by KE Osborn
Fucking hell.
Zane and I walk up to the list along with everyone else. It’s a fucking weird sight to see, a mob of burly bikers gathering around a bright pink fucking door. Zane gets in first letting out a heavy groan. He turns to me with a frown.
I chuckle. “Who’d you get?”
He leans in closer. “Seems like I’m the tough guy today. I get to babysit Smokin’ Joe. Fuck man, I gotta put up with his hacking cough all fucking night.”
I chuckle as I push him out the way to see who I’m paired with. I scroll down the list to see my name. Then to the right I take note of my partner.
There’s a name I didn’t expect in a thousand years.
I blink a few times as I look behind me to Torque who’s watching me closely. I march over to him. Standing with him is Foxy and Neala. I wonder what they’re trying to pull right now.
“What the hell?” I ask my nostrils flaring as I glance from Torque to Neala, then back to Torque.
He crosses his arms over his chest, his face looking stern as he looks me up and down. “You’re paired with Neala, so you can protect her if anything happens during the night.”
Neala’s eyes widen as she turns to glare at Torque. “Wait? What? I’m in the same room as Tremor?”
My head snaps to her. “You didn’t know?” I ask.
“I had no idea. I certainly wouldn’t have agreed to it either—”
“We need to swap,” I spit out standing tall.
Neala looks at me, her eyes drooping slightly like I’ve hurt her feelings.
Foxy swallows hard as she glances at Torque who shakes his head, but it’s Foxy who steps forward. “We know you two aren’t together, but we also know if anything goes down, Tremor will lay his life down to protect you, Neala. Is that still the case?” Foxy asks.
I tense up as Lala subtly looks at me sideways. “Yes.”
“Then the deal’s fuckin’ done. You have separate damn beds, and you need to keep it that way. You don’t have to talk to each other. You simply have to sleep in the same room. Think you can do that?” Torque demands.
I feel like I’m being scolded by my father. Though I hate my father, I respect the shit out of Torque. So, I suppose I can cop this one on the chin and live with this for the next three nights. What harm can it do?
“Yeah, okay,” I murmur.
“All right,” Lala echoes.
Foxy dangles a key from her finger. I reach out snapping it away and turn to storm off. I need a moment to gather myself before I truly take this in. Three nights in a bedroom alone with Neala.
Yeah. Fuck! What could possibly go wrong?
NEALA
Watching Tremor walk off makes me angry. Why can’t we talk this out like normal adults? I know we had a moment last night. I know things are tense between us, but still, he embarrassed me in front of my family. Now they’re going to want to know why.
Torque peers at me through his suspicious eyes.
I roll mine at him. “Oh c’mon, what did you expect?”
“I don’t know. I want you two to sort your shit out. I want you to be happy, Lala. With the fucker… without him, I don’t care anymore. I just wanna see you fuckin’ happy.”
Foxy cuddles into his side. “You’re a big softy, you know that?”
I chuckle as Torque glares at Foxy. “Shut it, woman. I’m strong. I’m tough, and I know how to give you what you want.” He waggles his brows at her. She giggles leaning in, planting a passionate kiss as he wraps himself around her.
“Sheesh,” I murmur under my breath as they continue to lock lips oblivious to the fact that I’m here. So, I walk away leaving them to it as I decide to head for the truck to grab my bag. May as well gather my shit and go to the room. Get this the fuck over with.
After grabbing my stuff, I head to my allocated room noticing it’s next to Trax and Sparx’s room. I bet it’s so if they need help with the babies, they can come get me. I don’t mind. I love my niece and nephew and Trax and Sparx, so even if I spend most of my time in there, then so be it.
I don’t have my room key, so I’m hoping Tremor’s already here. I twist the door, it opens. I take a deep breath as I slowly edge the door wider while walking inside. The room is small. Two single beds, not very far apart, take up most of the room. A small cupboard is opposite the beds with an older style television and some drawers. A bathroom is across the back—the door’s closed. There’s a very tiny kitchenette with a microwave and a sink, and that’s about it. There’s not even a table for us to eat at. There’s one chair over near the bathroom, but it’s away from the television. It kind of looks like it’s there to fill the void and not for any real purpose. Especially since it’s a two person room—one chair for two people seems pointless. No wonder it’s a two-and-a-half star place.
I take a deep breath as I walk in closing the door behind me. “What a dump,” I murmur.
The bathroom door opens, and Tremor steps out pausing to look at me. Our eyes connect as his Adam’s apple bobs up and down visibly in his throat.
Tension rolls through the room as our eyes stay connected.
I figure I better make the first move. “I’m sorry,” I murmur.
He exhales striding over to me. “What for?”
“For last night. For making the moves again. For wanting something that clearly isn’t going to happen.”
He tenses looking away as he steps past me walking over to his bed which is closest to the window. He sits on it, his head hanging low as he exhales. “I don’t know how to be around you, Neala. It’s so damn hard.”
My body shudders at his words. But I know how he feels. It’s like it for me too. “Being around you isn’t rainbows and sunshine either, Trem.”
Exhaling, he slumps his shoulders. “Don’t call me that.”
I drop onto the hard mattress. “So this is how it’s going to be. You, me… not getting along?”
He finally looks up, his eyes glassy. He looks torn, almost broken. “No. We get along… just from a distance.”
My stomach falls, my eyes water, and I try my best not to let it get to me, but it does. He’s given up, and it hurts so damn much. My bottom lip trembles as I wipe a stray tear from my cheek. He goes to say something, but I put my hand up to stop him. “It’s fine. Sometimes people just aren’t meant to be together.” I stand and start walking toward the door, tears sliding down my cheeks. I feel his eyes on me as I step out making my way next door to see Sparx.
Wiping my eyes as I close the door behind me leaving Tremor inside the room. I feel heavy, like a ten-ton weight is weighing me down. But I guess with everything that’s gone down between us, I can’t expect anything else. Plus, there’s one giant elephant in the room. He’s with someone else. I seem to keep forgetting about Chloe. No wonder he was turning me down.
God, how could I be so damn stupid?
I slap my forehead as I rap lightly on Sparx’s door. She answers soon after, takes one look at me, and with a sympathetic gesture ushers me inside her room. Trax isn’t here, but the babies are in their cribs as I walk over to pick up Grace, just needing some baby smoochies.
“Was it that bad?” she asks.
I exhale. “No, I guess, it wasn’t what I was expecting. Still hurts.”
She leans down into her baby bag, ruffles around in there for a little while, then pulls out a family chocolate bar. “I keep this for emergencies. Like when these two drive me crazy, but I can see this is a girlfriend emergency, so let’s sit down and get fat.”
I chuckle looking at their two-seater rickety old sofa. I let out a small chuckle. “How did you score a sofa?”
“I have the babies. With that comes privilege.”
I chuckle, sitting down on the sofa. While Grace snuggles into me, Sparx’s by my side, chocolates at the ready.
Let’s get this pity party started!
It wasn’t long before Trax came in letting us know we’re heading out. We’d all settled in and now we’re going to get some
food in us before we truly bunk in for the night. Just up the road a couple hundred feet is a steakhouse. We decided to go there for dinner, so we didn’t have to take the convoy of bikes, pickups, and the truck to get everyone out to eat. We all simply walked as a group.
Now, I’m sitting in a booth with Trax, Sparx, the babies, Mom, Surge, Torque, and Foxy as the others all sit around us. We take up practically the entire place. It’s a small steakhouse, but it’s cute, decked out with dark wood paneling everywhere and red furnishings. The bar is almost bigger than the dining area, which I know suits the brothers fine as they drink to recover from their long ride today. I only drove for three hours in the pickup, and that was enough for me. Sparx drove the rest of the way. Splitting the trip half and half was a good way to do it—gave us both time to rest and look after the babies.
As I finish my steak, which was out of this world, I sit here drinking a small tumbler of Kentucky bourbon—nothing like getting it straight from the distillery. This steakhouse has it brought in straight from the main supplier here in Kentucky. It’s what the boys are enjoying tonight, especially seeing as they don’t have to drive until tomorrow. It’s good they’re able to let their hair down. We pretty much have the run of the place. There’re a few stragglers in here, probably Louisville natives, but there’s a lot of us. Plus, the boys are being rowdy and are probably scaring off the locals.
I slide out of the booth as I laugh at Sparx making faces at Rix as I head over to the bar. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the place the locals came to drink and maybe even dance every now and then. There’s a very small dance floor over to the left, and if tonight keeps going the way it is, then some brothers will probably end up wasted and getting their groove on.
Stepping up to the bar, I giggle as the warmth the bartender is oozing radiates for miles. That dazzling sparkle in his gray eyes lights up as he looks at me, makes me feel nice to be appreciated if that’s what the look he’s sending me is all about. “Looks like your crew’s having a good night?”
“Yeah, it’s good for them to let their hair down.”
He wipes a glass with his tea towel, obviously looking me up and down. His shaggy blond hair and five o’clock shadow are kind of cute. He’s not too young but has the boyish appearance I seem to go for. I guess he’s in his mid-thirties. Probably too old for me, I’m only twenty-two.
You’re overthinking, Neala.
“And what about you? You gonna let your hair down?” he asks.
I shrug. “Not sure. Depends where the night takes me.”
He puts his pearly whites on display, it’s dazzling. I subtly glance over toward Tremor to see him watching my every move. I didn’t even know he was, but now I do I amp this up a little.
It’s immature, it’s irrational, but I can’t help myself.
“Well, then maybe I should give you another drink, on me. Then you could tell me your name?” he asks.
I give him my full attention. Giggling, probably a little too much, as I flip my hair over my shoulder and batt my eyelashes making all the moves. “Neala… it’s Irish for ‘female champion.’”
He chuckles bobbing his head. “Well, that’s certainly an icebreaker. Neala, the female champion. I’m Ben, it’s American for…” he looks upward like he’s trying to think of something, “… Benjamin. Sorry, I’m not as good at this as you.”
I laugh, probably a little too zealously making him raise his brow at me. I think he’s onto my excessive flirtation, but I don’t care. I need Tremor to see and hear me. “God, you’re so funny.” I reach out touching his arm as he genuinely smiles at me. I feel a small pang of regret flow through me. He’s actually trying, but I’m using him to get to Tremor, the man who doesn’t want me.
I’m a bitch.
I should give Ben a shot.
“Shit! Ben, I’m sorry, I was overacting.”
He chuckles. “Oh, I know. To make the guy over there jealous. He’s been watching you all night. I understand if you don’t want to take this any further, but champion girl, if he doesn’t see how adorable you are, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
I look up to Ben feeling like shit for using him. What am I… twelve? “Thanks, Ben, I think I’ll stay for a drink after all.”
He winks. “Coming right up.” He walks off to grab me whatever drink he’s going to concoct as I subtly look over at Tremor. He’s stewing. He’s sitting by the jukebox drinking with Zane when suddenly a bunch of women walk through the door. I tense up. They’re pretty. They’re young. They look slutty.
Okay, so they have short dresses on.
Okay, so their dresses are just below their knees.
But give me a break, they look hot. Tremor and every other man in here are staring right at them.
They walk in strutting their stuff like they own the joint as every man’s tongue is rolling out onto the floor as they walk by them. I glance at Tremor to see him eyeing the blonde one a little more than he should be. I never pictured him liking blondes.
Her and her three little friends notice Tremor and Zane eyeing them. They take notice of the club cuts, and it’s like a feeding frenzy at the zoo. They rush toward the prospects, and before I know it, Tremor and Zane are hidden behind a wall of hair and pretty dresses.
The rest of the brothers chuckle, going back to their drinks. A couple of the younger ones head over to intrude on their conversation. I grunt as I turn back to the bar to see Ben standing there with his fruity drink and a scowl. “The Fisher girls,” he murmurs.
I cock my brow. “Huh?”
He slides the cocktail across the bar resting his elbows in the bench, leaning down to look at me. “The Fisher girls. They come in here every Thursday or Friday night fishing for some willing suspects to take home.”
“So their name’s not Fisher?”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “No, it’s just our nickname for them. They always get what they want.”
I turn back to see the blonde Fisher now running her hand down Tremor’s arm. Both of them laughing as the group chat amongst themselves. My stomach sinks through the floor as I watch him with her. She’s stunning, but the thought of him being with her spins my head. But then I think to last night. The thought makes me feel sick as I turn to look at Ben, tears glistening in my eyes as he looks at me like he can see where my head is at right now. But how could he possibly know?
“I know you’re hurting, so I’m not going to push. But here’s my number… for the future.” He slides a napkin across the bar.
“Thank you, you’ve been nice to me.”
He dips his head. “I don’t get real beauties in here, the ones who are beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside. So, if you feel like it… call me one day.”
I pick up the napkin placing it in my bag feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I take a small sip of his cocktail, it’s freaking delicious. I manage to lighten my face to show my appreciation for Ben and what he’s done for me tonight. “This is so good. Thanks, Ben. I’ll see you ‘round.”
He beams in return as I walk over to Sparx and Trax. Sparx sighs looking up at me with a knowing smile. “Trax, babe, it’s time to go,” she calls out as he looks at her furrowing his brow.
“Huh? But I haven’t finished my drink?”
“Now!” she grunts gesturing from me to Tremor, then leers at Trax.
Trax throws back the remainder of his bourbon, then stands. “Torque… Sparx, Neala, and me are gonna head back. Gotta get these babies to bed.”
Torque stands up. “Right, I’ll send some boys with you. I know some are ready to leave. The rest of us want to stay, but I’m not letting you go back on your own with two women and two babies.”
Torque walks off to round up some men. Sparx stands up wrapping her arm around me as Sass comes flying over. “You okay? Want me to drop kick a bitch?” Sass murmurs making Sparx and me both laugh.
“No. I just want to go back to the motel, have a coffee, then go to bed. Tremor can come bac
k when he’s good and ready. As long as he doesn’t bring the blonde back to the room.”
Sparx opens her eyes wide. “He wouldn’t, would he?”
“Not if he wants to keep his fucking balls.”
Trax pulls up beside us tilting his head. “Let’s go,” he instructs as we all walk toward the exit.
Sparx pushes the twin seat stroller as I march beside her. We get closer to the door, and I hear the Fisher girls laughing. I can’t help myself as I glance over to look at them with Tremor and the others. Tremor doesn’t even notice me leaving. He’s too wrapped up in the conversation he’s having as a shudder runs over me. I walk out with Sass throwing her arm around me while Sensei shakes his head.
“What is it with men and fake boobs?” Sensei asks.
Sass chuckles. “Yeah, why make them bigger when a handful is just enough, right, babe?” she asks.
I chuckle. “You two are so weird,” I tell them as Sparx and Trax shake their heads.
“It’s true, though, Lala. Real boobs are way better than fake ones,” Trax blurts out.
Sparx chuckles. “Well, I would hope so. Wait, how many fake boobs have you come into contact with?”
“Since I’ve been with you? None. Wait, does the breast pump count?” he asks. We all crack up laughing making me feel a little lighter as we walk the short distance back to the motel. The Ohio River looks extra murky in this darkened night. As we walk back, Vibe, Scratch, and Chains with us, it’s a warm night, but it could have something to do with the alcohol buzz flowing through me. Or the fact, I got a man’s number.
“So, the bartender was hot?” Sparx asks walking up beside me.
I feign ignorance. “Was he?” I try to play it off.
By the look on her face, it doesn’t work. “Really? You’re gonna try to play me?”
I sigh. “Ben was great—”
“So, we got a name, did we?”
I smirk. “And a number.”
“Oh my God!” she bursts out laughing as everyone turns to look at us. I hush her as she giggles.
