon that’s got a lot of use over the years. His handsome face is no longer smiling as Jenny continues to pressure him into spilling the beans. She can be a persistent little bitch and I’d hate to get on her bad side one day; like today.
“Look,” he finally says. “I have to go back to work so I’m going to just tell you and let you two work it out yourselves.”
I get a sunken feeling in the pit of my stomach as he glances apologetically in my direction. I know what’s coming next.
“What do you mean ourselves?” Jenny asks. Then something clicks and she turns on me. “Oh my god, you know her! You’ve known all along who it is and you can’t even bother to tell your best friend!”
I give Adam the dirtiest look at my disposal and hope to god he’s feeling he daggers I’m sending in his direction.
“Out with it Kari!” Jenny barks.
Instinctively I take a step backwards and force myself to keep my hands at my sides. My first instinct is to raise them in self-defense; or just run the other way. My heart is pounding in my ears and I can feel the color drain from my face. I can’t believe Adam just put me in this position after he professes to be in love with me. What an ass!
“Kari… who is it? Is it that bossy one, Linda Masterson? No she’s ugly. What about the new girl you’re always going on about. She’s cute. It’s her isn’t it?”
As much as I want to say yeah, it’s that new girl, I can’t. Adam is still standing here and to tell the truth, it’s keeping me honest. If he wasn’t still here I’m pretty sure I would have copped out and said it’s the new girl. That would have bought me some time.
“It’s me,” I finally say. I cringe away from here expecting a torrent of angry words unleashed in my direction. Instead she just laughs.
“Good one Kari, but I’m really not in the mood for jokes right now. Who is it? It must be a friend of yours or you wouldn’t be protecting her like this. Is it that nurse who trained you when you first started working there? Janet was it? It’s okay really. I’m not going to march over there and make some huge scene. I can be mature about it.
Yeah…I really don’t think she’s capable of being mature about this. It’s too late for that. I’m just going to have to convince her it’s me and take my lumps; hopefully not actual lumps.
“I think he’s… I know he’s talking about me Jenny. I treated him last night and he seemed to have this thing for me. But it wasn’t returned…the feelings. I don’t feel anything for him is what I’m trying to say…”
“Is it you? Are you the one he’s falling for?” Jenny asks.
Wow she can be thick sometimes. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Yes, it’s me. I’m the home wrecker. It’s all one sided though. He’s got it bad for me but-”
“Is that why you kept starring at my ass; not to mention my dick?”
Jenny’s mouth drops open. Her eyes narrow and her face turns a bright shade of red. “You saw his…I can’t even say it. You were so captivated by him that you couldn’t even be professional? So I guess you guys just found some broom closet somewhere to consummate your love, is that it?”
Her voice is going up. She started at about forty decibels and ended at one ten. I can’t believe this is happening. I turn to say something to Adam only to see his retreating back. He looks back over his shoulder.
“I’ll let you two work this out.”
Then he smiles and gives me the universal telephone sign with h
is hand next to his ear and mouths the words call me. The nerve! That’s one person I will never call.
Meanwhile Jenny is just getting going. She is working up one hell of an apocalyptic rage, and instead of it being directed at Adam who deserves it, I get the full force.
“What kind of friend are you?” She rages. “You could have told me before I came here and made a fool of myself in front of everybody but you didn’t. You had to let me find out in the worst possible way.”
“Well it’s not the worst. You could have walked in on us doing… but that of course never would have happened because there’s nothing going on between us. It’s all him!”
I’m now shouting as well. This has gone from bad to friendship ending in the space of a few minutes and I don’t even know what to do. Obviously I could apologize for not telling her sooner but now I’m too mad to even do that. I’m even madder at Adam for putting me in this situation in the first place. What a thing to do to someone who you profess to have fallen in love with. It begs the question, what would he do if we got in an argument? Cut my throat with his giant knife?
I suddenly realize I have totally tuned out my best friend in the middle of her rant. She’s going on about broken trust, never trusting me ever again, and on and on and on. It doesn’t even occur to her to be angry at Adam. He is the other part of the equation and should be held accountable for his part. What really sucks here is that his part is the biggest part; the only part really. I’m just an innocent bystander; well, pretty innocent that is.
Thankfully she finally runs out of steam and just storms off. If I do know one thing about my best friend is that eventually she’ll calm down and start seeing things differently and will probably come around to my point of view. At least that’s what she has done in the past, but this is the first time another man has come between us so we’re in uncharted territory right now. What a mess!
CHAPTER THREE
Mister Wrong Becomes my Mister Right?
I keep to myself so I don’t usually get into scrapes of any kind, but when I do get into a scrape it’s a doosey. There’s a reason I refuse to date bikers. My one and only foray into the world of outlaw bikers came several years ago when I began dating Shadow. Yeah the name right there should have been a big STOP sign for me but I just didn’t see it. He was big, strong, handsome, and a powerful leader of one of the bigger outlaw MC’s in the area. Power can be a turn on, and for me it was just that, a major jaw dropping turn on. By the time things began to get a little ugly I was too far gone to be able easily extricate myself from him and the life. Pretty soon I was his old lady and going on rides, hanging out at the clubhouse, partying; everything that is not really who I am. I was young, impressionable and no one could tell me anything; not even my best friend. I changed drastically, but Jenny stuck by me thick and thin and she didn’t even tell me I told you so when I came crying to her one night after getting beat up by Shadow. That night I swore I would never have dealings with bikers ever again. Of course it wasn’t that easy to break it off with him. He considered me his property and I had played along with it for far too long to see the forest for the trees. It took me getting my ass kicked by him to such a degree that I had to spend Christmas and the following three days in the hospital. Jenny was there every day and the day I got out I moved in with her and stayed with her for nearly five months while with her help I slowly began to put myself back together.
Edge of Ashes (Sons of Ash Motorcycle Club) Page 2
