Every Breath You Take (Bayou Devils MC Book 3)

by A. M. Myers

  He glances over at me and nods. “Yeah, somewhere around forty five days, I think. Why?”

  “Come back soon, please.” I hate how broken my voice sounds but the thought of not having Theo here anymore has tears building in my eyes and a lump lodged in my throat. I’ve lost my mother and I need my brother.

  “You know I will, T. Everything has changed now and what’s important to me is different. We have to look out for each other.”

  “Slacker,” I tease, giving him a nudge and doing my best to crack a smile even though I feel like everything is falling down around me. “I’ve been doing that for years.”

  “I’m serious, Tate. I don’t like you being alone.”

  I shrug, trying to play off the loneliness that’s already weighing down on me. “What about you? You’re going to be all alone in Charleston.”

  “I’ll be all right,” he shoots back as he rolls his eyes and I cross my arms over my chest.

  “And why wouldn’t I be okay? Because I’m a girl? I had the same training you did, jerk.”

  He laughs, holding his hands up in surrender for a second before returning them to the wheel. “You’re right. I just meant that I wish I could stay.”

  “I know,” I mutter. I didn’t mean to snap at him. He pulls into the diner’s parking lot and I sigh at the sight of the afternoon crowd filling the tables as he finds a spot in the back. Once the car is parked, he turns toward me and tears well up in my eyes.

  “You have to be better at texting me back,” I tell him and he nods.

  “I will, T. And if I don’t, just scream at me in your head and I’ll hear you.”

  I laugh, sniffling as I wipe away a tear. “I wish it really worked like that.”

  “Sometimes I swear it does. Right before you called to tell me Mom was dead, I woke up in the middle of the night and I felt like I had to call you. Then, the phone rang.”

  “Yeah, and then there are other times like when we went out on a double date in high school and you brought your friend, Daryl. I was sending you ‘get me out of here’ vibes all night and you didn’t even realize.”

  He starts laughing. “Actually, I did. I just wanted to see how long it would take before you hit him.”

  “And were you disappointed when it took two hours?”

  “No,” he answers, shaking his head. “It was thoroughly entertaining the whole time.”

  “Ass,” I mutter, turning away from him to hide my smile.

  “Hey, on a serious note though, there’s something I want to give you.”

  I turn back to him and he holds out an envelope full of something. Taking it from him, I open it and gasp.

  “Theo, what is this?”

  “It’s half of the money Mom gave me.”

  I thrust the envelope back toward him. “I can’t take this.”

  He wraps his large hands around mine, stopping me from dropping the cash in his lap. “Please, sis. I need you to take it.”

  “It’s your money, Theo. I can’t.”

  “I have a great job, Tate, and I make more than enough money. Let me do this for you, please. There are going to be expenses for the house and I want you to finally be able to go to school. Not to mention, you could also use a car of your own.”

  “All of which I could do with the money Mom left me.”

  He meets my eyes and from just one look, I know he’s not going to drop this. No doubt we could fight about it all day if we wanted to but I only have a few more minutes with him and I don’t want to waste them. Sighing, I take the envelope and stuff it into my purse. I’ll take it for now and maybe once he gets out of the Navy I can give it back to him.

  “This is not over, Carter,” I warn him and he laughs.

  “Go buy a car so I don’t have to worry about you walking home at night.”

  “I’ll think about it.” Glancing at the clock, I sigh. “I’ve got to get in there.”

  He nods and we both climb out of the car, meeting at the front of the hood as he wraps me up in a hug.

  “Text me as soon as you get back to Charleston,” I instruct him and he nods.

  “I will, I promise.”

  “And come back home as soon as you can.”

  He pulls away, nodding. “You got it, T.”

  “Okay,” I whisper, tears burning my eyes again as I bite my lip.

  “Bye.”

  “I love you. Don’t forget to text me.”

  He nods. “Love you, too.”

  Crossing my arms over my stomach, I watch him as he rounds the car and slips behind the wheel before backing up. As he puts the car in drive, he holds his hand up in a wave and I repeat the motion, feeling choked up again. He pulls out of the parking lot and I wipe away a tear, missing him immensely already. This is going to be so much harder than I thought. The idea that I have no one here is so devastating that I know I have to force it to the back of my mind for now. I have an eight-hour shift to work and I can’t be crying in the customer’s coffee. There are still a few minutes before my shift starts so I lean back against the building and will myself to calm down before squaring my shoulders and turning toward the door.

  As soon as I walk in, it’s like I never left and I hear someone squeal my name before my friend, Mia, is bolting out from behind the counter and barreling toward me. She crashes into me and I laugh as I wrap my arms around her.

  “Hey, Mia.”

  “Oh my god, I’m so happy you’re back. I missed you so much. How are you doing?”

  I release her and hold my hands up. “Whoa, girl. Take a breath.”

  “Sorry,” she breathes. “I’m just so excited.”

  “I gathered.”

  She puts her hand on my arm as her eyes soften and her head tilts. Theo and I have dubbed it the sympathy tilt and it’s something we’ve seen way too much in the past few days.

  “How are you?”

  I force a smile to my face, trying to keep my mind focused on work and getting through the next eight hours. “I’m good, Mi. How are things here?”

  “Oh, you know. Same old, same old.” She rolls her eyes and I laugh. Working as a waitress at Sunrise Diner is only one of two jobs I currently have and the one I prefer since my boss at the gas station a couple blocks over is a total jackass.

  “It can’t be that bad.”

  She wraps her arms around my waist as we walk toward the door and go into the hallway that leads to our manager’s office, the kitchen, and the walk-in freezer. “You know how it is.”

  I grab my timecard and meet her gaze over my shoulder, arching a brow.

  “People have been especially fussy lately. One lady even tried to order sparkling water yesterday.”

  I snort as I hang my purse on the hook and double check that it’s zipped up before slipping my card in the machine.

  “She did read the menu, right? Most of our entrees cost less than ten dollars.”

  “That’s what I said and then she complained to Roger.”

  Glancing past her, I see one of our managers pouring over paperwork in the little office. At the mention of his name, he glances up and I wave.

  “Glad to have you back, Tate,” he calls and I let out a laugh.

  “Let’s see if you’re still saying that in an hour.”

  “Did I hear a feisty little redhead out here?” a voice booms from the kitchen and I roll my eyes as Mia laughs.

  “See, everyone missed you.”

  “No,” I call back, shaking my head. “You heard a woman who’s gonna kick your ass if you call me little and feisty ever again.”

  Shaun pokes his head out from the kitchen and flashes me a wide grin. “Feisty as ever I see.”

  “Don’t make me get my pepper spray,” I warn him, a smile teasing my lips and he backs up into the kitchen, his hands up.

  “Careful, boys! She’s filled with hellfire, today.”

  Mia laughs and Roger shakes his head as I pull the level down on the machine before slipping my card back in its holder.


  “And don’t you forget it!” I yell back before turning to Mia. “Who’s on tonight?”

  “Just you and me, bestie.” She slips her arm through mine and I smile.

  “Perfect. It shouldn’t be too bad. It is only Monday, after all.”

  Mia jerks away from me, covering her ears with her hands and singing to herself.

  “Don’t you dare jinx us, lady.”

  She slips through the door and I giggle as I grab my apron off the rack, slipping it around my waist and tying it neatly in the back. Once I have my ticket book and a couple pens, I meet Mia behind the counter.

  “You’ve got this half,” Mia says, motioning to one side of the diner. “And someone just sat down at table thirteen.”

  “Okay.” I grab a menu and a roll of silverware off the counter and as I turn toward the dining room, Mia puts her hand on my arm.

  “Also, if you need anything tonight, just let me know. I've got your back, girl.”

  I smile as she releases my arm. “Thanks, Mia.”

  “Don't mention it,” she calls over her shoulder, balancing a tray of drinks out in front of her.

  Mia started working here at the diner shortly before I did three years ago and thankfully, she wasn’t put off by my standoffish behavior or resting bitch face. I’ve never been good at making friends since we moved around so much when I was younger but she just took control and essentially made me be her friend. When she introduced me to her two best friends from middle school, they essentially adopted me into the group. We’re not super close but I’m glad that if I don’t have Theo here with me, I still have them to lean on – even if they don’t understand what I’m going through right now.

  Shaking my head, I suck in a breath and brush away any lingering sad thoughts and slip into work mode easily enough. Thank God, too, because if I fall apart tonight, I don’t know how I’ll ever put myself back together. With the menu and silverware in hand, I walk over to table thirteen and flash a wide smile as I lay the menu and silverware in front of the man sitting there.

  “Good afternoon, Darlin’. My name is Tate and I’ll be your server this evening. Can I get you started with something to drink?” I ask in my “customer service” voice, which is sweet as sugar and annoying as hell. It helps me get better tips though and I’m not in a position to give those up. My mind drifts to the check I got yesterday and the envelope of cash in my bag. I guess that’s not really true anymore.

  The man in front of me glances up and I have to physically stop myself from gasping and taking a step back. He’s so damn handsome in this rugged sort of way that makes me think of log cabins and sex by fire light and his whiskey eyes inspect me from head to toe before his brow furrows.

  “Coffee. Black,” he snaps before dismissing me with a vague hand gesture and any attraction I felt toward the arrogant bastard dies a quick death. He turns back to the menu without another word and my fingers twitch to rip it out of his hand and teach him a thing or two about common decency.

  Prick.

  When he glances up again, I expect him to offer me a smile or some sort of apology for his incredible douchiness but he simply arches a brow as if to ask why I’m still standing here, breathing his air. Oh, this guy’s a real piece of fucking work.

  “You want anything to eat?” I ask, keeping my voice perfectly sweet because I’m afraid if I break, I’ll just end up clocking him. And that would be bad for both of us. Even though I know about ten different ways I could kill this guy before he even realized what was happening, I’ve never once had a problem with self-control. I’ve always been able to keep a handle on my emotions… until now. Although, with the week I’ve had, I suppose that makes sense.

  “I’ll let you know,” he mutters before turning back to the menu and I feel a growl building in the back of my throat. With a curt nod, I spin on my toes and walk away from his table, my hands balled into fists. One thing I have never tolerated well is a rude customer and this guy just took the fucking cake for worst patron of all time. Mia is leaning against the counter and when I storm past her to the coffee machine, she follows me, squealing.

  “Oh my god,” she whisper screams, fanning herself. “That man is hotter than the inside of a car on a summer day and he could not keep his eyes off of you as you walked away from him. He was like glued to your ass.”

  She smacks my butt and I laugh despite my irritation.

  “Actually, he was pretty rude to me.”

  Her face falls but only for a second before a slow smile stretches across her face and she claps her hands. “Uh-oh.”

  Roger pokes his head out of the door to the hallway. “Did I just hear someone say “uh-oh”?” he asks and I shake my head.

  “Nope.”

  “Damn it, Tate. It’s your first day back. You can’t be mean to customers.”

  “It’s about to go down,” Shaun says in a deep voice through the pass through and I grin at him before turning back to Roger and laying my hand over my heart.

  “Roger, I’m as nice to the customers as they are to me. It’s called human decency.”

  “It was so nice when I had a whole week without any complaints that my waitress was a bitch.”

  I shrug, grabbing a mug and filling it with coffee before holding it out to him. “I suppose you could take his coffee to him.”

  He shakes his head and shoos me away. “Keep it in check.”

  Mia claps and posts up at the counter so she can watch it all go down as the guys in the kitchen gather around the pass through.

  “Y’all are something else. I’m simply going to take his order.”

  “Hell. Fire,” Shaun whispers and I laugh as he winks at me.

  “You egg me on and yet you never get in trouble, Shaun.”

  He nods. “Uh, yeah, cause it’s entertaining as hell and I don’t get in trouble because I’m back here. Now, go be sweet to the customer, Tate.”

  Curling my lip, I turn back to table thirteen and meet golden eyes. A ghost of a smile teases his lips and I square my shoulders before pasting a smile on my own face. As I walk back into the dining room, I feel Mia following behind me and my smile quickly becomes real. There was no way she was staying at the counter. With my head held high and a black coffee in my hand, I walk back over to his table and notice him watching me out of the corner of his eye as he scans the menu. It’s subtle enough that if I were anyone else, I’m not sure I would have noticed.

  “Coffee, black,” I snap as I set the mug down in front of him a little too forcefully. Thankfully, it doesn’t spill on him. “What do you want to eat?”

  He chuckles, leaning back in the booth and spreading his arms out over the entire back of the seat. Jesus, he’s huge.

  “I knew you were being fake,” he says, his voice smug and I blink, my anger returning full force. One thing I’m not is fake.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Before, that sweet voice you used on me was fake.”

  “I think the word you’re looking for,” I spit, crossing my arms over my chest. “Is polite.”

  He laughs, flashing me a brilliant smile and my insides turn to mush. Oh, hell, what is happening to me right now?

  “I meant what I said. It was fake.”

  Mia laughs quietly behind me and I suck in a breath, trying to calm myself before I go off on this poor unsuspecting man. He really has no idea who he’s dealing with. Planting my hands on his table, I lean forward, locking eyes with him.

  “Maybe it was but it’s because I have to deal with douchebags like you all day long and I have bills to pay. Now, what the fuck do you want to eat?”

  “Tate!” Roger yells through the dining room and I flinch as everyone turns to look at me and silence descends. I force a smile to my face, pushing off the table.

  “Excuse me.”

  Everyone’s eyes are on me as I walk into the back and trudge to Roger’s office. I know that I went too far but there’s just something about the man at table thirteen that riles me up in the worst way.


  “What were you thinking?” Roger asks, sighing as he walks into the office behind me and I sink into a chair. “I know you’re having a tough time lately but you cannot talk to customers like that.”

  “I know, Roger, but did you see what a prick he was being to me?”

  “It doesn’t matter. You will go out there and apologize to him.”

  Do I really need this damn job?

  The thought crosses my mind for only a moment before I realize that without something to do everyday, I would lose my ever-lovin’ mind and for the most part, I do enjoy this job.

  “Fine,” I snap, shoving myself out of the chair. I will go out there and apologize but I’m done waiting on him. Walking back to the hallway, I press my shoulders against the tile and take a few deep breaths, trying to calm down before walking through the door. As soon as I’m behind the counter, I feel his gaze on me again.

  “You fired?” Mia asks and I shake my head.

  “No. I have to go apologize to him and as soon as I do, will you take that table?”

  “Are you sure?”

  I nod. “Yeah.”

  Turning back to the dining room, I square my shoulders and suck in a breath before marching over to his table and pasting a smile on my face.

  “Sir, please accept my apology. I’m having just about the worst week of my life and I was out of line earlier.”

  He arches a brow and I continue staring at him, unsure of how much more he wants from me. Finally, he sighs.

  “To apologize, you actually have to say the words “I’m sorry”.”

  One.

  Two.

  Three.

  Four.

  Five.

  “Sir,” I say through gritted teeth. “ I am so sorry. Please accept my apology. My behavior was incredibly rude and it’s been a terrible week for me.”

  He nods. “It’s forgotten.”

  “Thank you. Our other waitress tonight will be taking over for me.” I turn to leave but he reaches out and grabs my hand, sending a zap of electricity down my spine. My eyes widen as I turn back to him.

  “I don’t want the other waitress. I want you.”

  I want you.

  The words rattle around in my brain, conjuring up images that I have absolutely no business thinking. I can’t look away from him as I search for an appropriate thing to say that won’t get me fired but my mind isn’t working as quickly as usual with his warm grip on my wrist.