Damaged and the Cobra

by Bijou Hunter

“Glad you approve, but don’t mock my dogs again and stop barking at Pollack.”

  “Fuck off,” she said over her shoulder while walking inside.

  Following her, I thought about the little worm on Lark’s back. How it looked up at me when she wiggled her butt for my approval. Needing to see the worm and that butt, I was relieved to find Lark drying off. She caught my gaze and just smiled. My girl knew me too well.

  Chapter Forty - Lark

  Bailey sat on the edge of the couch and fed Maddy grapes. The very swollen mommy-to-be initially complained about being fed like a pet. Eventually, she gave in and enjoyed the attention. Not to be outdone, Sawyer turned a fan towards Maddy and was painting her nails.

  I watched them baby her and wondered about when I would be that big and uncomfortable.

  “I’m in no hurry to have a baby,” Tawny said, maybe for the tenth time since arriving. “Not in any hurry at all.”

  Farah grinned from where she was cutting carrots into little perfect sticks for dipping.

  “Coop is obsessed with getting me pregnant. First, his little brother is about to have a baby then his best friend. I swear whenever we’re alone, he’s inside me,” she said then her smile grew. “It’s awesome.”

  “Huh,” Tawny muttered. “Judd is in me all the time too and not because he’s trying to plant his flag or lay his seed or whatever.”

  “Jealous?” Farah asked and Tawny fake glared at her.

  “Sometimes, my sister irritates me too,” I said and they both laughed.

  “I’m going to brush the baby’s hair,” Bailey announced to no one in particular. “When she’s old enough, I’m going to put those little barrettes in her hair and make her wear headbands and turn her into a doll. Then when she cries, I’m giving her back to Maddy.”

  “Yeah for me,” Maddy whispered with her eyes closed.

  “Are you suffering?” Bailey asked. “Like should I do more for you to ease away the horror of how huge you’ve become?”

  Opening her eyes a crack, Maddy muttered, “Stop charming me.”

  Bailey grinned. “Seriously, you look pretty miserable today.”

  “I’ve been having those Braxton Hicks contractions since yesterday.”

  “Is that bad?” Sawyer asked, looking up from her meticulous work on Maddy’s toes. “Is it like hemorrhoids?”

  When we laughed, Sawyer beamed, even though she likely had no idea what was funny.

  “They’re like practice contractions,” Maddy explained. “They don’t hurt much, but they’re uncomfortable.”

  Bailey frowned. “How do you know all this stuff?”

  “I read a book.”

  “Yeah, I did that once. Not a fan.”

  “You guys don’t have to hang out here,” Maddy said. “The guys are out having fun and you’re pampering me. You could go to the movies if you want.”

  “No,” Bailey said quickly. “I need to be super nice because I had a dream that being nice will lead to a handsome awesome guy who is the fucker. I want that guy. He belongs to me and I’m sick of waiting, so shut up and let me be nice to you.”

  “Sure,” Maddy said, sighing. “This is nice, but I’m going to have to pee soon.”

  “Do you need me to carry you?” Bailey asked.

  “Maybe. Ask me in a few minutes.”

  Smiling, I turned back to the sisters who were slopping peanut butter on slices of celery.

  “I’m thinking about getting married in Vegas,” I said, hoping Tawny wasn’t mad.

  “Please, do. I need the attention off me. Judd doesn’t want anyone bugging him either. We wouldn’t invite anyone of you to come along, but I want Farah there and she comes with an entourage.”

  “I heard that,” Bailey called out as she cut the grapes in half to make it easier for a sleepy Maddy to chew.

  “Anyway,” Tawny continued, “I just want to get married and play poker and the slots and goof around. I don’t want it all serious and pretentious like when Farah got married.”

  Smiling sweetly, Farah swiped a dab of peanut butter on Tawny’s nose. “Be nice or I’ll have the dogs lick it off. You’ll be trapped under their tongues for hours.”

  “I prefer to be trapped under Judd’s tongue.”

  “Are you two having a ‘who gets fucked more’ competition?” I asked.

  “Yep,” Tawny said, cleaning off her nose. “The guys started it. You know, right after they whipped out their dicks and measured.”

  “Man, too bad I missed that.”

  “Need to pee,” Maddy announced and the Johansson sisters helped her to her feet. “I can waddle on my own, but thanks.”

  Bailey watched her go then joined us in the kitchen while Sawyer tried to convince a dog to let her do his nails.

  “I’m going to be a great mom one day,” Bailey said. “I just have this natural way with children. Like this morning when Sawyer got her hair stuck in the door, I opened it and freed her. I did that without anyone asking me to. Natural talent.”

  A part of me figured Bailey knew she was full of shit. Yet, another part wondered if she had a clue. It was always tricky to tell.

  “Hey, guys,” Maddy muttered, waddling back into the room. “I think those were real contractions.”

  “Ew, did your water break?” Bailey asked. “Gross.”

  “No, but I’m bleeding. When the mucus plug falls out and lining thins for delivery, bleeding happens. This is it.”

  Bailey patted Maddy’s cheek. “I’m really excited for you, but that’s so gross and I never want children. At the very least, I’m buying them on the black market so I don’t have to do that gross delivery shit.”

  Farah and Tawny rushed over to help Maddy to the car while I grabbed the hospital bag she took with her everywhere. Bailey called the Johanssons while Sawyer spun around and got her hair caught in a few things. I freed the child without anyone telling me to, so based on Bailey’s way of thinking, I would be a great mom one day.

  Soon, we were on the road. In the backseat, Farah sat with Bailey and Maddy. I was up front with Tawny who showed off the evasive driving tricks Judd taught her. Sawyer sat between us and chewed on gum that I sensed would end up in her hair.

  Chapter Forty One - Aaron

  Tucker had created the Thunderdome in Ellsberg. Well, except no one died. Otherwise, the dunce had come up with an idea, executed it, and found success. I hadn’t been so proud of Cooper’s stupid little brother since that time he figured out the slot on the front of the jeans was for pissing.

  Cooper was impressed too, but he tried not to show it. Tucker tended to get too big for his britches from any compliment. Bad enough his girl was having a baby before Cooper’s. The Thunderdome was bound to make the idiot unbearable cocky.

  “I love this fucking place,” Vaughn said, ignoring the pact to avoid complimenting Tucker. “I heard you’re adding girl on girl fights. Man, I’ll pay extra to see that.”

  “Oh, and you will,” Tucker yelled over the crowd of people cheering for the next fight.

  “How rough will you let the chicks get?” Judd asked, sitting down in the box seats for us important fucks. “I don’t know how sexy it’ll be to see them spitting up teeth.”

  “They’ll wear teeth guards and shit. It’s more for fun. The guys know not to beat each other too badly. I mean, they want to come back and fight again, not sit in a hospital.”

  Cooper nodded. “I’d so do this shit, if Farah let me.”

  Vaughn made the sound of a snapping whip and the whipped guys frowned at him. He just smiled. “Ah, having control over my balls is so wonderful. You boys should beg your women to let you have them back for the night. Maybe if you promise to do the dishes or wash the floor or some other shit job, they’ll agree.”

  “Vaughn,” Cooper said, giving his enforcer a dark glare, “when you meet a girl and lose your mind over her, we’re going to enjoy mocking you. I mean, it’ll be a fucking sport and we’ll trip over each other to be the next one to screw with y
ou.”

  “Hell, if I ever lose my mind over a girl, I’ll be too fucking stupid to care what you assholes say. Likely, I’ll have suffered a brain injury or some shit. In that case, you’ll be mocking a disabled man and that’s not cool.”

  “He has a point,” Tucker said like he was sensitive now.

  “You’re all idiots,” I muttered. “It’s rather frightening how any of you will carry on your defective genetic material into the future generation.”

  “Said the guy who got his girlfriend pregnant on accident,” Vaughn said and high fived Tucker. “Yeah, I’m sick of listening to all the crap about babies and weddings and other ballfree shit. Just shut up so we can watch the fight.”

  “Nick?” I said, catching sight of the tattoo I’d worked so meticulously on the last few weeks.

  Reacting negatively whenever hearing that particular name, Cooper immediately tensed. We watched as both fighters readied for the battle.

  “Nick is one of the guys?” I asked Tucker who avoided Cooper’s glare.

  “He’s a hardass. Takes a punch and keeps coming. The crowd loves him because he just bleeds and never stops. They call him the dragon. Nice tat, by the way, Aaron. Very popular with the girls in the stands.”

  Hearing Nick was fucking other chicks and no longer planned to mess with his, Cooper lost interest in kicking ass.

  “I love when you do a back piece like that, man,” he said to me while grinning. “You really shine. I should have had one done instead all of the smaller ones. I blame you for not suggesting it.”

  “Shut the fuck up is all I have to say on that matter. You’re the one who keeps getting new tats. I told you to pace yourself, but no one listens to me.”

  “I like my tats,” Judd muttered, focused on the impending fight. “I like how each one tells a story. Now, what the bald guy said. Shut the fuck up. I’m trying to focus.”

  “He must be quiet the charmer in bed, huh?” Vaughn teased, causing Judd to nearly shove him off the bench. “Man, he goes an hour without fucking and what a bitch.”

  Laughing at their bullshit, I noticed Cooper watching me.

  “Things are solid?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “You got a girl, a baby on the way, and her sister living with you. A lot of shit. Just wanted to make sure you weren’t putting on a cool act for the world.”

  “And you thought the best time to have a heart to heart was at an organized brawl with hundreds of people around us and these idiots probably listening?”

  “Yeah, I figured we’d be less likely to cry and hug with an audience.”

  Elbowing him, I smiled. “I’m good and thanks for asking. I know that couldn’t have been easy with your ferocious jealousy of my amazing sperm.”

  “Fuck you. Farah is probably knocked up right this very second.”

  “Or not. You have a good life and weak sperm doesn’t change anything.”

  “I’m going to knock your face in.”

  “Fight’s starting. Kick his ass later,” Tucker said.

  We quieted down as the crowd roared to life. As I watched Nick stand casually in the middle of the cage, I now understood where he got the money for the tattoo. Having seen the scars on his back that were now covered by the dragon, I also figured he wouldn’t mind a few more from these fights.

  When the first punch was thrown and Nick took it then barreled at the other fighter, Cooper hooted.

  “He’s a wily fuck. Did I ever tell you that it took me a whole five minutes to get him to stay down? That might be a fucking record for me.”

  “Yeah, you’re a hell of a fighter,” I said, refraining from the urge to mock his weak sperm.

  Cooper knew what I was thinking though and glared at me. “You’re lucky your parents paid me to be your friend when we were kids or I would so kick your ass right now.”

  “Shh,” I said, placing my finger to his lips. “Save your strength for another failed attempt knocking up your wife.”

  Cooper grinned. “Laugh it up. My kids are going to kick your kids’ asses too.”

  “Your kids?” I asked, returning my gaze to the fight where Nick wore down his bigger opponent by fighting past the pain. “I’ll believe that when I see them.”

  Cooper looked ready to hit me when Tucker screamed like a girl next to him.

  “My baby’s coming!!!!”

  “Save your pillow talk for Maddy,” Vaughn said, rolling his eyes.

  “No, she’s going to the hospital. The baby is coming. My little girl is coming. Shit, every way I say that sounds pervy.”

  “You’re going to be a dad,” Cooper said, patting him on the back. “Let’s go break a few speed limits and scare some hospital staff.”

  Ten minutes later, after roaring through town and flipping off a few patrol cars who would have chased had they not known the owners of those middle fingers, we arrived at the hospital.

  Bailey was yelling at a doctor and threatening him with bodily harm.

  “Don’t worry,” Tucker said, hurrying past his sister. “I already threatened him. He’s solid.”

  “Oh, well, okay then.”

  Tucker followed a nurse into a room while I joined Lark who looked freaked out.

  “She was acting so normal and now a baby is coming out of her vagina. I hope we have more warning.”

  “I love you too,” I said and she grinned. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. Bailey’s been threatening people since we got here twenty minutes ago.”

  “So you’ve had entertainment.”

  Lark got up from her chair and curled up in my lap. “Tawny said we can get married with them in Vegas. She’s actually excited about it.”

  Smiling, I looked at where Tawny stood with Judd. They both looked awkward in the hospital with all of the laboring women waddling by.

  “Why are they walking around like that?” Bailey cried. “The babies will fall out and I’m not cleaning anything.”

  Cooper grabbed his sister and forced her to sit next to him and Farah. “Calm down.”

  “What if she’s in pain forever and the baby’s head get stuck and they use a vacuum cleaner and the baby’s head is ugly and I laugh and people think I’m mean? I don’t need that pressure in my life right when I’m getting the hang of being nice.”

  Sawyer sat on Farah’s lap and showed her the gum wound in her long locks.

  “Mom and Pop are on their way,” Bailey muttered, glancing at the room where Maddy was settling in. “She’s going to suffer all night. I read somewhere that babies can make a mom suffer for days before they come out. Why would they do that, Coop?”

  My gaze met my friend’s and we smiled at his sister’s panic.

  “All damn night,” Bailey said again.

  Just then, Tucker’s head popped out of the room. “Scarlet’s here. Seven pounds and something ounces. I wasn’t really listening. She’s fucking adorable too and has hair. Anyway, she’s here.”

  Tucker disappeared back into the room and I noticed Bailey relax against her brother.

  “Hey, that wasn’t so bad. Maybe I’ll have a kid one day after all.”

  “Yeah, that’s what the world needs,” Cooper teased, one arm wrapped around his sister’s shoulders, the other around Farah. “We’ll populate the world with many amazing bikers and a few stupid kids to even things out.”

  “Our baby won’t be stupid,” Lark whispered against my neck. “It’ll be smart and brave and gorgeous like its daddy.” Lark lifted her head and looked into my eyes with her bright green ones. “I see things better now because of you and I’m not scared. Well, not of failing. I see me better because of you and I know everything is going to be perfect.”

  Studying her face, I memorized her expression so I could draw it later. I wanted to remember that look until I was old and gray. Even after the memories faded from my mind, I would have the pictures I created. A million snapshots of every beautiful moment with my muse.

  Chapter Forty Two - Lark

>   The double wedding in Vegas was perfection. Raven even came along with the rest of the crew. The only one not with us was Vaughn who couldn’t leave Kentucky. We sent him photos of the wedding and he sent us photos of his topless one night stands.

  For the wedding, Judd and Tawny showed up in jeans and matching Harley tees. I wore my favorite pink and white polka dotted dress while Aaron was in his best khakis and plaid shirt. After our vows were performed by an Elvis impersonator, Tawny threw her bouquet at a waiting Bailey. I threw mine at Raven who dodged it. Instead, Bailey caught my bouquet then screamed and danced like she’d scored a touchdown.

  Becoming fast friends, Raven and Bailey ran wild the whole trip. Meanwhile, Cooper and Farah spent most of their time swimming or in bed. After the wedding, Judd and Tawny ditched the group for the rest of the trip. I spotted them at a poker table once, but Aaron was in a hurry to see Cirque du Soleil where we met his parents. We didn’t see the newlyweds again until on the way back to the airport. Tawny and Judd were silent, yet smirking like they were in on a fun secret. Their smiles likely had something to do with the big roller suite Cooper said they moved into after the first night.

  For our honeymoon, Aaron and I played tourists. We visited casinos, saw shows, played in the themed pools, and ate like pigs. After our three days in Vegas, I swore off eggrolls. A promise I kept for two weeks.

  A lot of young people would have hated their in-laws hanging out on their honeymoon, but Maryann and Dick made me feel special. The four of us explored the city and took a million pictures we would one day show our kids. While Aaron played it cool and his tats made him seem like a rough guy, his eyes danced on our trip.

  After all, I was his muse and he was my cobra and we were creating an amazing life together. Vegas would be just the beginning.

  Epilogue - Aaron

  After a difficult pregnancy, Lark delivered our twins early. Not long into the emergency c-section, Lark began hemorrhaging. Phoebe and Leo were whisked away to neonatal unit while I watched my muse fade away.

  Having no faith in fate, I was certain I lost my love. I sat in the waiting room as the doctors fought to save her life. The whole time, I imagined someone emerging to give me the bad news. I wasn’t even certain the twins were healthy. Sitting with my friends and family, I waited to see if my dream would die.