“You’re doin’ good with him, Caleb,” my papa says, walking up behind me and keeping his eyes on Luca.“That boy will be one of the strongest men in this club and will become the backbone because of his attitude toward everyone in this clubhouse.He’ll be the next Hound or Pops.Luca just needs attention and guidance.You be his guide and Cali will give him all the attention he needs to thrive and become the man he’s meant to be.”
“I’m tryin’.He’s still so nervous around us all and rarely opens up.The only reason he did the other day is because it was in defense of Cali.He loves her and they’ve formed a great bond already.Cali really enjoys spendin’ her time with him,” I admit to my papa and wonder if Cali will go there with Luca.He’s younger than her but I know how to read both of them.
When Luca and Cali are together, they laugh, talk and simply enjoy being with one another.It’s on those occasions that we truly see the man Luca could be.He comes alive when Cali is with him and we rarely see him flinch from loud noises or someone getting too close to him.With Cali near him, Luca can almost forget his horrible past and the trauma he’s been through.She makes him seem completely free from worry and the fear he lives with.That’s just one of the many reasons I fell in love with Cali to begin with.
“I’ve seen it.They have a bond like you and Kreed do, Caleb.Cali sees him as a younger brother and Luca looks up to her like the sister he never had.The two of them have been through hell and back and will thrive around one another.Luca is there to protect Cali when she needs it from him and she gives him the safety and feeling of home he’s never once had in his life.We all saw it with his declaration about givin’ his life for hers and the kids.Luca wouldn’t do that for just anyone and if you don’t realize that, you’re stupid as fuck,” Papa says, a smile on his face as he watches Link try to joke around with Luca.“Kreed is another one who will get him to open up.Once Luca becomes confident enough in himself, I have a feelin’ you’re all gonna see an entirely different person who will only add to this club.”
“I agree.Are you comin’ out to eat with us?”I ask my papa as the rest of the club members head out to their bikes so we can leave.
“Not today.Your grandma is cookin’ at your house for us.I’m headin’ there now,” he answers me as I pull out my bike keys and give him a hug before joining everyone outside.
Climbing on my bike, I start the engine and just take in the thunderous rumble of all the bikes running at one time in the parking lot of the compound.The noise echoes off the clubhouse making it even louder than normal as we all prepare to pull out.I lead everyone with Link at my side as Craig opens the gate for us.Luca rides at the back of us and I keep an eye on him as we make the short trip through town.
When we pull up to the diner, the parking lot is almost full and I’m thankful we have a table that’s always empty just for us.A couple months ago, we helped out the owners and that was one of the things they’ve done for us to thank us.The owners, Simon and Veronica, are a younger couple who took over from Veronica’s grandma almost two years ago.They got in some trouble after taking over because they were in over their heads.We helped them out of the situation and have helped a few other times since then.They’re a great couple and we will always support them in whatever way they need.
Walking in the diner, everyone stops what they’re doing to watch us move through the space and head for our table.Movement catches my eye and I turn my head to find Cali taking an order at a table across the room.Confusion fills me because she’s a fucking nurse and shouldn’t be working here.We haven’t had the chance to truly sit down and talk about anything so I don’t know what’s going on in her life.When we were just in the hospital together, our conversations revolved around Rory and Bryce.Cali didn’t let anything become too personal after she woke up laying on me.That’s also the only time she sat next to me.She kept her distance and I know it’s because of our conversation.
“What the fuck is Cali doin’ workin’ here?”I ask the men around me because I’m sure one of them know what’s going on with her.
“You haven’t heard the bullshit that happened to her?”Master questions me, anger filling his face as we take our seats and put Luca in the center of the table.
“No, I haven’t.What the fuck happened and why wasn’t I informed of the situation before now?”I return, trying to keep my voice level and calm so Luca doesn’t flinch or get thrown into a painful memory from his past trauma.
“Darren’s parents showed up in the hospital.Everythin’ was fine until his father realized Cali was workin’ there.It was the same day Doc released her back to work as long as it was light duty.Cali was workin’ the desk when Mr.Foster went out and started bein’ a complete asshole to her.He spewed a ton of lies and used Darren’s death to get her suspended pendin’ an investigation.From what I can tell, she’s been let go and Darren’s parents are makin’ it impossible for her to get a job at another hospital or clinic,” Master informs me as rage fills my body and I know if one person says the wrong thing to me, I’m going to explode.
Cali loves being a nurse and she’s extremely passionate about helping those in their greatest time of need.She worked her ass off in school while pregnant and then having a newborn son to become a nurse.No one has worked harder than her.For Darren’s parents to have taken that away from her means they’re really my enemies now.I know they have issues with all of us and think we’re not good enough for Darren, but this takes their petty bullshit behavior to another level completely.
Getting up from my seat, I make my way to the office where I know Simon will be working on paperwork as usual.Knocking on the door, I wait for him to call out before entering the small room.
“What’s going on, Reckless?”Simon greets me with a smile on his face.
“You got a new employee.Her name is Cali.I want her to be the one to have our table whenever we come in here and she’s workin’.No one else can wait on us when we’re here,” I tell him, knowing he’ll fulfill my order because he respects us.“Cali is associated with the club so I expect her to be treated with respect and not bullied by the other women who work here.”
“Of course, Reckless.I’ll make sure everyone knows she’s your waitress and no one else can work your table when she’s here,” Simon says, getting up from his seat and following me out of the office.
I take my seat again and watch as Simon moves from one waitress to the next.He has a conversation with all of them and I already know which ones will try to give Cali a hard time.These women fight over us when we come in for a meal.Knowing Cali will be our permanent waitress is putting a target on her back, but it’s one of the ways I can help her without making it obvious.
“What did you do?”Link asks me, his voice full of laughter because he already knows my answer.
“Cali’s our only waitress when she’s workin’.I don’t want anyone else takin’ care of us,” I answer him honestly as everyone at the table starts laughing.
“I’m guessing this is because of you, Caleb,” Cali says, walking up to our table and stopping right next to me.“You didn’t need to do this.”
“Yeah, I did.You’re part of the club and we’ll always take care of you, Reina.Besides, I’m tired of all these women tryin’ to get with us when all we want is to sit here and relax with a good meal.You’ll do your job and won’t try to fuck with us.I mean, you can stand here the entire time and we won’t say a word about it because you’re one of us.No one else here is,” I tell her, my voice gentle as I notice a few glares being thrown our way.
“You know you just painted a target on my back, right?”she questions me, no anger in her voice that’s laced with amusement.
“You tryin’ to say you can’t handle these women, Cali?”Manic asks her, looking around the room.
“I can handle them, that’s not even a question.I’ve been trained to deal with bitches like them.Tank and everyone else in the club made sure I can take care of myself in almost every single situation.Thank you, Caleb, for doing this for me,” Cali says, her cheeks and neck turning a shade of pink as the guys avert their eyes because she’s embarrassed and they won’t call attention to it.
“Don’t gotta thank me, Reina,” I tell her, reaching out and gripping her hand for just a second before I release her again.
“What can I get you guys?Luca, it’s good to see you out with everyone,” Cali says, making sure to include our young Prospect as usual making him blush in response.Again, we don’t call attention to it because Luca needs this.
We all order our meals and Cali leaves to turn our ticket in.While waiting for our food, Cali delivers our drinks before moving through the rest of her tables.Everyone loves her as they smile and laugh at her from the second she steps up to the table until she leaves them.Cali will always thrive no matter what her job is.She makes everyone feel as if they’re her only focus and for the few minutes of each interaction between them, each customer is all she sees.Every other waitress in this place could take lessons from her and they’d actually make the tips I know Caliana will make.She’s gonna make this diner busy as hell and Simon and Veronica are gonna make more money than ever before.
Cali delivers our meals the second they’re ready and makes sure we don’t want or need anything else.Her tables clear out and are immediately filled by new customers while other sections of the diner remain empty.The only other one to get full tables is the young waitress Luca can’t take his eyes off of.Cali has noticed it more than once and I know without a doubt she’s going to play matchmaker.It doesn’t take a genius to know Cali wants Luca to live his best life and that includes finding the love of his life.My girl will make this young man happy one way or another.
