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M y phone vibrates in the front of my apron, and when I lift it out, I see Corey’s name flashing on my screen again.

I can’t count how many times he’s called and texted since I ended things with him last night.

I hate that I’ve hurt him, but talking about this isn’t going to help.

My mind is made up, and both of us have to accept that our futures look different from how we planned them.

“You okay, new girl?” Beatrix, the waitress who’s been appointed to take care of me, checks.

“I’m fine, just first day nerves is all.

” I smile at her and quickly get back to work.

Finishing with Corey wasn’t the only change that's happened in my life recently. Today is my first day at the beachfront diner, and I really need to have my head in the game. I loved my old job at Speedy’s.

I’d worked there since I was sixteen, and would still be there now if it wasn’t for the owner getting too friendly with me.

Of course, I chose not to tell my dad about that; he would have done something over the top, like get the place shut down.

I just explained that I needed a change, and with one phone call from him, that change was made.

I’m busy clearing up a table when I hear the loud rumbling of engines coming from the street outside. It makes me scared to turn around, and when I eventually do, I swallow thickly as I look out the window and see Corey’s older brother with three of his friends.

“Here they come.” Beatrix taps me on the shoulder with excitement, then quickly heads to the door to greet them.

“Been a while since I saw you boys.” She picks up four menus and shows them over to a table.

“Kitchen at the club’s closed this morning, Polly had a long night.” The one with a long, braided ponytail and his hair shaved at the sides explains, as he slides into the booth. Dev takes a menu from Beatrix and shuffles in beside him, while the other two take their places opposite.

“You all look like you had a long night, too.” Beatrix laughs, and she’s right, all of them have bruised faces and scuffs on their knuckles.

“Millie’s gonna be your server. I’m relying on y’all to be kind to her; it's her first day.” She holds her hand out in my direction, and suddenly all eyes are on me, including Dev’s.

The way his eyes always glare into mine gives me chills.

I know he detests me; he sees me as the barrier to all the plans he’s got for his brother.

I wonder if he knows that I’m not a barrier anymore?

“Hey, guys.” I head over and paste on a smile, while Dev narrows his eyes even tighter and makes me feel like an impostor.

“Hey, girl, don’t you work at Speedy’s?” The club member who was a regular at my old workplace looks me up and down, and when his hand reaches out to touch my ass, I slide out of its way.

“I quit… place was too seedy. Can I get you guys some coffee?” I quickly change the subject.

“I’ll take some,” Dev answers in that low husky voice that makes my stomach flip.

“Same for me,” Ponytail guy speaks up. “Tawk?” He looks across to the other member who’s with them.

“Sure.” He looks up at me and nods his head.

“Awesome, I’ll get those brought over while you decide what you're having.” I turn my back and head for the counter so I can grab the coffee pot.

“Ain’t that your bro’s girl?” I hear one of them whisper, and as hard as I try to, I don’t hear Dev respond. My phone is still vibrating in my apron, and I know it will be Corey. I hate to think that he’ll be hurting, but there was no other option.

I try to stop my hand from shaking when I head back and pour their coffees, and Dev makes a clear point of watching it tremble in front of him as I fill his cup.

“Okay, what can I get you?” I place the pot down, taking out my notepad and pulling myself together. It may be my first day here, but I know how to serve. These guys are just here for breakfast; I don’t need to make it a big deal.

“What’s good here, darlin’?” Ass Grabber lays down his menu and looks me over as if I’m a snack.

“Didn’t you hear Beatrix say today's my first day? I have no idea what's good yet.” I laugh nervously.

“We’ll take the pancakes.” Dev picks up the menus one by one and holds them out for me, this time keeping his eyes fixed on the guy sitting opposite him.

“Good choice,” I manage, quickly snatching them from him, then scurrying away to put through their order.

“Like whatcha see?” Beatrix laughs at me once she’s finished with her table. “I think the mean-looking one could really ruin a girl’s life.”

“I used to date his brother,” I confess. Trying not to look over in their direction.

“Really? Is he as hot?”

“They’re very different. Corey isn’t a member of the club, Dev barely lets him hang out there,” I explain, trying not to freak out.

Is it just a coincidence that he’s here on the first day of my new job, the day after I dump his brother?

Beatrix seems familiar with them, but she did say she hadn’t seen them in a while.

“They used to come here all the time; it’s the closest place to the club that serves up decent food.

Shame we don’t see them as often these days, they’re good eye candy.

” She bumps me with her hip before moving on, and I busy myself, trying not to be intimidated by the fact that Dev’s still looking at me.

I serve the guys their pancakes when they’re ready, then ask to take a break.

I need some fresh air, and my phone hasn’t stopped.

Corey must be really cut up over what happened last night, and I could choke on the guilt that I feel.

I love the guy, just not in the same way that he loves me.

Him pulling out a ring last night made me realize that what I’m doing is cruel.

Dev is right, Corey should take the scholarship he’s been offered and get out of Long Beach.

He could meet a girl who would love him the way he deserves to be loved, and they could be happy.

I’ve tried for so long to be that girl, and now that I’m sure it’s never going to happen, I hate the idea of being the person who held him back from going.

I use the back door to get outside and take out my phone, scrolling through all the messages he’s sent me, begging for us to talk.

I don’t know what there is for us to talk about.

Corey is the perfect guy; he’s kind and considerate.

Handsome and smart. I’ve tried to love him as more than just a friend, and for years, the kind of love I had for him was enough.

Holding his hand as we walked down the street and making out with him on the couch while we watched movies never felt awkward.

Knowing he would always be there for me made me feel so lucky, but every time we tried to take things further, I’d clam up.

Of course, Corey was understanding about it all; he told me we’d do things my way, whenever I was ready, but we’re both adults now, not two kids fooling around, and with him, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.

I send a text back to Corey, explaining that I need a little time. I’m not ready to talk to him yet, and I know seeing him upset would make me give in. It’s taken me so long to find the courage to do this; I can’t end up back where I started.

After taking ten minutes, I head back inside, and Dev’s eyes lock with mine as I make my way over to his table to clear plates.

“How was it?” I ask them all.

“Real good,” the guy with the ponytail answers as I stack up the plates and clear them away.

“We’ll take the check,” Dev growls impatiently, standing up from the booth, and taking out his wallet.

“Sure.” I hear the nerves in my voice as I head over to the cash register to print one off for him, and when I get the sense he’s following me, I turn around and see that he’s right behind me.

My hands are shaking when I tear the receipt off the machine and place it in front of him, then I almost jump out of my skin when his hand slams hard over mine.

“Why did ya end it?” he asks me in a low, sexy whisper. I can’t make out if he’s angry at me or not. Surely, since he hates me so much, he’d be grateful not to have to see me anymore.

“I want him to take the scholarship, he would never have done that if we were still together,” I tell him, part of the reason as my heart thuds like it’s out of control.

Dev says nothing, just nods his head as if he’s impressed with my answer, then, sliding his hand away from mine, he opens his wallet, takes out some bills, and lays them on the counter.

“Keep the change,” he mumbles, leading his buddies out the door and back to their bikes. I stroke the hand over where he just touched as I watch him leave, and feel even more guilt when desire clenches at my core and makes me wish I were getting on his bike with him.