Ride And Obey MC

Sixteen

Danielle POV

The tightness in my chest loosens all at once, the pressure easing enough for me to breathe again. He doesn’t know. He didn’t hear about the way I lost it. He didn’t hear how I hit the ground or screamed like I was back in the dark all over again.

“Right,” I say, nodding slowly. “That’s all it was.”

His gaze lingers on me for a beat longer than I can handle, and then he shifts forward, resting his elbows on the table.

“I was gonna ask you out,” he says, voice quieter now. “Take you somewhere decent for once. Not just drinks and a warm bed.” His mouth curves slightly. “But you ran.”

I lift my eyes to his. There’s something too real about the way he says it. No teasing this time. No smirk. Just honesty.

“You could’ve asked before I left,” I say softly, then regret it instantly. He had been asleep. He’d given me space. I was the one who left in the middle of the night without a word.

He nods once. “Yeah, I guess I could’ve. But I didn’t think you’d run like that. I thought after everything… maybe you’d want more than just one night.”

I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. Because he’s right. Part of me did want more. But another part—the one that still panics in the dark, still fights memories I never asked for—kept telling me to run before I got hurt again.

I did, I ran, and now I don’t know if I regret it or not.

A quiet shuffle of footsteps breaks the tension hanging between us, and I glance up just in time to see James walking over with a notepad in hand and that smooth, practiced smile he gives all customers. It falters slightly when he sees Knox, like he’s trying to figure out if he should take the order or call security.

Knox doesn’t make it easier. He just leans back and offers James a slow, steady grin that could mean trouble or nothing at all.

“Ready to order?” James asks, glancing at me like I might call for help.

I nod quickly. “Yeah, I’ll just take the soup and salad combo. Whatever the soup is today is fine.”

Knox doesn’t even look at the menu. “Double bacon cheeseburger. Fries. And another cola.”

James scribbles it down without comment and walks off without asking if we want dessert or appetizers. The moment he’s out of earshot, I let out a breath and look back at Knox.

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “For leaving without saying anything. I should’ve... I don’t know. Left a note or something.”

Knox shakes his head and waves it off like it’s nothing. “It’s fine, Red. I figured you had your reasons. I’m not the type to demand explanations.”

I look at him, surprised by the gentleness in his tone, the way he means it without needing to dig. He isn’t pushing. He isn’t punishing me with silence or guilt. He’s just here.

He leans forward again, forearms braced on the table, voice softer this time. “I was gonna ask if you’d want to come back tonight. To the club. Maybe grab a drink, talk a little. No pressure.”

I hesitate. The thought of stepping foot back into that place makes my stomach twist. But then again, it also makes something else stir in me—curiosity, maybe even want. And I’m not entirely sure which one scares me more.

“Maybe,” I say finally, not making any promises.

Knox lets out a low sigh and smirks. “I’ll take a maybe over a no.”

James is back, setting our plates down without a word. The burger smells ridiculous, and even though I’d just planned on picking at the soup, the first spoonful reminds me how empty my stomach is.

We eat in silence for a few minutes, both of us hungry enough to focus, but it doesn’t stay quiet for long.

Knox wipes his mouth with a napkin and leans back, studying me as he speaks. “You always work mornings?”

“Not always,” I reply. “My schedule shifts a lot. Sometimes nights, sometimes split shifts. It depends on how short-staffed we are.”

He nods, chewing slowly before speaking again. “You like it here?”

I shrug, picking at a piece of lettuce. “It’s a job. It keeps the lights on, and pays rent.”

“Fair enough.” He smirks a little. “Still think you could use a real night out. One that doesn’t end with you sneaking out like a thief in the dark.”

That earns him a small laugh, and I shake my head. “I didn’t sneak. I... exited quietly.”

“Same difference.”

He says it with a grin, but I can see he means it when he looks at me again. He wants more than just that one night, and even though every part of me wants to keep the walls up, another part is starting to wonder if maybe... just maybe, I could let them down.

At least a little.