Chapter Eleven

She was getting the hang of her new job as a cashier at the local grocery store.

Sloane peeled off her work clothes and tossed them straight into the washing machine. Tomorrow she had a day off. Normally she would be excited about it, except it was going to be a lonely one. Ruger had gone back to Ryan and Naomi today, and now she had a week of silence in this little apartment.

She pulled on a pair of leggings and an oversized dark blue sweatshirt that had rips cut into it at just the right places. She slipped her feet into a pair of fuzzy black slippers and made herself an ice water, then stood in her kitchen looking around for some kind of inspiration for dinner.

Ryan had rubbed it in that he was taking Ruger for a "family dinner" with Naomi tonight, while her destiny was to eat yet another TV dinner.

Her phone dinged with a text message on the counter. Probably Ryan, sending some dumb picture of Naomi snuggling Ruger, because that had been the game. Maybe she should block him this week. But then what if Ruger needed something? Was six too young to get a kiddo a cell phone? She could maybe afford a cheap one in a few more paychecks.

Her phone dinged again, and with a sigh, she picked it up. The ID read Captain.

Her eyes flew wide and she fumbled to open the text message.

Dear Middleson,

I'm the king of running. Sorry. Want to get some food, friend?

Captain

Friend.

Irritated, she texted back. Dear Walker, it's been a long day. I don't need the boys-will-be-boys games. Find another friend to get food with. Send.

You're mad.

Tired of men. Send.

I'm not going to pay for Ryan's BS. I'm not him.

"Okay then," she ground out, and tossed the phone back onto the counter. She shook her head, staring off into the distance. He didn't understand how much she had liked him back in high school, and he'd bolted. He didn't understand how much she had enjoyed spending time with him at Moosey's and at the baseball game, and he ran. He really was the king of running.

She was angrier than made sense for the situation, but you know? Fuck it. She was so done with men playing with her emotions. She wanted off the roller coaster.

Sorry, but I'm busy tonight, friend. I've got a date . She hovered her finger over the send button. He couldn't hear the lie if she sent it in text. Send.

On second thought, it wasn't a lie. She was going to go on a date. With herself.

Emboldened, she marched into her bedroom, where boxes of her belongings still sat all taped up and packed. She pulled one off the top of a stack and read the hurried scribble on the top of the second one. Going out clothes.

Yep, that's what she needed. She pulled a pocketknife off her dresser, popped it open with a flick of her wrist and cut the tape, then riffled through the box until she found what she wanted—strappy high heels and a black lace bodysuit. She already had her ripped-up black skinny jeans folded in her closet, so she dressed quickly. Then she took her hair from the claw clip and tossed her head forward and back, fluffing up her hair for volume. Makeup next, and she was not messing around tonight.

She smeared black glitter eye shadow across her eyelids and glued false eyelashes to her freaking real ones, and even contoured her cheekbones like she'd learned to do from online tutorials.

Still feeling angry with anything that possessed a wiener, she stomped to the kitchen, only rolling her ankle twice in the heels, and then snatched up her phone and her purse.

"I'm out, motherfuckers," she growled to the male gender in general.

As she passed the full-length mirror by the front door, she decided to take a selfie.

There were new text messages from Captain, but she ignored them and struck a pose, took a selfie in the mirror, and sent it to him.

Hope I get laid tonight. Send.

Feeling motivated to go sit by herself at some restaurant, she threw the door open and abruptly came to a stop at what she saw.

Captain was parked in the parking lot right outside her apartment door. He was leaning against the front of his truck with a bag from the supermarket hanging from one hand and the other in his pocket. He wore a forest green sweater that clung to his muscular shoulders, and his eyes were too bright.

He dragged his gaze up and down her body, pausing at each curve before he lifted his hungry gaze back to her eyes.

"Who is the date?"

"None of your business," she said primly.

He hung his head and sighed, then pushed off his truck. "You're right."

"What are you doing here? How did you find out where I live?"

He gave an empty smile and lifted the bag. "I texted you what I'm doing here."

Feeling sheepish, she checked his texts.

I got a batting system for Ruger so he can practice hitting off the tee. And a couple other things that reminded me of him at the store. Can I drop them off? Before your date?

She pursed her lips as heat crept into her cheeks.

"You…" She swallowed hard. "You brought Ruger something?"

"Look, your place is easy to find. I wasn't meaning to make you nervous. It's an easy online search. I wanted to surprise Ruger. Is he here?"

"He went back with Ryan today." She couldn't help the hollowness in her tone.

"I'm sorry." He lifted the bag and set it on the sidewalk, then walked around his truck, opened the tailgate, pulled out a big box, and set it next to the grocery bag. It was a tee and a net to catch the balls he hit.

Touched, the fire of her anger faded as she pushed open the grocery bag and saw the toy bear inside, and the giant bag of pizza rolls.

"For you, but also for the boy to try. Chicken nuggets are good, but pizza rolls are next level." He cleared his throat. "You look really pretty. I hope the date is everything you want it to be."

He turned and headed for his truck, got in, and started it up.

She should let him go. Right? Bringing her son presents was a game? But it didn't feel like a game.

"Wait," she said, striding carefully for his driver's side door.

Captain rolled down the window.

"Why did you get Ruger this stuff? Honestly."

Captain scrunched up his face and said, "Honestly? I was at the grocery store, trying to pretend I wasn't thinking about you. I saw the batting system on an endcap on sale, and I put in in my cart. Then I went to the toy section and found the bear, and then I thought you could use some help getting him to try new food, and pizza rolls are kind of a big deal in Damon's Mountains. Then when I went to pay out, I realized I forgot to get all my damn groceries." He inhaled deeply. "And then if we're being real honest, when you were popping off at me, I thought it was hot until you said you were going on a date, and then I felt…"

"Felt what?"

He shook his head. "I know you're going to move on. I know there will be men who will see your value. You won't have a problem moving on from Ryan. I guess I felt…"

"What?" she whispered.

His eyes had his heart in them when he uttered, "I want you to try me out first."

Stunned, she just stood there, waiting for him to say just kidding or something. He didn't.

"You said it's too complicated."

"That hasn't changed. Sloane, here is how it is. I'm different than when I was younger. I'm bigger. The bear is bigger. The instincts are overwhelming sometimes. I'm in a fuck-up Crew that is on some destiny-path that is one part exciting and three parts dangerous as hell. War is headed for us. Not just a war of words like internet crap, either. I mean violence and bloodshed and I will be hurt, and the people I love will be hurt, or worse. I get in two to three fights a week with the other males in my Crew, and I barely get along with any of the Fastlanders, and I'm stubborn and not likely to change my ways. If you are okay with all of that, we can try friendship."

Sloane crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the door of her house, which she'd left wide open. "I have to close my door."

"Okay," he said in a confused tone.

She scooped up the grocery bag and the batting system, then walked carefully up the sidewalk, put the groceries away inside, then came back out and closed and locked the door to her first-floor apartment. Mind reeling, she made her way back to the passenger's side of his truck and got in.

"I thought you had a date," he said.

"I did. With myself. I was going to table-for-one it tonight."

"So…there's no one you're talking to?"

"You."

A slow smile spread across his masculine lips.

"I can't say for sure that I'm okay with all of your mess, Captain. But I'm curious. Perhaps even a little interested in this war-talk."

"Yeah, well, that talk isn't for the general public."

"I pinky-swear I won't talk to anyone about it. Your secrets are safe with me." She stuck up her pinky.

He dipped his bright gaze to her little finger, and a curious smile spread across his features.

"What?" she asked.

"The females in my Crew take pinky-swears very seriously."

"I also take them very seriously."

He hooked his pinky in hers, then pulled her hand closer and pressed his lips to her knuckles in a soft kiss. "Now it's even more serious," he told her.

Butterflies were swarming her stomach as her knuckles tingled from where his lips had touched her.

"I can try for friendship," she uttered on a breath.

He huffed a laugh and arched his eyebrows at her bodysuit. "You're going to make that hard on me if you keep dressing like this. I'm going to need you to wear a potato sack on our next friend-date, please and thank you."

"I know you're joking, but I just got paid and I have enough left over after bills to buy a potato sack, and I have your phone number now. I can send you a potato-sack selfie."

Captain stared at her pointedly, then adjusted his dick and shook his head as he eased his truck out of her driveway.

She couldn't stifle her grin right now if she tried. Captain was having trouble staying away from her. She could tell. Had she ever felt like this before? She couldn't recall a time.

"Where are we going to eat?" she asked. "I mean, I'm not picky. I've been living on TV dinners when I don't have Ruger."

"And let me guess—chicken nuggets when you have him?"

She laughed and nodded. "Yep. I'm so bored. I've been trying to doctor them up with different dipping sauces."

"Well, normally I would ask what kind of food you're craving, but I kind of have something planned. Are you okay with pizza?"

"Absolutely. I will admit that pineapple on pizza isn't my favorite though, so if that is your jam, I'm afraid I will have to get my own personal small pizza."

He chuckled. "We'll be fine. I like meat-lovers."

"I'm all in on the meats."

An old Nelly song was playing on the stereo, so she turned up the volume and mouthed the lyrics as she watched the apartment buildings blur by.

"Well, don't stay quiet about it. Sing if you know it," he encouraged her.

So she did, dramatically, hand gestures and passionate facial expressions included. By the second run of the chorus, he was singing along too, and okay! He was fun!

The drive was long enough for them to go through a dozen songs, most of which were throwbacks to when they were in high school. When they pulled up to Big Moon Pizza Pies, her face was aching from smiling so much.

She was on a date. He could call it a friend-date all he wanted, but he made her stay in her seat until he could get to her side to open the door for her, and when they went inside, he opened the door for her and pressed his fingertips on the small of her back to guide her in.

Inside, it was crowded, and the wait seemed to be very long. Perhaps he would choose to go somewhere less busy.

But when they got to the host stand, he told the hostess they were meeting someone here. She asked if it was a big group, then led them through the main room and up some stairs to a back room with fewer tables and a pool table in the corner.

There was a big party against the wall, and one of them greeted them before they'd even made it all the way into the dining room.

A blond man with a big smile waved to them. "I knew it!"

"Want to meet my Crew?" Captain asked against her ear.

"Really?" she asked, excitement bubbling up inside of her.

He nodded. "They're all idiots, so don't be offended by anything they say."

"Hey," the blond guy said. "I resemble that."

"I think the saying is ‘I resent that,'" a dark-haired man said before he took a swig of beer.

"Whatever. I'm Owen," the blond man introduced himself to Sloane, offering a hand for a shake.

"I'm Sloane. I'm Captain's friend."

A soft, vibrating growl sounded from Captain beside her, and she could feel the growl through where their arms were touching. She looked up at him, questioning, but he just moved on to introducing her to the rest of the Crew.

She already knew his Alpha, and brother, Gunner, from when they were younger. He sure had changed. He was the most intimidating, with his glowing, bi-colored blue-and-silver eyes and quiet, heavy demeanor. Ace was the dark-haired man, and then she met Silver, Owen's mate. Hallie, Gunner's mate, and Corey, Ace's mate, were familiar from Moosey's.

The girls were watchful, but polite enough as they formally introduced themselves.

"I'm sorry to crash," Sloane said. "I think Captain was pitying me. My kiddo went to his dad's house for the week today, and I am burned out on frozen microwave dinners."

"You have a kid?" Silver asked, pulling out a chair next to her for Sloane to sit in.

Sloane looked longingly at Captain as she made her way around the table and sat between Silver and Hallie. Captain took the seat right across the table from her, and being able to look right at him while they talked was kind of nice.

"Yeah." She pulled up the lock screen on her phone, which was a picture of her and Ruger. "He's fun."

"And gonna be a good little baseball player," Captain murmured.

"Baseball?" Gunner asked.

"Yep." Sloane didn't understand the look they exchanged, but Hallie explained. "The Walker family loves watching baseball. Both of them played in high school."

"I remember. I watched some of their games. They were crazy good."

"You went to school with Gunner and Captain?"

"Yeah, I even went on a date with Captain."

"Whoa!" Hallie exclaimed. "Okay, this is awesome. Boys, we're stealing Sloane for girl-talk. Captain, will you order her a drink?"

"I'm on it." He gave her a wink as she stood with the girls and gave him an oh-my-gosh look. She was hanging out with shifters from Damon's Mountains. And not just any shifters. They were the new Crew that had been splashed all over the news lately.

As she came around the table and passed Captain, he caught her by the front of her thighs and scooped her closer. Sloane instinctively slid her hands to his shoulders and leaned into him.

"What do you want to drink?" he asked.

"Ummm. Gosh, I haven't done a night out in a long time."

"Want me to surprise you?" he asked.

She grinned. "Yes! No rum."

"Why no rum?" he asked curiously.

"Too many strawberry daiquiris on my twenty-first birthday. I still can't drink it."

He snorted. "I've got you."

"That is the hottest word combination a man can say."

"Yeah? I'll remember that." He patted her leg and told her, "Have fun."

"Okay. I'm going to go hang out with some she-werebears."

"And a were-lioness," he said.

Holy shit , she mouthed as she followed the ladies of the Fastlanders to the pool table.

She could actually play a little pool! She'd spent time in pool halls with friends in her early twenties, and had honed her skills.

"Do you want to break?" Silver asked her as she racked the balls.

"Yes!" She'd said it really loud, and Silver hunched her shoulders under the volume. Oh, right. Shifter hearing. Softer, Sloane said, "Yes. I can break."

They were halfway through their first game playing teams—Hallie and Corey versus Silver and Sloane—when the server brought a pink, fruity drink ordered by the man she had a serious crush on.

It was delicious! Silver asked if she could try a little bit, and then ordered one for herself.

"Owen went and talked to Captain about you the other day," Silver said, lining up a shot on the two ball at the side pocket.

"A bad talk?" Sloane asked.

"Nope. Just trying to see where his head was. Captain's been off all week."

Sloane rubbed the blue chalk block on the tip of her cue stick and glanced over at Captain. He was deep in conversation with the boys.

"He definitely surprised me when he showed up tonight. He's pretty good at running."

"That's most boys," Silver said as she sank the shot and lined up another. "Even the good ones get scared."

"I can't imagine Captain is scared of anything. I've seen his bear before."

Silver missed the shot and clicked behind her teeth, then made her way to the little table that housed her and Sloane's drinks. She took a sip of hers and then said, "I've never seen Captain scared in a fight. Not ever. He fights the boys often. Hell, he squared up to Wreck recently."

"Wreck?"

"He's our problem member. Total monster. If you ever meet him, just don't engage. I'm not saying that to scare you. Just advice that me and everyone else abides by when he's in the vicinity. He's a loose cannon."

"And Captain wanted to fight him?"

"I don't think he wanted to. It was just Captain and us girls, and Wreck showed up to the trailer park we live in. Let's just say Captain wasn't about to ask us for help. He doesn't get scared, which is why we all noticed him being so off this week." Silver locked her gaze on Sloane's. "You scare him. I'm betting that's a good thing, if you want it to be."

Maybe she understood. Him being scared of her meant he felt something. That was good. Maybe.

"I have a kid," she murmured. "He's also really human."

"Chhhh," Hallie hissed as she lined up her shot. "That's a hard choice."

"Oh, it's not even a choice. Captain and I are just friends. It's all he wants."

"Oh yeah?" Corey asked. "I've never met any of Captain's friends. Have you?"

Silver shook her head and took another sip. "I'm the newest one in the Crew though. Hallie? Have you met any of Captain's friends?"

"Nope, and neither has Gunner. Before the Crew was formed."

Huh.

"So Captain doesn't have a lot of friends? He used to be so social."

"That's not what we're saying," Silver murmured low. "If you were just a friend, Captain wouldn't bring you to meet us. How many dates have you been on?"

"Just…" Sloane looked from one expectant face to the next. "Just this one."

"Ha!" Corey belted out. "Captain! You brought her to meet us on your first date instead of spending quality time with her? Well done."

"I'm showing respect, assface," Captain said smoothly.

"To whom?" Silver asked. "To Sloane?"

Captain sighed, leaned back in his chair and glared at the girls, then slid his gaze to his brother. "To Gunner."

The entire Fastlander Crew went dead silent, and still as statues.

It was Owen who moved first. He rubbed his ears, and then said, "I think I'm hearing things. Did you just say you are showing respect to Gunner? To your brother, who you fight every other fuckin' day? And hate? Openly?"

"Pizza's here," Captain said blandly.

Sure enough, several servers were headed to the table with enormous, steaming-hot pizzas.

Gunner hadn't moved by the time Sloane had settled her cue stick on the rack and grabbed her drink. He still hadn't moved by the time she passed Captain, squeezing his shoulder as she passed just for the excuse to touch him. He hadn't seemed to move by the time she sat back between Hallie and Silver, and he didn't seem to move as the rest of the Crew silently took slices of hot pizza from the metal rounds that covered the center of the table.

It wasn't until Captain reached for a plate and pulled a couple of slices onto it for Sloane that Gunner seemed to defrost.

He lowered his glowing, bi-colored gaze to the table, hands clasped in front of his mouth, and then he looked at Sloane. "You take the first bite."

Unsure of the dynamics here, she nodded and looked around at the expectant faces of the others before she lifted a slice of pizza and blew on it, then took a huge bite. The moment she did, the others dug in, except for Captain. He was looking at his brother. He nodded once.

She didn't understand what had happened, but she would ask him on the way home. For now, she would just enjoy the night with the Fastlanders and appreciate that the man she had a crush on wasn't hiding her from his shifter friends. He was bringing her around on the first date and asking them to get along with her, and that meant something big to her.

Ryan had always had his own friend group, and had disrespected her on so many occasions with that group. He liked hiding his behaviors, and they had enabled it—even laughed at her behind her back.

But Captain? First chance he got, he'd brought her to dinner with his people.

She lifted her gaze to him, and he was watching her with a soft smile on his face, as if he could read her charitable thoughts toward him right now.

That was good-man stuff right there.