“Yeah. David wants nothing to do with him, but he paid, you know?”
Teri frowned. “So what was today about?”
“He wanted to make sure Cole was okay. Also, he asked if I…” Anna stopped and licked her lips. “Wanted to make a go of it. He said that he missed me.”
“That’s unexpected,” Teri said.
“Yeah, and I don’t know what to think.” Anna rubbed at her temple.
“What did you say?”
“No.” She shrugged. “David is going through whatever he’s got going on. I don’t even know. I’m not in love with him, and we have this child together.”
“He’s older than you,” Teri said.
“Yeah, I know, but it’s not like age matters to me. I’m not against falling in love with a guy who is older. David was a mistake. I wasn’t even attracted to him in the beginning. He wasn’t always nice. Always barking out orders, never saying please or thank you. That night is still a bit of a blur. Don’t get me wrong, I love Cole, but I wasn’t ready to have a baby.” Anna sighed. “I don’t think I’m making much sense.”
“You’re young. You didn’t know what you wanted out of life. David was a guy and you just went with it. Cole came of it, and now you’re trying to grow up, raise a kid, and figure out what you want in life,” Teri said.
“Okay, now I’m thinking you should have been a life coach or something.” Anna laughed.
“No, this one is easy to me. I was young once. I made stupid life decisions and as a grownup, I’m paying for them.”
“What stupid life decisions?” Anna asked.
Teri took a deep breath before pressing her lips together. She didn’t know if she should tell Anna the full extent of her pain. “It’s not something you should worry about.”
“You’re an amazing cook. You have so many friends. You’re epic, Teri,” Anna said.
She reached across the counter and took her hands. “No, I’m not. Please do not look to me for any kind of life inspiration.”
“Do you regret coming to Greater Falls?” Anna asked.
Teri rested her palm on the counter and nodded. “I do.”
“I saw the newspaper,” Anna said. “You’ve got a job interview next week.”
She tensed up. “Don’t say anything to anyone.”
“Who would I tell?” Anna asked.
“Nothing could come of it and I don’t want anyone to start asking questions, you know?”
Anna held up her hands. “I get it. I do. You will tell them if you decide to leave?”
“Of course.” The diner wasn’t hers. It was the club’s. There was no point staying where she wasn’t wanted, and Greater Falls no longer wanted her.
Chapter Six
Damon stood outside Teri’s apartment. He’d arrived ten minutes ago, and for a short time, he stayed straddled on his bike, looking up at the building. Then, he’d gotten off his bike and paced.
When his pacing didn’t provide him with any answers, he made his way inside the building as he knew the security code to gain access. Now he paced outside of her door.
Teri didn’t even know he was here.
The diner hadn’t opened all day.
A couple of the locals had been pissed. James wasn’t happy, but they allowed Teri to make her own hours, and the diner was one of their biggest earners. Teri knew what she was doing and they trusted her.
Damon had offered to go to her, to see what was going on.
Now as he held his hand about to knock, Pixie’s words, as well as Dane’s, kept on ringing in his fucking head.
They had no right to meddle in his thoughts, and look what they had gone and done. He stood outside a woman’s apartment not knowing what the hell to do. None of this was funny or even remotely amusing.
Running his fingers through his hair, he lifted his other hand to knock, then dropped it.
What would he say?
It wasn’t like he’d ever been the best conversation starter.
“Fuck it.” He knocked on the door and waited. He wasn’t the kind of guy to knock on the door and make a dash for it, even though he had an urge to.
Seconds passed, and Teri opened the door, complete with Cole in her arms.
“Damon, hi,” she said.
“Teri, hello.” He looked at her, staring into her beautiful eyes. “Er, how are you doing?”
She smiled. “You’ve come to my place to ask me how I’m doing?”
“The diner wasn’t open today, so I thought I’d make sure you were okay. You know?”
“Yeah, er, I had some errands to run and they kind of leaked into most of the day. I’m so sorry. Is James mad?”
“Of course not. No. He was worried.”
“Sure.”
She didn’t sound convinced.
“He didn’t send me over here. I offered to come.”
“Why?”
He had no answer. “Are you, er, busy?”
Teri frowned. “Not really. I’m just getting in some snuggles before this one goes to bed. Why?”
“Do you want to come out with me on my bike?” He spoke slowly and he didn’t look at her.