Page 121 of All That Glitters

She looks around, her eyes falling on the diner.

“Burger?”

“I never say no to burgers.”

I take her hand, walk her across the street, and push the door open. The bell jingles, making everyone turn our way. I spot a couple of familiar faces and head over, tightening my grip on Legs’s hand when she tenses after spotting Toot and Mac.

Toot gets to his feet, and once we’re close, he reaches over and gives Legs a hug, though I keep hold of her hand.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

“Hey Toot, Mac.” She leans down and kisses Mac’s cheek, making me growl. Mac huffs out a laugh as Toot scoots in so Legs can sit next to him.

I glare at him and walk her over to the other side of the table so she can sit by Mac, who I know will not try anything. Then I drag a chair from one of the empty tables and sit at the end of the table so my knee touches Legs’s thigh.

“You know you could just pee on her,” Toot points out.

“I could just shoot you.”

“Boys, can I please get a burger before you two make things bloody?” Legs sighs as if she’s dealing with children.

“Anything for the lady.” Toot winks. He keeps his face intact, mostly because the waitress walks over and steps between us to take our orders.

Toot and Mac, having already eaten, order a slice of pie each, while Legs and I both order fully-loaded burgers. While we wait for them to cook, we shoot the shit, and I can feel Legs start to relax until Toot eyes her.

“So…” he begins, making Legs frown.

“So?”

“You forget about us? You don’t call. You don’t visit.”

I fist my hands at my side, ready to knock this fucker out if I have to. Brother or not, I don’t give a fuck.

“Last time I checked, phones worked both ways. You knew what Midas did to me. You knew how much it would gut me, but I don’t remember you checking up on me. You sure as hell never popped around for a coffee or to shoot the shit. I get it. He’s your brother, and I’m just a former club girl. But I had thought for a little while we were friends, too.”

Silence blankets the table until Toot curses. “Shit. I didn’t think. You’re right. That was a dickish thing to do, and it was a dickish thing for me to say. I’m just a giant dick all over.”

Legs sighs. “I’m not mad, Toot. Like I said, I get it. I don’t like you pointing fingers at me like I should have done more when I’ve been doing everything I can to stay afloat.”

“No, you’re right,” Toot grumbles.

“And like he pointed out, he’s a giant dick,” Mac adds as the waitress returns with first the pie and then the burgers.

The conversation dies down while we eat, but once it resumes, Toot keeps things light and insists on paying once we’re ready to leave.

When Legs stands up, Toot walks over to her and pulls her into his arms. “Forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” she murmurs into his chest before pulling back.

“We’ll just agree to disagree on that. But I promise, if this guy fucks up again, I’ll take custody of you and kick Midas to the curb.”

“And that’s our cue to leave,” Mac sighs, dragging his brother away from us before I punch him.

“It’s really good to see you again, sweetheart. Come by the clubhouse for a visit. I know we’re not the only ones who’ve missed you,” Mac tells Legs, who smiles but doesn’t commit to anything.

We wait for them to leave before I throw a tip on the table with the rest of the cash.

“The waitress deserves extra for having to put up with him.”