Fighter (Outsider Series) Read Free Page B

inside. It closed in Bryce’s face and he glared at Caeden.
    Opening it, Bryce grumbled, “That was nice.”
    “I try,” Caeden grinned.
    Suddenly, a shriek filled the diner, and everyone turned to look at our group.
    “Is that the Williams boys I hear?”
    A short, plump, gray haired woman scurried around the counter. A pale pink apron was tied around her waist, covered in various stains, and her curly gray hair threatened to escape confinement.
    “Hey Meryl!” Caeden grinned, flashing his dimple.
    “Look at you two all grown up,” the woman I assumed to be Meryl glanced back and forth between Caeden and Bryce. “I haven’t seen ya’ll in years. Where’s your mama and that handsome daddy of yours?”
    Caeden and Bryce both slumped a little. “Dad passed away and mom didn’t come. It’s just us and our friends,” Caeden said and introduced everybody. He came to me last and leaned down, kissing my cheek. “And this is my fiancé, Sophie.”
    “Fiancé?” Meryl gasped.
    I waved shyly and said, “Hi.”
    “Hi sweetie,” Meryl said, but I could tell she was still shocked. Shaking her head, “I’m sorry, ya’ll are just so young.”
    “When you meet the love of your life you just know,” Caeden wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer.
    She smiled. “We’ll I’m happy for ya’ll but I’m also sorry for your loss.” She grabbed a stack of menus and led us to the back. The boys shoved two tables together so we could all sit together.
    “Drinks?” she pulled out a notebook and pen.
    We all told her and she disappeared behind the counter.
    I looked over the menu and finally told Caeden to just order me whatever he was getting.
    Meryl returned with our drinks and took the order. “I’ll put a rush on that,” she smiled. “I know how hungry you Williams boys can be.”
    “Thanks Meryl,” Caeden grinned and handed her the menus.
    “So,” Bentley leaned back and swung his arm over the back of Chris’ chair, “This is turning out to be some vacation. I can’t believe-”
    “La, la, la!” I stuck my fingers in my ears.
    Bentley snorted and took a sip of sweet tea. “I guess you were serious about the whole no shifter talk,” he whispered.
    “I was. We can talk about Travis till our hearts content when we get home,” I narrowed my eyes at him.
    Bentley held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay.”
    Meryl came out with a tray of food and dished it out before going back for two more. Soon the table was so covered in food that I couldn’t see a speck of the cracked red tabletop.
    “Thank you, Meryl,” Caeden smiled.
    “No problem. Ya’ll holler if you need something.”
    “Thanks Meryl!” Bryce yelled.
    Meryl laughed and patted Caeden’s shoulder. “Your brother never changes.”
    “No, ma’am, he doesn’t.”
    “Enjoy your guys’ meal,” she smiled at all of us.
    I took a bite of chocolate chip pancake and moaned in ecstasy. “That’s really good,” I told Caeden.
    He grinned. “I told ya.”
    Between the seven us we managed to clean all of the plates. Meryl came by and chuckled. “Ya’ll all have a healthy appetite don’t ya? And here , I thought it was just the Williams boys.” She started stacking the plates and said, “One check?”
    “Yep,” Caeden nodded.
    “I’ll be right back with that,” she carried the teetering pile of dishes back to the kitchen.
    She brought the check and Caeden glanced at the total before handing her a credit card.
    Meryl came back with the credit card and Caeden handed her a wad of cash. She looked down at the sizable tip and her eyes widened. She tried to shove the money back in his hand. “I can’t t-t-take this,” she stuttered. “It’s too much.”
    “Nothing’s too much for you , Meryl.”
    “Caeden,” her voice was soft and tears flooded her eyes. “Thank you,” she stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek. “You’re like the grandson I never had but always wished for.”
    Caeden wrapped