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“It must’ve killed her to see you locked up,” she said with no pity, just sincerity.

“It would have, but she died before that shit storm swept in.” I shook my head, hearing the bitterness in my words. “She was everything to us, both of us, and yet we let some fucking war keep us away when she needed us the most. There was no one to fight for her, to make sure she got the care she deserved.” That shit still ate at me even though I’d stopped thinking about it about eighteen months into what turned out to be six long as fuck years. “At first I just tried not to think of her when I was locked up because it made me angry and that’s a sure-fire way to get dead or a life sentence. Then, it just made me sad.”

Her smile came softly as she looked at me. “And I guess being sad in there would have been even worse?”

“Damn straight. Would’ve gotten me killed or fucked.”

She barked out a laugh and covered her mouth. “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t laugh at that, but holy shit Tate, that’s funny.” She smacked the table as she hiccupped with laughter.

“Glad to amuse you.”

Eventually she settled down and stole one of what was supposed to be a spring roll but it didn’t look like any I’d ever seen. “Tell me about how you came to be in a motorcycle club.”

I frowned. “First tell me what the fuck this is,” I said pointing to what looked like a bunch of grass wrapped in cellophane.

She laughed again and I was really starting to like that husky laugh that came so easily. “It’s a Vietnamese spring roll, filled with rice noodles, shrimp, cucumber, basil and carrots. Try it, they’re delicious,” she assured me as she dipped it in a little bowl of brown sauce and took a big bite.

Fuck me, she was right as my mouth exploded in a million flavors, all of them delicious. “Damn that is good.”

“Told you. Now answer up.”

“It’s nothing dramatic. I came out here after I left the Army in search of a path forward and found Cross and some of the other guys instead. Most of them are vets and we clicked. Max was still in the service doing off-the-books shit for Uncle Sam and Mom was gone. They became my family.”

Talking to Teddy was easy, I realized. She flirted but there wasn’t any intent behind it, and she asked good questions.

“Do you miss the Army?”

“Sometimes, but I like being my own boss.”

“Amen to that.” She grinned and took a steamed dumpling, moaning as she chewed. “You are evil for ordering these goodies.” She pushed it all closer to me and I laughed.

“Fine by me, this shit is good.”

“How’s the inking business?”

“Going good. When do you plan to come in?”

“As soon as I get enough time to get it done.”

I smiled. She was tough but I could see how she struggled with covering up the scars. They were a big part of her life, even though she hated them. Covering them would be a big change. “Come on, I’ll follow you home.”

“He said creepily,” she said with an uneasy grin, handing May a card as she rushed past us. “Sure, I’ll let you play my white knight. Or golden knight.”

“Smart ass.”

“Thank you,” she said sweetly, smiling up at May as she brought a receipt for Teddy to sign. “May, as usual you have filled my tummy to perfection.”

“We always love to fatten you up, Teddy. Still too skinny.”

Her skin flushed pink as she looked up at me. “See why I love it here? Flattery and phenomenal food.”

“Make sure she gets home safe,” May said to me, a serious expression that made me wonder if she knew what had been going on with Teddy.

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“Of course,” I told her and asked for the check.

“Already paid,” she told me with a bright smile before she hurried off.