009
1179 Words
The Shadow
My best friend’s daughter is a wretched little liar.
I watch her as she sits at the bar, smiling at something Emmaline says while the rest of the club members get ready for the absence of the prez and vice president.
She opens a glass of beer and pours some into a glass before she brings the rim of the glass to her lips, pursing it as she drinks.
We’re going to be on the road for at least three hours. Drinking beer so early should not be on the agenda.
Yet, I know I can’t walk up to her to talk to her about it because I’m not the Uncle Cade she used to know. The same way she’s not my little Lottie anymore.
Her college boy fiance walks up to her while she drinks her beer. He wraps his hand around her waist, leaning over to kiss her cheek. She smiles, puts the beer down and raises her head up so he can kiss her lips.
My grip on my coffee tightens.
Her head turns in my direction. She holds my stare, taking another sip from the glass before she bites her lower lip.
“Prez, if we’re gonna get up North today, we have to leave now.” I walk over to Jax and say.
“Oh okay.” Jax nods.
“Hey princess, it’s time to leave. Enough of the lovey dovey stuff with your fiance. Go smash that research.” Jax yells.
Alex gives Lottie one last kiss before she tears away from him and walks up to me, backpack and all ready.
“I’m ready, Uncle Cade.” She smiles at me, but I do not smile back.
Unlike the rest of everyone here, I am not buying the bullshit that Lottie is selling. I can see through the lies.
“Take good care of my princess, Cade. Make sure she gets everything she wants.” Jax pats my shoulder as he, Conan, Manuel, Spencer and Alex make their way for the exit.
Jax makes his way to the GMC Yukon Denali, opening the door to the driver’s seat and hopping in. The rest of the members get in as well.
Everyone bids them goodbye and the engine roars to life before Jax zooms off.
“Uncle Cade, I really think that we should go now.” Lottie presses like the spoiled brat that she is.
I walk to the black Toyota Tacoma packed in the garage, hopping in.
“Get in,” I order her while she stands there.
“Aren’t you going to be a gentleman and come down to open the door for me, Uncle Cade?” She pouts.
Gentleman my ass!
“Don’t f**k with me, Carlotta. Get in!” I snap, my patience thinning.
She grumbles, pulling open the door before she hops in.
“The first thing I’ll do when dad gets back is to tell him how mean you were to me.” She threatens.
“Go ahead.” I shrug, not even bothering to spare her a glance.
“Uncle Cade, it’s me. Lottie. Have you forgotten?”
“Nope. Carlotta Melissa King. I know exactly who the f**k you are.”
“Why are you even calling my full name? Nobody calls me Carlotta.”
“What exactly do you want, Lottie? To question me or to go up North for your research ?” I quiz.
“I’m sorry.”
I start the ignition, throwing the car in reverse before I drive out of the clubhouse and hit the road.
***
“You’re driving too fast, Uncle Cade!” She whines once we hit the highway.
I ignore her at first, focusing on my driving, but the complaints get a little too much.
To rile her up all the more, I increase my speed.
“Uncle Cade! Do you want to get us killed.”
Sadly, she had a f*****g point.
I slow down a bit, then turn on the radio.
I’ve had enough of her today.
‘Seven unidentified bodies have been found at Linith Ocean not too far down the South Ridge. The police are having a hard time figuring out their identities. Please, if you're ploughing through the bridge, maybe stop by…’
Lottie changes the station and Taylor Swift’s music blasts through the speakers.
“Why did you change it? I was listening, you know?”
“What kind of psychopath listens to sad news at 7: 00 o’ clock in the morning?”
“What kind of pathetic liar lies to her father about a research because she wants to go up north?” I snap and the car goes quiet.
“Uncle Cade, I….”
“One day, everyone would see that you’re not so innocent, Lottie.”
“I never said I was innocent!” She spits. “At least one of us is honest about their feelings here. I’d rather be in this truck with an asshole like you that idle away at the clubhouse, doing nothing.”
“Look, Lottie. I don’t care what you tell your father. Don’t involve me in your bullshit next time. Also, for as long as you’re gonna be with me today, I’ll need you to shut the f**k up and behave yourself.”
I turn the radio off while I place one hand on the steering wheel.
I stare at the watch on my wrist. Two hours till we’re up north.
“Uncle Cade, you never really told me about your ex-wife. Do you think I’m better than her?” Lottie questions randomly.
I clench my jaw, keeping quiet.
I know the game she’s playing.
I turn on the radio again.
“The forecasters have urged those ploughing down the route to the North Ridge to please stop. There’s a heavy storm brewing soon and no one is safe.” The reporter says.
Fuck if I take some silly instructions from a news reporter.
I’m not staying a second longer with Lottie King than I need to.
“Uncle Cade, I think the storm is going to be very serious. I think we should park the truck somewhere and cool off for a bit.”
“Mind your f*****g business, Lottie.”
She turns to look at me.
“I didn’t know people could become such terrible assholes within the span of four years.” She spits out with audacity.
An intense lightening strikes, causing the sky to turn to an ugly shade of greenish purple.
I lean over, clicking my seatbelt off.
“You want to know about my ex-wife, Lottie? You want to know what it’s like to be with a man like me. You’re playing a game you aren’t built for.” I say while I hover above her.
I watch her swallow, trying to come up with a response.
Just then, heavy raindrops hit the windshield. My gaze lands on Lottie’s lips and then the road.
“The bridge is out ahead. We aren’t making it to the North Ridge anytime soon.”
- Writer
