by M. A. Lee
“You can’t go on a date wearing sweatpants,” Lacy sneered, pulling a black sequin tank top off one of my hangers. “Here, try this one,” she said as she threw the shirt at me. Taking the shirt, I quickly laid it down on the bed beside where I was sitting. Jumping up, I rushed over to Lacy who was now looking for a pair of jeans and pumps. “I don’t think so,” I started, rushing in front of her so that I was blocking her view of my closet. “I am not going on a double date with two guys we don’t even know.” I hissed, standing my ground.
Pushing me aside, Lacy selected a pair of tight skinny jeans and then a pair of black heels I was pretty sure were hers. Tilting her head, Lacy offered me her pitiful pouty lips that usually won me over. “This is why I didn’t tell you when Drake set up the date,” Lacy stated as she began messing with my hair.
Swatting her hands away, I stepped back, almost falling inside my closet. “I am not going on a date. I can’t believe you hid this from me.”
“Oh, come on. You would have said no right away. Just like I didn’t tell you about the biker bar until we were there,” she winked at me. Holding my hands, Lacy pleaded with me, batting her eyelashes and pouting her lips like a child. “Please, Ivy? I really want to go and I don’t want to show up alone. It will be fun. We will get free drinks and if you don’t like the guys, we will leave, I swear.” Lacy was smiling at me now; she could sense I was about to give in.
Inhaling a sharp breath, I rolled my eyes and flung myself back to my bed. I sank into my plush, blue bedspread and groaned. “Fine,” I said sharply. “But, if I want to leave, I am leaving.”
Squealing, Lacy jumped up and down and clapped as she listed all the things that needed to get done before we left. She really had waited until the last minute to spring this idea on me. We only had an hour before we had to meet the guys at a local campus bar. I quickly showered and dried my hair, pulling my long, caramel colored locks into a high ponytail. Giving in, I put on the black tank top and tight jeans.
“We look hot,” Lacy mused as we checked ourselves one last time in the hall mirror before exiting our apartment. Lacy was dressed in a pair of tight skinny jeans and a very revealing pink tank top. Her black heels gave her an additional two inches to her already five-foot-five frame. I grabbed my purse and cell phone then followed her out the door and to her Toyota Camry. Once we were on the road, I checked my e-mails on my phone. I had several from a few college students who had contacted me to edit some of their essays. Even though I didn’t need to work, sometimes it was helpful to earn a little extra cash. Glancing at Lacy, I noticed she kept turning her attention to me as she drove.
“What I asked?” folding my hands over my chest.
“I think you totally liked Jameson,” she teased.
“I don’t even know him. Besides, he had that slutty Angie girl all over him. He wouldn’t be interested in someone like me,” I finished.
The light turned green, and we began driving again. “You are crazy,” Lacy said as she kept her focus on the road. “Jameson couldn’t take his eyes off of you. Maybe you need a little danger in your life,” she smiled.
Before I could protest, we pulled into a parking spot and Lacy cut off the engine. “Ok, let’s go get laid,” she squealed as she jumped out of the car.
Sometimes I really questioned why I hung out with her.
She threw an arm around my shoulder as we walked through the small parking lot. A bright neon light shone on top of the bar, screaming the name, ‘Wild Things.’ The patio was already packed, and as we got closer, I could hear the thumping of music from a live band playing in the back. Lacy instantly spotted Drake and Jameson standing near the entrance. They were both next to two large black and chrome motorcycles. I could read Harley, written down the sides of both.
“They rode their bikes?” I asked.
“Duh, they own a motorcycle bar,” Lacy said, nudging me in the side.
From the way everyone at this college campus bar was nervously watching them, it seemed as though Drake and Jameson were the ones now out of their elements. The simple thought pulled a smile to my lips.
They stood out with their tight leather jackets, stoic faces, and badass appeal. Most guys at the bar were sporting khakis or loose-fitting jeans with polos.
Spotting us, Drake nodded toward Lacy. “I guess I know how you girls felt the other night,” Drake joked as he walked over to Lacy.
Giggling, Lacy hugged Drake. “Yes, now we are even,” she teased.
Jameson just eyed me as I stood awkwardly behind Lacy. Drake and Lacy began to walk into the bar and Jameson and I followed behind. Settling with a high-top table, Jameson and I sat back while Drake and Lacy began flirting with sexual innuendos.
Jameson finally leaned over, and his warm breath caressed my cheek. “Looks, like we need to catch up,” he said, nodding toward Drake and Lacy.
“What do you mean?” I asked, pretending like I was looking over the drink menu at our table.
“Well, your friend really seems to be hitting it off with my brother. Maybe we need to catch up,” he said with a wink.
Ugh, I knew guys like this. He was all about chasing ass. Little did he know, I was not like that Angie girl from his bar. This time, he was on my side of town.
“You know, I am just here because my friend made me come.”
Laughing, Jameson threw his head back and I watched in awe as his black hair danced around his face. I was mesmerized by the simple act.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“You don’t like me, do you?” he asked with a slight smirk.
“I don’t even know you,” I responded like he wasn’t affecting me.
“Yeah, but you don’t want to know me. I can tell,” he responded as he continued the banter.
“How?” I asked giving in to his little game.
“You are the only girl here who is not desperately trying to get my attention,” he said as his eyes never left mine. “Just like the other night at my bar. I saw you watching me with Angie, but you never made a move. You looked so uncomfortable-- it was hilarious.”
I wanted to smack him. He thought I was funny, just a joke.
“First of all, I wasn’t watching you and Angie,” I lied.
“Sure, you weren't,” he smirked with an arrogance about him that heated me to my core.
“Even if I was watching you, I didn’t hit on you because I am not into assholes,” I said sharply.
“See, you were watching me,” he stated, finding the hole in my argument. “But, you didn’t approach me,” he said more like a question rather than a statement.
“Maybe that’s because you're not my type.”
Laughing, he smiled. “Baby, everyone wants me. I can be anyone’s type.”
“Not me,” I said.
“Let’s change that,” he grinned.
He was challenging me.
“I don’t think so. Besides, what if I have a boyfriend?”
“You don't. I can tell,” he said.
“Ok, Mr. Know-it-all, how do you know I don’t have a boyfriend?”
“Because if you did, he would be here with you right now. No guy who had a girl like you would ever think to leave her alone in a bar. And,” Jameson leaned in so close I thought his lips were going to brush against mine, “if you did have a boyfriend there is no way in hell, he would ever let you go to Raven’s Clubhouse or come anywhere near me,” he finished, his words purring against me.
I was stunned. Speechless. Jameson had somehow called me out on my bullshit, accused me of watching him the night we met, and turned me on all at the same time.
Shit, I was in trouble.
I looked up to see Lacy watching us with a wild fascination. Even from across the table, she could see the lust filling in my eyes. Damn, I am in way more trouble than I ever imagined.
5
Jameson
Shit, this girl was going to be the death of me. I wanted her, and I wanted her bad. But, Ivy was different.
/> I had never had to work to get a girl to drop her panties before, but with Ivy-- she was going to make me work for whatever she felt like giving me.
And I liked that about her.
Any other girl, I wouldn’t have wasted my breath on, but with her, I seem to be attracted to her, like she’s got this magnetic control over me and I just can’t help but be pulled to her.
“Are you serious?” Drake and Micah both said at the same time.
We were sitting around the garage where I worked as I tuned up Micha’s bike. They had heard me and knew damn well I was serious. They were just trying to bust my balls.
After meeting Ivy, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I tried to play it off like I wasn’t that interested, but both of my brothers could read right through my bullshit.
“Yes, I am serious. Drake, you liked that girl Lacy. I have seen you texting her. Why not ask her out and get her to bring her friend. You know, like a double date or something,” I said, shrugging my shoulders like it wasn’t a big deal.
But, it was a huge deal.
Walking over to me, Micah placed his hand on my forehead.
“What are you doing?” I asked, swatting his hand away from me.
“Just checking to see if you are sick or something,” Micah smiled. “I have never heard you ask about a girl before.”
“Yeah, I mean I am down for getting to know Lacy. She is smoking hot and cool as hell, but a double date? That just doesn’t sound like you,” Drake added with a smirk.
I wasn’t in the mood to explain myself to my brothers. “Just plan the date and leave me alone,” I stated as I went back to work on the bike.
Even though I was ignoring them, I could see my brothers smiling and laughing at me.
****
Sitting at the bar now, I was shocked at myself and from the way, Drake was watching me, I could tell he was just as surprised as I was.
See, I don’t really ever have conversations with women. It’s normally where’s your car, or want to go back to my place? With Ivy, I was getting a kick out of teasing her, just to watch her eyes light up and to hear the sound of her laughter. It was like heaven.
I also enjoyed, probably more than I should, getting her all riled up by pissing her off.
I could tell she wasn’t really upset with me, but I was getting to her all the same.
She stood her ground, though. Again, I liked that fire inside of her. But, I could also see something lingering in her that was making her keep a wall up with me. I wasn’t sure if it was because she knew as well as anyone else that guys like me were bad for good girls like her, or if someone in her past had hurt her.
Just thinking about anyone doing anything to hurt her sent me into a rage. Hell, I barely knew this girl, but something deep inside of me felt this strange need to protect her. I had never felt like that before, outside of my brothers, that is. But Ivy was different. She was special and I damn well intended to figure out exactly what it was that made her so alluring and special to me.
6
Ivy
After class, I had found myself opening up my social media page to check in on my family. I rarely called or talked to any of them, but what I did do was see how they were doing through their actions on social media.
I began scrolling through my news feed where I spotted a post from my mom.
“This should be good,” I moaned as I began reading the meme, she had shared about parents now versus parents back in the fifties.
“What are you doing?” Lacy asked as we walked out of the building.
“Oh, you know, just stalking my family,” I said, my eyes reading over the war of comments my brother had left on my mom’s page. Of course, they ranged from calling her stupid to arguing with every point she made. I felt my heart dropping with each hateful comment he left. How could someone treat their own mother that way? How could any other female read this and find him attractive or suitable?
“I don’t know why you bother reading any of that. Each time to check out your mom, dad, or brothers social media pages, you get upset,” Lacy said, as I unlocked the car door.
I threw my backpack into the backseat of the car and turned the ignition. I turned off my phone and put it in my purse. Enough stalking for today.
Lacy continued to talk while I delved further into the despair that was my family. Suddenly, something she said caught my attention.
“You did what?” I screamed over the loud music blaring from the car speakers.
Lacy was sitting in the passenger seat dancing around as her hair swung around her face. She was totally ignoring my freak out session.
Laughing, she wiggles her finger in my face. “I knew that would pull your attention back to me. I said, I gave Jameson your number. He was at Drake’s apartment the other night. He asked about you,” she said, her eyes dancing with excitement.
“What in the hell were you doing at Drake’s apartment?” I yelled, this time turning down the radio.
“Do you really want me to answer that?” she states, mischievously.
Shaking my head, I cringe. “Nope, please don’t answer that.”
“Jameson stopped by to get the keys to a bike he was working on. Apparently, all the bikers that go to that bar use Jameson as their mechanic. He must be pretty good,” she said, this time her gaze was focused outside of the car.
I stopped my Toyota 4-Runner at a red light and turned and looked at her. “So, is this like a thing?” I asked, meaning her and Drake.
Lacy turned to face me. “I have no idea what it is. I really like Drake though. He is so hot and that ass…” she began to trail off and I knew I had to bring her back to reality.
“Lacy, come on be serious. You can’t really think you could have a real relationship with a guy who owns a biker bar,” I said, almost laughing at the thought.
“Why not?” Lacy snapped, her eyes wide with anger. “I thought we all had a great time the other night.”
I hadn’t meant to piss her off, but apparently, that is exactly what I did.
“Calm down. I just mean that he works at a bar with long hours. You are a college student who works part-time at a clothing store in the mall. What do you really know about him?” I ask.
“First of all, you sound like a judgmental bitch right now. You know I love you, but you need to open up your mind a little. Drake is really funny and sweet. We both like the same horror movies. Besides, he is the owner of the bar, he can take off anytime he wants,” she finished, crossing her arms across her chest. “Besides, you and Jameson got along really well too.”
I hated to admit it, but she was right. I was being judgmental. I am sure Drake is a nice guy. But, that still doesn’t change the fact she gave Jameson my number.
“Fine, you like Drake. I get that. But, what I don’t get is why you think Jameson would want anything to do with me. We hung out once,” I stated.
Even as the words slipped past my lips, I felt the heat rush to my cheeks. My mind was quickly brought to the last conversation I had with him, when he sent lust and curiosity coursing through my veins.
“Come on, I saw the steamy sexual tension between you two the other night. Jameson is totally into you and I saw you eye-fucking him too,” she giggled.
“I was not eye-fucking him,” I tried to protest.
“Whatever,” Lacy laughed. “Anyway, he asked about you, so I gave him your number. Just have an open mind, that’s all I ask.”
The light turned green again and I continued driving back to our apartment from our classes.
Her words continued to haunt me the rest of the evening. I wasn’t sure why Jameson would want to know anything about me, but something about that idea sent a fire deep into my core and I wanted nothing more than to get burned.
7
Jameson
“What are you doing, you fucker?” Drake asked, as he kicked my legs off the seat of his bike.
I was sitting in the shop, resting after working five straight hours on a
massive Harley for a client.
Jolting up, I came face to face with my older brother, my fists at my sides ready to fight if needed. “What the hell are you doing?”
We may be brothers, but trust me, we have been in plenty of fights over the years. I may love them, but sometimes each of the Raven Boys pisses me off and we handle our emotions with our fists and alcohol.
Glaring at me, Drake put his finger on my chest and pushed. “I know you love to play games with the women who come into the clubhouse, but I told you not to mess with Lacy and her friend,” he stated, his breath hot against my face.
I stared back at my brother, unsure of what he was rambling on about. He ran his fingers through his thick beard in frustration once he realized I was clueless to what he was saying.
“Damn, you really are a dumbass,” he half laughed.
“Alright, can you please tell me what you are talking about before I pound in your face,” I seethed back.
A few of the guys at the shop stopped working and began walking toward us. I could sense they were unsure of whether or not to get involved yet. If they were smart, they would just walk away.
Shaking his head, Drake turned and began pacing the concrete floor. “Lacy told me today that Ivy was wondering why you acted interested and then went MIA. Look, I know you don’t date, and you could care less about how women feel, but I like Lacy. Just don’t do anything to ruin things between Lacy and me,” Drake said.
For the first time ever, he looked nervous. Oh shit, he liked Lacy. Like, really liked her.
Laughing, I shook my head. “You must have it bad for Lacy. I get it, she’s hot and pretty cool, but you don’t have anything to worry about. I won’t mess up what you two have going on,” I said.
And I meant what I said. If Lacy had my brother this twisted up, then she must be pretty special to him. I loved my brother and I would never do anything to take away his happiness. Even if I did like to mess with him sometimes.
