NOMADS The Box Set

by Erin Trejo

  How did I get this lucky? How did I manage to get a guy like Luke?

  “I don’t want to live there anymore. I want to live in the present, but there are just so many things that remind me of the past. It’s hard to sort it all out sometimes.”

  “I get it, but at the same time, you haven’t come to terms with the past. There will always be something - a scent, a sound - that will remind you of the old times. It’s up to you how you face them.”

  “How are you so smart?” I ask, bumping my hip into his. Luke laughs, spins me around to face him, and holds my face in his hands.

  “I just know what I want. I know what it’s like to feel a little lost and unsure. Everyone has to go through that at some point, Harper. Just know that you’re not alone in it,” he says before kissing me softly.

  I want to hold onto him, I want to savor this, but it’s hard. There’s always that annoying voice in the back of my head. The voice that belongs to the one person I’ve always loved.

  “I’m gonna marry you one day, Harper. One day you’re gonna be my wife, my old lady, the mother of my kids.”

  Lynx’s words still sting even to this day.

  77

  Lynx

  I made it to Tennessee in record time. I wanted as far from my past as I could get. I need the space, the change in scenery. This is it. It’s a huge fucking change, too. Going from the clubhouse to prison and being on the road to an actual house? It’s making my mind spin.

  “You like it?” Chip asks as we load wood into the back of the truck.

  “It’s different,” I tell him. He just chuckles at my words.

  “Sure as hell ain’t four concrete walls.”

  That is very true. I never thought that I would enjoy the fresh air as much as I do now. It was hell not being able to go outside, ride, or even take a shit when you wanted to. It’s a new freedom I have here.

  “What is it we’re workin’ on?” I ask once we’re finished and climbing in the truck.

  “An expansion of my sister-in-law’s bar. She’s growing to capacity, and the fire marshal has been in more times than she cares to admit. She got the go ahead on expanding it.”

  “She must be doin’ well then, yeah?” Chip nods his head.

  “Damn well. She likes to keep us in business too. It’s a win-win. We get the jobs, she gets dependability, and we get free beer,” Chip adds with a laugh. I can get down with that part.

  We ride in silence through town. I never thought I’d like to see so many people, but I find that I do. Mostly I just like to people watch and wonder what their lives are like. It’s a fun game because I don’t have to let anyone else in. My life is a complete fuck up, and aside from the rare few that I trust, I don’t want to be around anyone. Chip is the exception; he’s different. He was there for me in the pen and I was his protection. We worked shit out amongst us and been friends since then.

  “Traffic’s a bitch around here,” Chip mumbles as he hits the brakes more than the gas.

  I don’t mind it. Yeah, it’s congested, but we aren’t locked in a cell. I’ll deal with most anything over being locked up in that cell again. I keep quiet until we pull up into an alley.

  “This it?” I ask, looking over at Chip.

  “Yeah, this is it. That right there is where we’ll be expanding. That building next to it, too. We’re knocking that down and building out,” he says, pointing things out to me. I nod and jump out of the truck, heading around to the back to unload our gear.

  “About time you showed up! You useless fuck,” a woman mumbles. Chip laughs and pulls her into a hug.

  “Nice to see you too, Josie girl. How you been?” Chip asks as I watch from my spot at the back of the truck. She’s cute. Long blonde hair piled up on top of her head. She’s a little older than me, but she’s fuckable.

  “Always good,” she says turning her gaze to me. She runs her eyes over my cut before snapping back to my face. “I don’t mess with bikers,” she adds, nodding toward my cut.’

  “He’s a good one, Josie. I wouldn’t bring any drama around here. We were locked up together,” Chip tells her.

  I look between them and wonder what she has against bikers.

  “You affiliated with any clubs here?” she asks, moving toward me. Her eyes are assessing me and it’s almost amusing.

  “Nomad. I don’t affiliate with anyone,” I tell her.

  “That so?”

  “Yeah, that’s so. Wouldn’t even be around here if Chip didn’t ask me for help, darlin’,” I say.

  Her eyes move over me once more before a small smile tugs at her lips. “I don’t want trouble. I don’t deal with any local bikers. While you’re here, that cut stays in the truck. Agreed?”

  Damn, I like her already. I smirk and nod my head.

  “You got a deal,” I say offering her my hand. She takes it in hers and I smirk once more. Her cheeks are heating up, her palms a little sweaty. I think I might just like it here. “Anything else you want from me?”

  “I…uh…”

  “You’re married!” Chip adds from next to us. Josie pulls her hand from mine and I laugh.

  “Thanks for the reminder, asshole. Get to work!” she snaps, but as she walks away she looks at me over her shoulder and winks. Yeah, I’ll be getting some of that soon.

  “So, what’s the deal with this place? It’s popular?”

  “You could say that. One of the top bars in the state. People come from all over to hang out here. She brings in live bands most weekends. The place is hot. Got dancers and all.”

  Dancers?

  “Strippers?” I ask cocking my head to the side.

  “No, man! This is a bar, not a strip club. They dance, like line dancing and shit,” he chuckles.

  “Jesus, Lynx. You need to get your dick wet, man.”

  I need to get something, that’s for sure.

  “How the hell would I know? I didn’t grow up here.”

  “Not with that accent, you didn’t.”

  “What accent? I don’t have a damn accent, you do.” Chip laughs, throwing his head back. I can’t stop the smile that crosses my face, either. It’s been far too long.

  “Get the hammers and let’s go tear some shit up,” he says, moving to the back of the truck. I follow behind him, grabbing what we need and heading into the next building. “Demolition,” he says looking around at the already messy space.

  “We get to beat the shit outta some walls. Stress reliever?” I ask glancing over at him.

  “Fuck yeah. Who wouldn’t need that after the time we’ve spent inside?”

  “True. Let’s do this,” I tell him, swinging the hammer at the wall.

  78

  Harper

  “What the hell is all that noise?” I ask Josie when I walk in for my shift.

  “Construction,” she says with a roll of her eyes.

  “You’re kidding me? It’s so damn loud. Are they at least hot?”

  Josie barks out a laugh. “If you consider my brother-in-law hot, then yeah. His friend isn’t just hot, he’s downright sexy as hell,” she informs me, peeking my interests. I turn on my heel and Josie stops me.

  “Where the hell are you going?”

  “To check out this sexy man you’re talking about. You can’t be the only one getting an eyeful! That’s just mean!”

  Josie laughs and follows behind me as we head out the back door. I glance at the truck full of materials before heading toward the noise with Josie hot on my heels. As I step in the back door, a strange feeling rushes over me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and a chill races down my spine. I don’t know what it is, but as I walk forward, I spot a guy with blonde hair bending over a pile of trash. But I don’t think he’s the source of my senses going haywire, even though I appreciate the fine specimen.

  “He has a nice ass,” I whisper to Josie.

  “The hell?! That’s Chip, my brother-in-law!” she squeals loud enough to catch his attention. He stands up, a smirk a
ppearing on his face.

  “Aww, Sis. You got me a present,” he says sauntering over to us. His eyes roam my body, making me shiver.

  “I didn’t get you shit. This is Harper, she works with me.”

  Chip extends his hand, taking mine in his. “Nice to meet you. Hey, jackass! Come meet the girl,” he calls out over his shoulder.

  “Why are you being so loud, Chip?” Josie asks with a huff. She moves around him and looks at wall that has seen better days. “This is the expansion, Harper.”

  I step around Chip and follow her gaze. “It’s a wall.”

  “Won’t be when we get done with it,” a man says.

  Ice slips through my veins as I let the memories assault me head on. No. It can’t be. Shaking my head, I reach for Josie’s hand holding it tightly in mine.

  “You okay?” she asks, leaning into me. I shake my head no, but it’s too late. She’s already turning around and I’m being forced to turn with her. As soon as I do, all the air leaves my lungs. His hair’s longer than it was before, the sides still shaved short. His blues eyes that once sparkled when I’d look into them have become dull, lifeless. I don’t see any traces of the boy I once loved.

  “This is Lynx. He’ll be working with me here,” Chip chimes in.

  We both stare at each other, neither willing to break the standoff. I didn’t miss the quick intake of breath when he looked at me. I wouldn’t doubt he can see the way sweat beads on my temples either. My heart is racing in my chest and I feel like I may pass out. All the emotions, feelings I’ve had for him since the day I first met him, come rushing me at once.

  “Nice to meet you,” Lynx says in a disaffected tone, finally breaking our gaze. “Got work to do.”

  He turns on his heel and walks away from us. My heart is pounding in my chest. He acted like he didn’t even know me. How could he? How is he here? I want to ask but I can’t make the words form. Lynx is out of prison and he’s here. How could the world be so damn cruel to me?

  “Harper? What’s wrong?”

  “It’s him, Josie,” I whisper.

  “Who is who?” Chip asks moving closer to the two of us.

  “He’s who, honey?” Josie asks, pulling me a little closer to her.

  “Him. The guy I told you about,” I say as tears well up in my eyes.

  “From your hometown? That’s him?” she asks in shock.

  “It’s him.”

  “I’m confused!” Chip snaps, looking between us.

  “So what? You’re always confused. We need to go. Get back to work!” Josie snaps, pulling my arm so I follow along.

  I feel numb. I feel like all the strength I have has been ripped out of me. I follow along in a daze of too many memories and an ache that will never leave me. He can’t be here. How is he here? They said he was sentenced to life in prison. I know I didn’t imagine that. Him being here doesn’t make sense. This can’t be true.

  “Sit. Talk,” Josie snaps when we get back into the bar and seated at a table.

  “He went to prison, Josie. He can’t be here,” I say mindlessly.

  “Well, he’s here. He was in with Chip,” she says. I drag my gaze to hers and shake my head.

  “Chip was in Texas?”

  “Yeah. Went down for work. Got caught up in a drug run gone bad. Cops thought he was in on it. Wrong place wrong time type deal. Apparently, he did four years with your ex.”

  No fucking way. How does that even happen?

  “They said he was in for life. That’s why I left,” I mumble.

  “So, talk to him.”

  I almost fall off my stool at her simple statement.

  “Did you not see the cold look in his eyes? He looked like he could have murdered me in my sleep!”

  “Oh come on, Harper! You loved each other once. You should at least go try,” she says, nudging me with her elbow. I sigh.

  “Maybe you’re right,” I say with a sigh, thinking in the back of my mind that maybe, just maybe, he still has some kind of feeling for me too.

  She smirks at me and nods toward the back door. I shove off the stool and walk back out although I have no idea what I’m going to say to him. I haven’t seen him in five years. He’s grown up. Become bigger and bulkier than he was back then. We were only kids though. The day he turned eighteen is the day he went to jail. I still feel that guilt every day of my life.

  “You came back,” Chip says with a smile.

  “I need…I, uh…”

  “He’s back there. Go on back,” he says somberly, nodding toward the back room. I wonder if Lynx has told him anything about me. Judging by the look on his face, I would say he has but what? Good or bad things?

  I give him a grateful smile before walking through the rubble. When I step into the backroom my stomach churns. Lynx is standing in front of a counter, his hands clenching the edge, knuckles white. His head is lowered, hanging between his shoulders. He looks so broken.

  “Never thought I’d see you here,” I say trying to sound upbeat. He doesn’t move. Just stands there like a statue. “I didn’t know you were ou-”

  “Out? Yeah you probably wouldn’t, considerin’ you ran out on me!” His roar causes me to jolt.

  “You told me to run,” I remind him softly. He lifts his head and turns to face me slowly. The deadly look in his eyes hurts. It’s a physical ache in my chest.

  “Yeah? Not across the fuckin’ country! You left me, Harper.”

  “It wasn’t like that. I went back!”

  “Did you? When? ‘Cause I sure as hell never had a visit from you!” His hands clench and so does his jaw. Pure, hot anger radiate from him. But it’s his eyes. There’s anger, but a glimpse of hurt. I open my mouth, but what do I say?

  “They said you were never getting out, Lynx.”

  “Whoever they are lied to you, Harper. You never once, not once, came to see me. You could have asked me, yeah?”

  His anger is off the charts. This is a side of Lynx that I never knew existed and it’s all aimed at me. Regret, remorse. It all dances inside of me but I’ve moved on. I’ve grown up. I had no choice. So I lift my head, throwback my shoulders, and steel my resolve.

  “And said what exactly? Thank you?”

  “Would’ve been a start,” he hisses.

  “You told me to run, Lynx. I ran,” I say exasperatedly.

  “All the way to another state, yeah? Did you ever once think about me? What the fuck I was goin’ through for you!” He stalks closer and fear vibrates my bones. Chip picks the perfect time to walk in and stand in the middle.

  “This is getting a little out of hand. Why don’t we all go sit down at the bar and talk?” He looks between us as I stand still waiting. Waiting for what? Him to forgive me? Him to stop vibrating with rage? What the hell am I waiting for?

  “No.”

  “What? Why not? We can take a break, Lynx. Head next door and talk this out rationally,” Chip says. Lynx shakes his head, stepping closer to me. Chip doesn’t know what to do so he just stands still.

  “You left me. You didn’t give a damn about me then. I don’t wanna see your goddamn face ever again, Harper. You are nothin’ to me.” The way he hisses the words between is teeth send a stabbing pain through my chest. I reach up, clenching my shirt as the pain becomes almost unbearable. I gasp for air as I look into his cold blue eyes. My chest feels tighter and tighter, the air not coming in.

  “Oh shit,” Chip screams as I feel myself falling to the floor.

  79

  Lynx

  The only reason I’m sitting in this goddamn waiting room is because Chip drove me to work today. I couldn’t give a shit what happens with that girl. She left me, didn’t give a fuck about me. Fuck her. Josie paces the room and it’s beginning to piss me off.

  “Has she been sick?” Chip asks when her pacing doesn’t stop.

  “No. Not that I know of,” she says softly as a tear falls down her cheek.

  “She had heart problems when she was young. Heart transplant
at four,” I tell her when I can’t handle seeing her pace anymore. “Now sit the fuck down.” Josie’s mouth falls open but she doesn’t say a word. Smart girl. We’ve been here for hours. It’s bullshit. I should have just called a goddamn taxi, but I owe Chip and stepping out on him isn’t an option no matter how much I want to be away from her.

  “You could have a little sympathy,” Josie snaps at me. I raise my head and smirk at her.

  “For the girl that ran off on me? The one I went to prison for? Yeah, I’ll fuckin’ pass,” I snap back. She narrows her eyes just as the doctor rolls Harper into the waiting room.

  “She’s all set,” he smiles at Josie. I look at her. Actually look at her this time. If I wasn’t so pissed at her, I might have given a shit that she looks like hell.

  “Is she okay? Are you okay?” Josie kneels in front of the wheel chair. “Is it your heart?” Harper’s head whips around to look at Josie before moving to look at me.

  “You told them?” Harper questions in a loud and angry voice.

  “She wouldn’t shut the fuck up,” I say, shoving out of my chair.

  “You had no right!” she screams louder.

  “Don’t give two shits, Harper.”

  “Well, was it?” Josie asks again.

  “Harper’s heart is fine. When she overdoes things and stresses too much, this can happen. She needs to rest and to keep up with her new medications, which she hasn’t been doing,” the doctor says looking at me. Figures the bastard would assume this was my fault. I suppose it is in a way.

  “I didn’t do shit, Doc. She can stress over some other shit. Had nothin’ to do with me,” I smart off as I walk past all of them.

  “Bastard.”

  I heard it. I want to snap. I want to lose my self-control and turn around to say something, but I don’t. I keep walking until I get outside. Chip isn’t far behind me.

  “You okay?”

  “Fan-fuckin’-tastic,” I grunt.

  “Lies. So, that’s her, huh?” he asks as we walk toward the truck.