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Chapter One

I’M NOT NAÏVE I know I don’t get the happily-ever-after My knight in shining arodforsaken shit hole I’veto lie down like a doormat and let every cocky prick in the trailer park have his ith me

“I’ll be right there,” I snarled at Larry He is the cook here at Aggie’s Diner, and he is also Aggie’s husband His hair is long and greasy, hanging in thick, gray clumps around his weathered face He is almost always a mean and nasty old man

I turned back to ed customer with a quick smile as he continued to leer at my chest I slid thesure it tipped into his lap “accidentally”

“I’ritted teeth I tucked a strand of my dirty-blond hair (which some would call dark wheat) that had fallen loose froh Cass Daniels was a lot of things, but not that

It was always the sahway and decides to try out a little local joint,lucky with a waitress Soirl Besides, I had abut a curse sometimes

I htly betweenLarry upside his damn head

“I hit the bell five nored him as he went on and on as I put the hot plates onto ers I rolled etting louder as I walked away

“Don’t act like you’re the only one in the trailer park who can carry a plate of food You ain’t nothin’ special!”

I slapped my tray down on table four with a littleback my tears I didn’t need so me I wasn’t worth a damn I forced a smile at the elderly lady in front of me

Her hand moved on top of mine as I placed her dish in front of her It startled me, and I had to force myself not to pull back

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not special,” she said in a hushed tone

I sle tear escaped my eye and trailed down my cheek I pulled y peach-colored walls to hide“Enjoy your meal” My voice cracked with my words

I turned quickly androom and out the back entrance arettes from my apron and stared at the box while I walked to the corner of the building I hadn’t had one for four days, but I couldn’t force myself to throw the pack away

I stared off at the trailers that were on the other side of the parking lot A tattered fence lined the area with an array of signs that read KEEP OUT I snorted

No one went in there unless the person had no choice The fence just kept us away from the people who mattered

I held the lighter to the end ofs with the delicious smoke

“That’ll kill ya, you know,” a deep voice called from in front of me My eyes shot open A ray T-shirt that read I’M WITH THE BAND stood in front of me, motorcycle helrin played across his lips His hair was dark brown and unruly, but so told me he took time to make it look so effortlessly disheveled His arms had elaborate tattoos to the wrists, and his blue eyes were bright in the sun This was the guy your h to function He stood at least a foot taller than e of twenty-three, or maybe a couple of years older

“Not fast enough” I rolled ers over his hair from back to front and nodded, then turned to walk to the front door of the diner He stopped for ato say, but didn’t He opened the door and disappeared inside instead without a backward glance

At least my shitty life was entertain down at it before flicking it off into the dirt of the parking lot I stood and straightenedtears from my face, and went back to work

Mr Dark and Dangerous was sitting in a booth in net for bad boys; only in s and heartbreak

“Welcoie’s Diner My name is Cass and I’ll be your waitress Can I start you off with so to drink?” I slapped a menu down in front of him I did my best to smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes It never did I raked my eyes over the tattoos that crawled out fro patterns

“Tucker White” He grinned That set him whatever he wanted

My eyes snapped back to his “Do you want so to drink, Tucker White?” I tried not to sound ie witty banter with soo home and take a hot shower, if we even had hot water This job barely paid the bills, and with my mom’s mouth to feed, we could hardly afford luxuries such as water, let alone solid meals or cable

“I’ll have a beer, sweetheart Whatever you recommend” His smile didn’t waver

I glanced around the diner and back to hi me? look on my face This wasn’t the place for exotic delicacies or fancy beers “I’m not your sweetheart”

“Challenge accepted” He laughed

These guys were all the sarab you a Bud” I turned on rab hie

“Cass, what are you doing with my beer?” Larry called from behind the cook line

“It’s for a customer,” I called over my shoulder “I’ll pay you back when he settles the check” I pushed through the kitchen doors and got away froain

I set the bottle down in front of Tucker and wiped the condensation on my hand onto my apron