Testing Waters
1004 Words
LEXIE
The morning at the drug store felt calmer than usual. I moved through my tasks with a smile on my face, but my mind kept drifting back to yesterday’s coffee spill. Mr. Harlan noticed I was quieter than normal.
“You alright, Sara?” he asked gruffly while I restocked the pain relief aisle. “You look like you didn’t sleep much.”
I gave him a quick grin. “Just thinking too hard, my brain likes to run marathons at night instead of letting me rest.”
He grunted but didn’t push, a few regulars came in during the morning. Mrs. Ellis, the sweet older woman who came in often, leaned on the counter while I rang up her items.
“You’re fitting in nicely, dear,” she said warmly. “Though I hear Raven’s back in town, that girl has opinions about everything.”
I kept my expression neutral as I handed her the bag. “Raven? I met her yesterday. She seems… very attached to this place.”
Mrs. Ellis nodded. “She’s been around the club a long time. Protective of the boys, especially Chaos. She doesn’t take kindly to new faces staying too long.”
I forced a small laugh. “Good to know. I’ll try not to take up too much space.”
The rest of my shift passed in a blur of customers and small talk. By the time I walked back to the bar in the late afternoon, I was tired but determined to keep my head down.
The evening crowd was already building when I stepped inside. Music played low, and several club members were scattered around the tables. Raven was in the middle of it all, laughing loudly with a group near the pool tables. She looked up the moment I walked in.
“Sara!” she called, her voice sweet but sharp. “Come join us. The boys were just asking about the new girl who’s been hiding upstairs.”
I walked over slowly, keeping my posture relaxed. “Hiding? I prefer the term ‘strategically resting.’ I’ve been working, not hiding.”
Raven smiled, but her eyes stayed cool. “Working at the drug store? How cute, most girls who come through here don’t last long enough to get a real job. They usually realize pretty quick that this life isn’t for everyone.”
A couple of the guys chuckled. I felt their eyes on me. I tilted my head and gave her a bright smile. “Good thing I’m not most girls. I’m very good at deciding what’s for me and what isn’t, and right now, this town is treating me better than my last one did.”
Raven’s smile tightened. “We’ll see how long that lasts. Chaos has a soft spot for broken birds, but even he gets tired of fixing them eventually.”
I laughed lightly. “Broken birds? That’s dramatic. I prefer ‘temporarily displaced badass.’ Sounds better on a resume.”
One of the guys laughed outright. Raven’s eyes narrowed, but she kept her smile in place. “You’ve got a mouth on you,” she said. “Hope it doesn’t get you into trouble.”
“Trouble and I are old friends,” I replied smoothly. “We’ve agreed to keep things casual.”
The conversation moved on, but the tension stayed in the air. I helped Mia behind the bar for a while, keeping busy so I wouldn’t have to stand near Raven. Every now and then I caught her watching me with that calculating look.
Later that night, after most of the crowd had thinned out, I slipped out the back door for some fresh air. I sat on the wooden steps behind the bar, knees pulled up to my chest, staring at the dark sky. The cool night air felt good on my skin.
I heard heavy footsteps approaching. Chaos stepped outside and stopped a few feet away, leaning against the wall. He didn’t come closer, he just stood there, arms crossed over his broad chest, looking at the same dark sky.
“Long night?” he asked quietly.
I shrugged. “Raven’s back. She’s making sure I know it.”
Chaos nodded slowly, his body stayed relaxed against the wall, but his jaw tightened slightly. “She can be territorial, has been for years.”
I let out a dry laugh. “Territorial? That’s one word for it. She spilled coffee on me yesterday and acted like it was an accident. Today she basically told me I’m temporary entertainment.”
Chaos stayed quiet for a moment. “You don’t have to take her shit.”
“I’m not,” I said. “But I’m also not trying to start a war in your club. I’m a stranger here. I don’t want to make things hard for you.”
He turned his head to look at me, his storm-gray eyes were steady in the dim light. “You’re not making things hard. You’re just… here, and that’s not a bad thing.”
I met his gaze. “You sure about that? Because Raven seems pretty convinced I’m going to bring trouble.”
Chaos pushed off the wall slowly but still kept his distance. “Raven has her own history. Don’t let her decide for you.”
I hugged my knees tighter. “It’s not just Raven. I’ve been running for a reason, Chaos. I don’t want to bring that reason to your doorstep.”
He stayed quiet, his big body still and calm. “You don’t have to tell me the reason, not until you’re ready. But while you’re here, you’re safe. That’s not changing because Raven has an attitude.”
I looked at him for a long moment, he was just... there. “You know,” I said softly, “for a man called Chaos, you’re surprisingly good at making things feel less chaotic.”
A small smirk tugged at his lips. “Names don’t always fit the person.”
- Writer
