Shawna"Order up."I run over to the kitchen bar that separates the back end of the kitchen and the serving station, and grab my order for the party I took the order for. With all four plates along both arms, I slowly walk out of the kitchen and head straight to my section.I have been working here at Burgen's going on eight months. It wasn't an ideal job, but the only one that allowed for my schedule of only mornings before twelve and not every weekend. Because of my other job over at May's bar, which pays much more than this one, I had to be careful not to step on managements feet."Alright guys. Got the double bacon burger, hold the cheese. The country friend steak and potatoes. The prime rib with green beans, and for you sir, the cobb salad, extra egg." I say as I drop each plate off on the four construction men that have come in this morning.It's Early Sunday morning and we are surprisingly busy. Burgen's is not a large diner by any means. In fact there are only two waitress
Max"Should we check it out?" Tolino asks."Let's do it, don't necessarily like being a sitting duck." Wells calls out.We exit the Humvee and begin walking towards the building.A chill surrounds me as we make our way in the direction that Jones's indicates with his fingers. It's quiet and I slowly move to the right while Wells and Tolino move to the left. I can hear a faint whispering and I stop mid step and slowly round the thin wall I am in front of.A small doll lies on a vacant stone makeshift chair. My hands are shaking as I observe the tiny piece of felt and indicate to Matthews, who is now behind me, at what I am seeing."That a doll?" He whispers. I don't answer him; the question was obviously rhetorical."Heads up guys. Looks like we got some women here." I hear Jones say in my earpiece. I lower my gun and look over at Matthews who still has his trained."Women?" He asks then eventually lowers his as well. He walks over to the small doll and picks it up off the stone chair.
ShawnaA loud rocking sound vibrates my door as I slowly open my eyes.It sounds again, and I realize it's my bedroom door and someone is knocking."Come in." Already knowing it is most likely Inette since Ivan is still in Maine until tomorrow evening.Inette comes strolling in, wearing a small white tank with no bra and white panties with long gym socks on. I check the clock on my nightstand and see it's only seven in the morning."How can you look like a cover model at seven am?" I ask rolling over to my side to try and get some more rest.I worked at May's last night and we had a huge bar fight between two men who both had way too much to drink. Because the cops were called, the staff had to stay an extra two hours to give our statements. I only just got in around four."Yoga. Now, how did it go yesterday, you never called?""Sorry, I had to head to work right after and we were swamped form the moment I clocked in." I'm not being completely truthful. I did have to work after
MaxThe little minx.I don't normally get played. I like to consider myself the unplayable. But this woman will end up being the death of me.And I'm not even the one sleeping with her.I check the time on my bike and cringe when I realize I'm going to be late. Knowing Candice will have my ass if I am, I speed up a little more.Candice had been inviting me to dinner each night this week, and each night I gave her an excuse for why I couldn't. I had been neglecting the repair shop lately, so I decided it was as great a time as any to get caught up with orders and help out the guys.As much as I adored my brother's girl. I didn't want the attention to be on me and whether or not I am alright. I should have known better though. Last night as I pulled into my driveway at home, I spotted my mother's car and I knew, I just knew, Candice had called her."We were just worried about you?" Mom said to me as she straightened around in my house. I'm not a messy guy, something she instilled in both
ShawnaI couldn't sleep.How could I when I spent the entire night thinking about Max Stone.So, I did the next best thing. Well, the next best illegal thing.I came to the studio to practice my routine once more and am pleasantly surprised with the ease at which I have it down now. Normally it takes me a few weeks to completely master each step enough to then teach it to someone else, especially those someone's being children, but anger and hurt kept me motivated this time.It's been a few days since I saw Max at Sin, and each time I think about the way he looked at me, the words he spouted off, I want to cry and kill him all in one breath. I understand his hatred towards me, he thinks I cheated on him, and I have only led him to believe those words I shouted in the heat of things were the truth.I take a moment to catch my breath as my routine ends and walk over to grab a bottle of water from my bag. My iPhone changes to the next song and I nearly fall over when One Republic'
MaxSitting in church I want to strangle someone. My luck has been so shitty lately that I don't know what to make of today's circumstances. Once again, I am surrounded by thoughts of Shawna, and that is beginning to be a major problem."So basically, this asshole slashed her goddamn tires and we need to find the fucker.""Why the hell are we protecting her anyways. It's just some shmuck she's dating. Not our problem Austin."Austin gives me a death glare and I fight from jumping out of this chair, getting on my bike and taking off. Lately it has been the only thing that can help with all these flashbacks and nightmares."Because, whoever the hell slashed her tires and busted out her windshield, was after you." I sit up straight afraid I must have heard him wrong."What did you just say?"Everyone behind me looks around and Austin pulls out a small notecard from his cut and hands it to me. I grab it and look it over, my anger getting the better of me more and more as I reread it
ShawnaMax opens his garage and I stand back in surprise.Holy Mango cheese sauce."That's quite a big truck." I say then walk over to the passenger side. I don't even know how the hell I would manage to get in this goliath."It gets me by.""Says every guy that's compensating." I mumble while opening the door. I didn't intend for him to hear me but he comes around the other side of the truck and lifts me by my hips and lets me in the car. "Think we both know that ain't true darlin'." He whispers in my ear then lets go when my butt hits the warm seats.The truck still smells new and as I look around don't see a speck of dirt on it. Max was never a slob, Julia instilled that in both her boys, but it's like Max has never even used this thing."How long have you had it?""Not long. Thought I'd get something more sturdy when those assholes tried running us off the road last year. Don't drive it often, but for certain instances I'm glad I have it." He winks and I turn to look out
Max"And so it's important for us to fall on each other. Give ourselves time to adjust to our new life. It won't always be easy, and it takes a very long time for anything to feel normal again, but I promise, once you realize that they never really leave you, that they are always inside your heart, it gives you the strength to keep moving day by day."A round of applause circles around the large group and I continue to stare into my coffee.It's early, not even ten am, and here I am, exhausted but determined to show my face here. I don't want to be here, hate this whole thing, but I owe it to them. I owe it to all of them.In the corner of my eye I can see a blonde walking over to me and I stiffen automatically when I realize who it is. She stops just before the empty chair beside me and I briefly wonder if she knows you should never walk up and surprise someone in my condition or if it's just in her nature. Matthews always did tell me she was too good a person."Max." I look up a