Page 37

Maddie

“I’m tired.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed an orange energy drink from the cooler by the register. “Drink this and wake up. You just clocked in, Diamond.”

It was half past midnight, and we still had seven and a half hours of work in front of us at Gas Mart. The buzzing fluorescent lights overhead did nothing to brighten our moods, and the dull hum of the coolers mingled with the radio playing through the store.

Diamond took the drink and popped the top. “You’re paying for this, right?”

I scoffed and crossed my arms over my chest. “You own the store, Diamond. I think you can cover it.”

“We own the store,” she corrected, and her eyes narrowed as she took a long sip. Her face scrunched up when she swallowed. “Tastes like a melted orange popsicle. Good, but the aftertaste makes me pucker up a bit.”

“You’re a nut, Di.”

She leaned against the counter and still looked half-asleep. “You know, it still blows my mind. Who would have thought that when my grandpa died, he would leave his gas station to you and me?”

“It wasn’t shocking that he left it to you,” I corrected and fiddled with the edge of the laminated counter mat that advertised discounted cigarettes. “It was shocking that he left half of it to me.”

Diamond shrugged, and her curly hair bounced around her shoulders. “He loved you. I mean, hell, I don’t think there was a time in my twenty-five years that you weren’t with me when I saw Grandpa.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Diamond and I had been attached at the hip since birth. Literally. Our mothers were best friends who got pregnant at the same time, and we were born five days apart. Diamond and I didn’t have any siblings, but we were sisters, even if it wasn’t by blood.

Gas Mart was more than just a gas station; it was a relic. It sat on the edge of town and was a somewhat large building with six gas pumps out front that looked like they’d been installed sometime in the nineties and never touched since. Two of them were always on the fritz, which usually meant running out every half hour to reset them.

Inside, the store was a maze of narrow aisles lined with metal shelves that rattled when you walked by too fast. Bags of chips in every shade of neon yellow and orange were available, along with any other snack you would want. We had an aisle with Arizona souvenirs, stuffed animals, and shot glasses. We were like a big gas station but crammed into a smaller building, and it was like stepping into the nineties.

We had a roller grill by the coffee machines that held hot dogs that had been turning for hours. They glistened under the heat lamps and had a slightly unsettling shade of reddish-brown. They were a favorite among the late-night truckers.

During the day, the small deli counter on the other side of the store sold sandwiches and pizza by the slice. But at night, the metal shutter came down and locked the area off until morning. The smell of pepperoni and stale bread still lingered in the air and mixed with the scent of lemon cleaner that never quite masked the faint hint of gasoline.

Diamond and I had worked here since the day we turned sixteen. It started as a summer job, then after-school hours, and eventually, as soon as we turned eighteen, we took over the overnight shift. That wasn’t so much a choice as it was the fact that no one else wanted it.

Five months ago, Diamond’s grandpa passed away, and in a twist no one saw coming, he left Gas Mart to both of us. Diamond got half because she was his granddaughter. I got half because, well, I’d been here just as long as she had.

“Are you sure you checked the pumps before we clocked in?” I asked and pushed myself off the counter.

Diamond made a face. “Yes, Maddie. Twice.”

I shot her a skeptical look and glanced at the monitors above the register. Pump three was blinking red. I sighed. “You better go reset it. I’ll watch the register.”

Diamond groaned and dragged her feet toward the door. “I hate pump three. It’s possessed.”

“Don’t talk about your inheritance like that,” I called after her.

I watched through the glass as she trudged out to the pumps and pulled her sweatshirt tight against the chill of the night air. The town was quiet for the most part. We were on a main road that people took to skirt around the highway, so we did have a good amount of people passing through.

I glanced at the clock. Twelve forty-five. Six hours and forty-five minutes to go.

The bell above the door jingled as Diamond came back in and rubbed her arms against the chill of the May night. “Remind me why we’re still working the night shift when we own the place?”

“Because no one else wants it, and I like to be able to feed Tucker.”

She scowled, then broke into a laugh. “Fair enough.”

The next hour dragged by in slow motion. Diamond and I moved through our routine like robots. Scrubbed down the coffee machines until they gleamed, restocked the chip aisle, and wiped down the counters at least three times just to kill time. It was one of those shifts where the clock seemed to mock us as each minute ticked by slower than the last.

I was about to add a few hot dogs to the rollers when the low, throaty rumble of motorcycles echoed up to the pumps. I looked up just as two bikes pulled up to pumps two and three. Two Harleys whose engines growled before they cut off. The riders dismounted and moved with a casual confidence that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Oh shit,” Diamond moaned.

I turned my eyes to the security camera monitor and focused on pump three. “Son of a bitch.” The screen on the pump was flashing red.

“We really need to bite the bullet and have the tech come out to look at that pump,” Diamond sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

I pulled my hood up. “I don’t even want to think about how much that’s going to cost.”

Diamond rolled her eyes as she moved behind the counter and leaned against it with a resigned slump. “Whatever it is, it’ll be worth it. I’m calling in the morning.”

“Fine,” I muttered. I knew she was right but still hated the idea of shelling out the money to fix it.

“Be careful,” Diamond called as I made my way to the door.

I stepped outside, and the cool evening air brushed against my face. The two bikers by the pumps were out of place in Henderson. They wore black leather jackets that fit them perfectly and molded to their muscular bodies. On the back of each jacket was a massive eagle with its wings spread wide and fierce, with the words Brazen Kings stitched in bold letters.

Both men were tall, built solid, and exuded an air of danger that was both alluring and unnerving. The one at pump three turned his head just slightly as I approached. His eyes locked on me with an intensity that almost made me stop in my tracks.

Piercing green eyes. They were startling and vibrant against his tanned skin and the dark scruff along his jaw. I felt my breath hitch for a split second, and heat rushed to my cheeks.

“Uh,” I stammered a few feet from him. “I need to reset it.” My voice came out steadier than I expected, but his gaze didn’t waver. He watched me as his eyes traced my movements while I closed the gap between us.

Talk about unnerving.

I tried to keep my focus, but I could feel his eyes on me the entire time. He didn’t say a word and just stood there like a statue. As I got closer, he took a step back but barely enough to give me room. I had to squeeze in, and my shoulder almost brushed against him.

“This pump always gives us a hard time,” I rambled as my voice came out a bit too fast. “I think it just likes attention.”

He didn’t respond, but his lips twitched—just a hint of a smile that disappeared as quickly as it came. I glanced at the other biker at pump two. Thankfully, he was busy inserting his card and focused on the machine instead of me.

I took a deep breath and glanced up at the man next to me. I had to tip my head back just to see his face; he was that tall. A black patch was sewn onto his chest, and the name Tank was embroidered in bold white letters. I’d watched Sons of Anarchy enough times to know that was probably his road name.

It was fitting.

He was massive—muscular and broad, built like a wall of solid muscle. His biceps strained against the sleeves of his jacket, and his shoulders were so wide I was sure he could block out the sun if he stood in the right spot.

Intimidating? Absolutely. But there was something oddly comforting about his presence, too. Like no one would dare mess with me as long as he was around. I could see the roughness in his features—the strong jawline, the faint scar above his left eyebrow, and the perpetual five o’clock shadow that made him look just the right amount of dangerous.

He was handsome, no doubt about it, but in that bad boy way that made my heart race and my common sense scream warnings in my head.

I focused on the pump and reset it with practiced ease. My fingers moved over the buttons as I forced myself to ignore how close he was standing.

“There,” I said and looked up at him. “Should be good to go.”

His eyes flicked down to meet mine. He didn’t say thank you, but his head dipped in a slight nod. He was a man of no words.

I took a step back, ready to put some distance between us, but his voice stopped me. It was low and rough like gravel shifting under tires. “This place always this dead?”

I blinked and was momentarily surprised that he spoke. “Uh, yeah. Most nights, anyway.”

He glanced around the empty parking lot, then back at me. “Here by yourself?”

That was a bit of a creepy question. “Um, no.”

He nodded. “Good.”

“Uh, yeah.” Why was that good?

I swallowed, and my heart still raced as his eyes stayed locked on mine. I should have looked away and walked back inside where it was safe and Diamond was waiting. But I couldn’t seem to move.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Maddie,” I replied before I could think better of it. My name felt small compared to his presence.

“Maddie,” he repeated as if testing the sound of it. “I’m Tank.”

I glanced at the patch on his chest, and my lips curved in a slight smile. “Yeah, I figured.”

His eyebrows lifted just a fraction. “That so?”

I shrugged and tried to play it cool even though my pulse was racing. “You look like a Tank.” I pointed at the patch on his chest. “And it also says it right there.”

A smile graced his lips. It was fleeting, but it was enough to make my heart do a weird flip.

“Observant,” he said and stepped back to his bike. He took off the gas cap and then pulled his wallet out of his pocket. “Thanks for fixing the pump, Maddie.”

His voice was low, almost gentle, and how he said my name sent a shiver down my spine. I took another step back and needed the space to think clearly.

“No problem,” I managed, my voice a little shakier than I’d like. “Just part of the job.”

He nodded as his attention shifted to the gas pump, but his eyes flicked to me one last time before I turned to walk back to the store. I felt his gaze on my back the whole way.

Diamond was waiting behind the counter, her eyes wide and curious. “You okay?” she asked as soon as I walked in.

I nodded and tried to play it cool even though my heart was still racing. “Yeah. Just... had to reset the pump.”

Diamond’s eyebrows shot up. “Uh-huh. And that took you, what, five minutes?”

I glared at her and pulled my hood down. “Shut up.”

She grinned and was clearly amused. “Hey, I’m not judging. Just curious about the big guy.”

I felt my cheeks heat up again. I turned away and busied myself with the drink cooler. “I was just doing my job.”

Diamond snorted and folded her arms. “Sure you were.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the smile that played on my lips. “I reset the pump, Di. That’s all.”

“I couldn’t hear what you two were saying, but I could sure watch the way he looked at you the whole time.”

I glanced at Diamond. “What do you mean?”

“I mean he did not take his eyes off you until your ass was back in this gas station, Maddie. It was like you put a trance on him.”

“Trance?”

Diamond nodded.

I huffed and waved my hand at her. “You’re crazy. I’m hardly the type of girl to put a man into a trance.” I motioned to my clothes. “I’m wearing a hoodie that is two sizes too big and baggy jeans, Diamond. The only way Tank would be into me is if Adam Sandler tripped his trigger.”

Diamond tipped her head to the side. “Tank?”

Shoot. Of course, she would pick up on that. “It was on his cut, Diamond. I would have had to have been blind not to see it.” I wasn’t going to mention to her that he had also told me it.

“But you noticed it.”

I rolled my eyes again.

The roar of the motorcycles cranking up drew both of our attention to the gas pumps.

Tank and his friend were on their bikes with their gas tanks full.

A huge chunk of me had been hopeful they were going to come in for an overcooked hot dog and a soda before taking off.

I guess not.

I watched them easily maneuver away from the pumps and take off down the road. Tank didn’t glance back at the store once.

Again, disappointed.

“Girl,” Diamond called. “You look like you are about to cry,” she said.

“I do not,” I muttered. I had never met, let alone been, that close to someone like Tank. There was a magnetic pull to him I hadn’t expected.

And now he was gone.

I guess that pull didn’t go both ways.

“I’m going to go clean the bathrooms and then head into the cooler to see what we need to order for the deli. Holler if you need me, yeah?”

Diamond eyed me knowingly but didn’t pester me anymore about Tank. “I’ll do the bathrooms. You head into the cooler. I know you’re a nut who likes hanging out in there.”

I shrugged. “I am not going to argue with you about who is going to clean the bathrooms. Have at it.” I headed toward the deli counter. “And I do like the coolers.” It was peaceful, and I didn’t have to deal with customers or gas pumps that didn’t work.

“I think you need to cool down after your encounter with Tank.”

I tossed my hand in the air. “Now you’re the nut, Diamond. I’m never going to see that man again. Just like seventy-five percent of the people who stop here.” I glanced at her over my shoulder. “Just strangers passing in the night.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Maddie,” she called.

Not seeing Tank ever again was the only thing I was sure about. I moved around the deli counter and into the back kitchen. I grabbed the clipboard off the hook by the cooler door and pulled it open.

I flipped on the light, and the door gently shut behind me.

Quiet and cold.

I pulled my hood back up and grabbed the pen from the top of the clipboard.

Counting cheese slices, ham, turkey, and roast beef were the only things I was going to think about right now.

Not Tank.