Page 8 of Last One Standing (Saint Brothers #5)

CHAPTER EIGHT

KONA

Brick being gone for so long had been relaxing. He’d had a few runs, and the last had kept him away for three glorious days. The clubhouse had a few prospects and two members, Franko and Lips. Both of them were generally quiet and never bothered me or Pika.

However, in the back of my mind I knew it wouldn’t last, and he’d return. Not knowing when was what kept me on my toes. Every sound of a motorcycle had me breaking out in a sweat.

“Wanna go out and get lunch?” Pika asked as I was finishing my hair.

“Sure, I’m free for the rest of the day. What were you thinking?”

He smiled, something he was doing less and less lately. “How about that sixties diner on Main? We’ve ordered from there, but I want to actually go in.”

“Love it, let’s go.”

The truck keys were on the hook and none of the MCs were around, so I left. Pika and I blared Taylor Swift through the speakers, windows down, and embraced normalcy all the way to the diner.

Once we pulled in, it was nice to see that it wasn’t very busy, which meant we wouldn’t be waiting for our food forever. But honestly, that wouldn’t be so bad since Pika was in such a great mood.

When we entered it was like being transported in time, and I couldn’t stop my delighted laugh.

The floor was black-and-white checkered, there was counter seating with chrome stools, and a classic jukebox that was playing “Surfin’ U.S.A.

” by The Beach Boys. The waitresses—oh, my heavens, they were the cherry on top of the sundae.

They wore A-line dresses that were functional and not cumbersome, so they could work.

Each was a different color, but all had white aprons, nylons, black shoes, and a few had a light sweater.

Each waitress’s hair was some sort of sixties style. There were beehives, flipped bobs, and bouffants. It was perfection. The men wore little white hats, white button-down shirts with black bow ties, and pants. All of them also had white aprons on. It was a trip.

“How have we never come inside here?” Pika’s eyes were wide as he took in our surroundings.

“Welcome to Carl’s. How many today?” A blond waitress with a beehive smiled at us.

“Two, please.”

She grabbed the menus, and we followed her to a ruby-red booth.

“Can I get you all something to drink?”

“Oh! Can I have a chocolate milkshake?” Pika was practically bouncing in his seat. I sometimes forgot he was only fifteen and had grown up faster than he should have, so moments like this were rare.

“Absolutely.” She beamed and regarded me. “And for you?”

“Oh, hmm …” I liked to watch what I ate because my body had to fit into my costumes, and nothing was worse than discovering you didn’t fit in a dress two minutes before curtains up. But this was a special day. “Root beer float?”

“You got it, be right back with those.”

“This is so cool.” Pika was giddy as he read the menu. “Look at this food.”

I tore my gaze from my brother and read the menu.

Tuna noodle casserole, pork chops, meatloaf.

Of course there were cheeseburgers, fries—which was what Brick ordered from here—and a salad for me, but it was very old-fashioned food.

Some modern ones still had this stuff but with these choices and the atmosphere, it felt like this was the only place on Earth that had it all.

The waitress delivered our drinks, and we ordered, then moaned as we took our first sips. Pika was telling me about something he’d watched this morning, when movement outside caught my attention.

Two men were getting out of a car, and I recognized one of them…Angel, I believed his name was. He was with a Viking of a man, and they were obviously having a serious conversation. I watched as they came closer to the diner and glanced away as they entered.

“Kona, you listening to me?”

“Huh, yes. Sorry, I just recognized someone is all.”

Pika scanned the room, but I could tell he had no idea. He’d gone home before I’d met Angel.

“Who?”

“Oh, no one important. Go on.” I waved him on, and he fell right back into the conversation.

Over Pika’s shoulder I saw the men approach the counter, appearing as though they were picking up an order. As the waitress walked away, the Viking guy checked his phone and Angel looked in our direction.

The way I was timidly peeking at them, it really just seemed as if I were facing Pika, and he couldn’t tell that I was watching them.

“So, it’s interesting,” Pika finished, and guilt hit me as I realized I’d pretty much tuned out. He smirked. “You totally weren’t listening.”

“ Ugh . I’m a terrible big brother; I’m sorry.” I covered my face with my hand.

“What has you so distracted?”

I didn’t want to draw attention to us, and I could see that Angel kept glancing my way. He probably remembered me or was trying to place where he’d seen me.

“These two guys who entered, they were Leo’s friends. You know, the ones he asked if I could get tickets for?”

“Oh!” And to my horror, Pika turned his head to look.

“What are you doing?”

He faced me again eyes wide. “What? You are allowed to say hello to people in this town, you know.”

“Maybe.” It felt like Brick had eyes and ears everywhere, and there had been times I’d said hello to someone innocently and the next day I’d discovered Brick had broken their arm or leg, or had done something else to them.

I sat back, and Angel whispered something to the big guy and started over to me.

“Oh, my God. He’s coming here,” I whispered, and Pika chuckled.

“Kona, right?” His expression was serious, almost like smiling wasn’t a thing he did.

“That’s right. And you’re Angel, do I have that right?”

Oh, there was a small curve at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah.” He regarded my brother. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

Pika held his hand out because he was sweet like that. “I’m Pika, Kona’s brother.”

His eyes moved between us. “Yeah, I can totally see the resemblance.”

Pika giggled. “We both look like our mother.”

Angel nodded; then his attention was on me. “It’s funny—I haven’t seen you here, and now I see you twice within two weeks.”

Tilting my head, I regarded Angel. He really was a gorgeous man. Flawless brown skin, his eyes were like pools of obsidian, but there was a spark there that told me he wasn’t heartless; there was light in his soul.

“They say we don’t realize how often we cross people’s paths until we meet them.”

He hummed. “Makes sense. How long have the two of you lived around here?”

“A year?” I asked Pika, who nodded. “Yeah, but I’m usually at the club rehearsing. It keeps me busy.”

“I have no doubt. It’s gotta be hard.”

“It is, but I love it.”

“May I ask a question? And I apologize in advance if it’s too personal.”

I swallowed down the fear he was going to ask about the MC. I didn’t like to talk about them—Brick would kill me.

“You can give it a go, and if it’s too personal I’ll let you know.”

“Fair enough.” Still no smile but tiny lines formed in the corner of his eyes. “Do you prefer she, he, or they?”

Oh, that wasn’t what I’d thought he was going to ask. “That’s not personal, that’s actually sweet and respectful. When I’m in drag I go by she, but out of it, I’m he.”

“Angel!” The big guy called him over.

“Well, my order is ready. It was nice meeting you both, and hopefully we’ll see each other again.”

“Come to the show on Saturday,” Pika blurted. and I wanted to wallop him. He had no idea how suspicious Brick was of Angel. Pika thought the guy was nice and likely a fan.

“Um…” Angel’s gaze went from me to my brother. “Aren’t reservations impossible?”

Pika waved his question away. “I’ll put you on the list. Cindy, who does reservations, is always asking me to bring a friend or two.…I’m fifteen, I don’t really have friends whose parents let them come to the club…not to mention, even I’m not technically allowed in there.”

“Yeah, okay, I’d like that. Could I bring a friend?”

Did he mean a girlfriend or boyfriend? I didn’t vocalize it, and this was Pika’s invite.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll tell her there will be up to five, so if you wanted to bring more than one it’ll be cool.”

Angel nodded. “Sounds good. See you Saturday, then.”

He walked away and I would deny it later, but his ass was a masterpiece.