by Xyla Turner
"No, you harp on shit until it’s out your system."
The man had a point.
"Whatever. I'm just thorough."
"Ready to get outta here? I want you to be thorough on top of me." Bronx whispered.
Shit.
"Say no more." I tried to push away from him. "Let's Ride."
"My girl." He let me go so we could ride home.
On our way home, we passed Lori's house, and the lights were on. That was weird since she was away and we were told not to pursue her. I chalked it off as maybe her parents were there gathering her stuff, but Bronx was riding so fast and it was so loud, I didn't have time to stop.
That fact did not cross my mind until the next morning after my multi-orgasmic hangover had me tangled up in Bronx.
"Kitten, your phone. It's Kylie." Bronx nudged me. "Seems important."
He was completely naked, making me think naughty things.
“This better be good.” I squinted to see the clock read six-thirty in the morning.
Really fucking good.
Taking the phone I say up, “Girl, this better and I mean…”
“Lori’s back.” She was whispering. “She's here at our place.”
“What?” I gasped. “Wait, what?”
My head turned to look at Bronx, who was up and moving closer.
"She's here. Right now. In the living room. Come." She whispered. "Now."
"Shit, I'm on my way. Coming." I threw the phone, ran into the bathroom, turned on the shower and walked right under the cold spray while adjusting my scarf that was lopsided on my head.
The shower door didn't shut when I turned around and saw Bronx. "You, uh, forgot something?"
"Oh, sorry sweetheart." I kissed his nose. "That was Kylie, and she says Lori is back. Like in her living room. So I'm going."
I turned around, swiped the necessities and walked out.
Bronx was in the room with his jeans, t-shirt and cut on.
"I'm taking you." He said.
I had been with him long enough to know that this wasn't negotiable. We had a silent understanding, so he also knew when what I said wasn't up for discussion.
My head nodded and after I was dressed we were on our way.
When we pulled up, there was a red corvette outside with the top down. It was new and it was nice. It had to be Lori's or she borrowed it because Kylie car was parked outside, and so were Razor's bike and truck.
The door was open, so I didn't have to knock and lo and behold, there sat Lori in the flesh. She had shorter hair, it was layered and highlighted, makeup was absolutely flawless, her clothes were stylish and she looked good.
"Goddamn, Lori," I yelled and ran towards her.
She stood and greeted me as I nearly tackled her.
"What the fuck?" I looked at her up and down.
"What's up with you?" She asked, showing that Lori smile.
Kylie chose to come out and smile, while Razor waved Bronx in the kitchen. Before he made it, he stopped, kissed me on the forehead, then turned to Lori and said, "Good to see you again."
"You too Bronx," she hugged him and then he was off.
Her hands went up, and she closed her eyes.
"I know I owe you guys an explanation. Lots of them and I'll tell you everything, just let me explain and then you can yell at me all you want."
"No, we're just glad to see you are in one piece," Kylie said.
"No, bitch. I'm mad." I made sure that was known. "I'm glad to see you, but I'm still mad."
"I figured you would be." She smirked.
"Okay, well, first of all. I left because" she sighed. "I really needed to. I mean, you guys know, I was out of control with the obsessiveness over a guy." Her hand was palm up waving towards the door. "I've suffered from this before and I needed help. I wasn't coping well and therefore all of my attention was on this one guy. You know? So, I knew I had spiraled, but I hadn't realized how much I was gone until Connor exploded like that. It was public and embarrassing, but I'm better now. Much better. I made some changes, including my job and picked up a few hobbies. I'm even dating now, which I refused to do for so long. He's sweet, and he also can identify with me. We were in the same facility. I can't wait for you to meet him. My parents were supportive, and I've moved out as of last night, to my own place, near Baltic."
She paused as Kylie and I digested what she was saying.
"So, that's really it in a nutshell." Her shoulders rose to her ears and she exhaled.
"Honey, why didn't you tell us," I reached to grab her hands.
"It's embarrassing; you know?" She looked directly at me. "I didn't want you guys to look at me differently, but I was making such an ass of myself, I guess you were already looking at me differently."
My head nodded in agreement with that statement. I certainly had.
"So, you have OCD?" Kylie asked.
"Well, not really. It's obsessive, but not necessarily compulsion. I can become hyper-focused on a person and not a bunch of things. It could even be a celebrity, and other signs are delusions, jealousy and things like that. It never got to that point, but if it would have gone unchecked, it might have." She confided.
"I see." My head nodded with recognition.
"Yeah, so go ahead, let me have it." Lori gave us a half-smile.
"No, kudos for you getting the help you needed," Kylie said. "That says a lot about you."
"Well, I wouldn't go that far." Lori’s eyebrow raised.
"I would," I chimed in. "One of the reasons why I never said anything to you about it is because on some level I felt like I had those same tendencies. I'd never admit that, but you did and more importantly, to yourself."
Lori's eyes started to fill with unshed tears.
"Oh no," Kylie stood up. "No crying, okay. It's eight in the morning. We haven't had coffee yet."
"Shay," Lori called. "You have no idea how much I needed to hear you say that."
She jumped to her feet and hugged me. Then she whispered in my ear, "You really don't know."
We embraced for a while until Kylie joined us. Once we stopped, I asked, "So you're back for good?"
"Yup, my job started Monday morning and right now, I'm still in the process of moving."
"Oh goodie, because we have a few good men that can help you." Kylie smiled. "Razor, Bronx. Get in here."
A few seconds later, they both strolled through the kitchen door looking to Kylie. Bronx no longer had a limp, but on rainy days, he ached and the limp was noticeable.
"Lori, here, is back to stay, and she's moved near Baltic, and I thought it'd be nice if we all helped her." Kylie smiled sweetly.
"You mean, we move the shit, while you girls gab and shit," Razor growled.
"Something like that," I added. "Bronx are you..."
"Yes," his eyes narrowed on me.
I still worried. He was over it, of course.
My hands went up in defense so he would stop giving me the eyes.
"We'll call the prospects," Razor said as he pulled out his phone.
Lori leaned into me and said, "You finally bagged Bronx."
She was all smiles.
I laughed and said, "Yeah, girl. It's a long but short story, but he finally bagged me."
"So happy for you. I always knew you guys were missing out." She hugged my arm.
"Yeah, we were." I looked to Bronx, as he stared at me with those knowing eyes and a smirk.
He heard us.
14
Finally
Shay:
On the same Thursday that Lori came back, she declined our invites to go to Peppers. Actually, she wanted us to try some of the out of town bars. She even helped to get Kylie a gig. However, she finally came out with us that day because Kylie had to open for a local band that was quickly making a name for themselves. It would attract all types of people to Peppers, so it was good business.
She said she would meet us there, and things had just started to get in full swing when she arrived. The crazy part was
as she was walking towards the table with me sitting on Bronx’s lap and Kylie’s legs around Razor, almost all conversation in our section died. Including ours as we screamed, “you made it.”
There were a few elbows that went towards Apollo and his face went ashen. Mouth open, eyes big and if his hair wasn't covering his cheeks, they were probably a shade of red.
“Yes, hey guys.” She waved towards all the guys. “I hope you don't mind but I …”
“Loriline!!!” Someone behind her yelled.
The smile that hit her face could not be mistaken. She really liked this guy and his eyes said it all. He more than liked her.
Her body turned around and he picked her up and kissed almost all over her face.
Apollo was right in my line of sight and I saw the anger that passed over it as he looked the other way. That was not to be confused with anything else but the man didn't seem to be happy at his previous stalker focusing on someone else. Or maybe it was something else.
Time would tell.
“Ah, get a room,” I yelled as Lori laughed hysterically.
The handsome man stopped and smiled at me, “You must be Shay.”
“You might be right.” I nodded and extended my hand.
We shook and then he turned towards Kylie and said, “Kylie?”
“Yup,” she looked at him with keen eyes and then shook his hand.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you guys. I've heard so much, it feels like I know ya.” He had a southern accent.
“Where are you from?” I asked.
“Virginia, born and raised.” He replied.
“What you doing up here?” Razor said with a little tension in his voice.
“You must be Razor. Oh, to answer your question, college. Went to Millersville over across town and just finished my masters at Bucknell.”
It grew silent, then Lori said, “Oh, I'm sorry. Everyone, this is Henry and Henry, this is everyone.”
“Nice to meet everyone,” he said as he tagged Lori’s hand. “Glad my lady is back amongst her true friends.”
Oh shit.
When I looked to see Apollo again, he was gone.
Well, so much for introductions.
The guys were murmuring amongst themselves, but treated the man with the same respect he had given them. The rest of the night went by seamlessly. Apollo had apparently left which concerned Bronx and Razor, even though they didn't say anything. A look passed between the two which said little but spoke volumes.
Surprisingly, I felt a little sorry for him. I'm not sure if that was because we were cool now or the fact that if he ever did like Lori, there was only a snowballs chance in hell it would ever happen.
Then the other side of me felt like, when you neglect to take advantage of a gem or even diamond in the rough, then that’s on you. I didn't blame Lori for leaving and now that I know why, I'm glad she did.
The closer Kylie neared her wedding day, the antsier she became. It was, just like she predicted, a huge event at an exclusive banquet hall. Mrs. Mills and Razor fought about the attire for most of the wedding, which drove Kylie absolutely crazy. Eventually, they compromised on slacks, white shirts, cuts and ties. The men grumbled about that, but Razor put an end to their whining with one look.
As her matron of honor, I was in charge of everything that Mrs. Mills had not high jacked. The majority of my job was to keep Kylie calm because things started to get stressful. Her mom was feeling one-hundred percent better, as the cancer was in remission, but her attitude was back in full swing. When it was decided that the bride’s maids would wear knee-length elegant pink dresses with white chucks and Kylie decided to wear a white reception dress rather than a white traditional wedding gown with pink chucks. Mrs. Mill nearly lost her damned mind.
Mr. Mills had to calm her down after having ‘the’ talk that Kylie might put her own mother out of her wedding. She was a tough bird, but Kylie started to snap on everybody including Razor because of all the stress, so there was a high likelihood that she would have canceled the damned thing.
Well, she yelled that at the top of her lungs during one of the rehearsals, and that was when Razor swooped went to let Mrs. Mills know where she could go. The mayor beat him to it and both parents backed off after that.
When Bronx and I arrived home that night, I told him, “I’m not going through that bullshit at our wedding. You understand?”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he murmured. “This is our wedding, but if people decide to start their shit, I will put you on the back of my bike, and we go to the court house.”
He was shaking his head in disbelief.
“Shit, I’m with you.” I thought the reality of us getting married. “Wow, marriage, huh?”
“Fucking, right.” He took off his cut and stared at me.
“Wow, right?” I half-laughed and plopped on the couch.
“No.” He walked towards me and sat down. “There’s no wow. If you’re concerned about that shit from…”
“No, no.” I cut him off. “I mean, just wow. We are growing up, living life, and settling down. I mean, this was the shit we talked about and dreamed about. Now, it’s happening. Like, it’s happening, soon.”
Bronx pulled my feet into his lap, took off my sneakers and socks, only to begin rubbing my feet.
“Kitten, this is happening. If it’s the last thing I do, you’re going to have that life that I wanted you to have. The blessed thing, is that it’s going to be with me. Wouldn’t trade for nothing in this world.” He moved my feet and leaned over me with my back to the couch. “So, buckle up. Let’s get through this wedding before Kylie cuts somebody and then we can start planning ours. Okay?”
“Okay, Bronx.”
He kissed my nose and then each eye as my fingers wrapped around his tight, straining arms; as he hovered over me.
“How many kids do you want?” He asked me.
“Three or four.”
He nodded and said, “Girls and at least one boy.”
“I know you think you rule the world, but you don’t control the gender of the baby, honey.” I laughed.
He could not be believed.
“Oh, kitten. You just do not know.” He pecked my lips. “I’ve had dreams about this and the good Lord knows my heart.”
“What happened in the dream?” I asked as my arms wrapped around his neck to pull him down.
“Mmm,” he murmured. “I’ll tell you later.”
Bronx lips captured mine and then he began to grind his hard cock into my center. I completely forgot about the dream after that motion because that only signaled one thing. I was about to get some, and that took priority at the moment.
Razor and Kylie’s actual wedding day was perfect; the weather, the mood, and the love was in the air. Lori, Dessy and I were dressed to impress and Bronx, Apollo, and Dash were the groomsmen. There were at least three-hundred and forty people in attendance from the biker community to the political movers and shakers in and outside of the county. They wrote their own vows; which was hilarious.
Kylie said she was not allowed to be called an old lady until she was over fifty-three years of age. Razor said that he promised to deal with all her shit and still they would just ride until their last breath. My sappy ass had tears in my eyes most of the time and I couldn’t look at Bronx because he was giving me the look. The same one that would have me balling and ruining my best friend’s wedding.
When it was over, Kylie’s mom apologized to her and said she was just so happy to actually be a part, she kind of lost it for a bit. They hugged, danced and everything was forgotten. We stayed until they rode off into the evening on his bike and headed towards Italy for three weeks. It would be tough without them as they seemed to be a part of our everyday lives in some way.
Dessy would manage the store while Razor was out and help out with some of Kylie’s duties. She even had a job at RIGOR, so she was more than able to pay the rent and save money. My girl was doing really well for h
erself, and I made sure to let her know I was proud of her accomplishments when she came over for dinner, which was twice a week.
A couple of months later, at one of our gatherings at Peppers, as soon as I walked in, he met me in the middle of the bar and knelt down on one knee.
“Bronx?” I asked with raised eyebrows.
Kylie started to sing the song, Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran.
Oh shit.
Bronx took my hand into his and pulled out a black velvet box.
Holy fuck!
“Been carrying this around for a few months now.” He shook his head. “It’s time for us.”
“Holy fuck!” I exclaimed as tears rolled down my face. “Okay, wait. You can’t just drop that on me, like that. Shit, Bronx. My heart needs to be prepared.”
“Maybe we found love right where we are…” Kylie sang.
“Kitten, you’re prepared. We’ve had years to prepare and I won’t waste another minute waiting around for the moment. Our moment is now, so get it together. I told you what I want, what I want for you and us. We’re on that path and we’re doing a damn good job. I love waking up to you tangled around me. Even your snoring is cute. I can’t do me without you. You’re my everything and it’s our time now.” His brown eyes stared into mine. “Marry me, kitten.”
“So, baby, now…” The music continued to stream through the speakers.
People were all around us and for the life of me, I couldn’t really tell what they were doing because like we usually were; Bronx and I were in our own world.
“Of course, you silly man. Who else would I marry?” I laughed. “Anybody else would strangle me.”
Somebody yelled, “Damn, right.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I yelled back.
Bronx rose to his feet, slid the ring on my finger and bent down to whisper, “So, I don't want any misunderstandings, no fucked up communications, and no drama. We good?”
“Oh my God,” I yelped. “Yes, Bronx, we are good.”
“Kiss me, you, crazy woman.” He smiled.
“With pleasure.” I jumped, wrapping my legs around his waist and kissed my man.
Finally.
