Page 105 of Chasing the Dream

“Thank you.”

She looked disappointed when he didn’t say anything else, and then she wandered off.

He ate slowly, one, because he was already full, and two, because he needed an excuse to sit there until Morgan came out. After a time, the waitress came back to check on him, and he decided he couldn’t eat another bite.

“Are you all set?”

“Yes. I’ll take the bill, please.”

She fished it out of her apron pocket and set it on the table. “Whenever you’re ready. No rush.”

She swayed her hips as she walked away, and he looked down at the bill and saw that she’d signed her name inside a heart. She was either hoping for a good tip, wanting to go home with him, or perhaps both. He’d just taken a twenty-dollar bill out of his wallet when he noticed movement across the street.

Morgan had come outside, followed by Bryan, and neither of them looked very happy.

“Shit!” Gabe threw down the twenty and rushed out the door, vaguely aware of the waitress calling, “Wait! What about your change?”

He kept his eyes on Morgan, who was hurriedly walking away while Bryan called her name. To hell with not interfering. Something was wrong, and he wasn’t about to stand by and do nothing.

The nearest crosswalk was too far away, but cars were traveling in both directions. “C’mon, hurry up,” he growled, while he waited for a break in the traffic. He’d just made it into the center lane when he saw Bryan grab Morgan’s arm.

Two more cars were coming in the lanes Gabe had to cross, but he didn’t want to wait. His adrenaline pumping and his heart racing, he darted out and somehow made it across the street just before the two cars whizzed by, with one of the drivers laying down hard on his horn.

“Let go of her!” Gabe yelled as soon as his feet hit the sidewalk.

Bryan let go, and Morgan whirled around. “Gabe?”

“You’re interrupting our meeting,” Bryan hissed.

“Your meeting was over the minute you laid a hand on her.”

Gabe inserted himself between Bryan and Morgan and clenched his hands into fists, should he have cause to use them. Bryan was well built, but Gabe had no doubt he could take him down due to the anger coursing through his veins.

“I wasn’t trying to hurt her,” Bryan huffed.

Gabe looked over his shoulder and saw that Morgan was hugging herself tightly and shaking.

“Let’s just go,” she pleaded.

Gabe glanced back at Bryan, who stood with his legs outspread, his hands on his hips, and an arrogant expression on his face.

“You’re doing her, aren’t you?” Bryan said.

“You son of a bitch.” Gabe raised his arm, preparing to deliver a punch, but Morgan grabbed his elbow and pulled him back.

“Gabe, NO!” She continued to yank on his arm while he and Bryan glared at each other. Finally, Bryan shook his head in disgust and then turned and went back into the tavern.

Gabe happened to glance across the street and saw that a small crowd had gathered to watch, including his waitress, who stood front and center, waving some dollar bills above her head.

“Your change!” she shouted.

“Keep it!” he yelled back.

Morgan had let go of his arm and was stomping across the parking lot toward Maria’s car, not bothering to wait for him.

He quickly caught up to her and slid his arm around her waist, but she swatted it away.

“Not here,” she snarled, avoiding his gaze.