Side Show: Lust & Chrome duet

by Gigi Birtie

  I laugh along with him; his guess would be somewhat right since I'm not that skilled at drawing.

  Looking into his eyes my laugh stutters.

  “No,” I say quietly; “it was supposed to be dogs.”

  He lets out a loud laugh gaining us a few looks from the people around us.

  I look up to see if Mona is still chewing out Dane but none of them are over there. Suddenly, Dane's right next to me before I could look anywhere else. I can feel his irritation coming off him in waves.

  “Message received, Sloane.” He looks at me with eyes of anger.

  What does he have to be angry at.

  “What the fuck is your problem bud.” Asher asks Dane.

  He turns to him with a deadly look in his eyes.

  “This is between me and my girl, so you can run along now.”

  I put my hand to my head. I'm starting to miss the days when Reese was my cock blocker and I didn't have to deal with guys at all.

  Asher puts up his hands in surrender.

  “See ya around, Sloane.” He says to me before he turns and leaves.

  “Yeah later Asher.” I say solemnly.

  I wave him off and turn back to Dane.

  “What's your problem Dane?” I bite out.

  “My problem is you up and left and turned off your phone and I knew I'd find you here, but I didn't think I'd see you flirting with some guy. Is this how it's going to be?” Dane asks.

  “Please, don't even start with me Dane. You have your ex-girlfriend at our house looking awful cozy out on the back deck, before she comes in and demands to know who I am, while knocking my food from my hands, yet you don't tell her to leave, and you go right back out there getting all chummy, then bring her here with you.” I'm seeing red now. “That's some bullshit Dane.” I turn to walk away but he scoops me up in his arms and my anger suddenly melts away. I slam my lips to his claiming him as mine and I hope Moxie is seeing this. I wrap my legs around his waist as his arms snake up around my back and ass pushing me closer. I moan at the friction as I feel how hard he's gotten.

  Dane pulls an inch away from my lips.

  “Babe you being jealous, has to be the sexiest thing I've ever witnessed.” He slams his lips back to mine.

  I start to hear a lot of cheers around us causing me to pull away and drop my legs. My cheeks feel heated from the unwanted attention, but Dane stays right on me.

  “You're mine, I want no one else but you. Moxie is nothing but the past and a friend to Lux, a girl your brother is very interested in. If Moxie leaves Lux leaves and I didn't want that for Reese.”

  When he put it like that it all sounded so simple and I lower my head feeling embarrassed in my behavior.

  “I'm sorry for the way I reacted.” I say softly.

  Dane lifts my chin and stares me in the eyes.

  “Never be sorry for feeling the way you did. You had every right to be mad. It wasn't good timing on my part and I didn't treat the situation right. For that I'm sorry too.”

  He leans down and kisses the tip of my nose then my lips then trailing down my neck causing me to arch into his body.

  “So, are we good Sloane?”

  “Yeah, we're good.”

  “Our first fight.” He nips at my lips playfully.

  “Glad we got that out of the way.” I laugh as I run my hands up his firm chest. “I love you, Dane.” And I did, I really love him how could I not, he came into my life ready to hurt anyone who wanted to hurt me. He took care of Taze to where I can now rest easy and not be fearful of when he would make good on his threats.

  “Sloane, you're up!”

  I sag in Dane's arm damn well knowing he didn't say I love you back, but I let it go for now and turn to look to Asher.

  “I'm what?” I ask him.

  “You're up, everyone wants to see what you and your car can do. Give'em hell girl.” He says and walks away.

  “How do you know Asher?” Dane asks.

  “Asher is just someone we all met tonight at the taqueria with all the others, he's pretty nice.” I explain.

  “I don't like the way he looks at you.”

  I laugh. “Are you getting jealous yourself there Dane?” As I poke him in the ribs.

  “Hey.” He laughs and picks me up and throws me over his shoulder while swatting my ass.

  I scream out drawing attention to us. He walks me over to my car and gently slides me down his body, holding me to him, kissing me one last time.

  “Show everyone what you can do and meet us back at the house. We're still getting away tomorrow and don't be surprised that Lux and Moxie will be there too, but don't worry they can drive up in a separate car, ok?”

  “Okay. I'll try again for Reese, but if Moxie continues to be a bitch you better deal with it before Mona does.” I smirk at him because he now knows what Mona is now capable of.

  “Okay, Okay, I promise I won't let her do anything to upset you or that would rile up Mona.”

  I kiss him again and turn to get in my car. Mona and Riv hop back in.

  “Everything all good Sloane?” Asks Mona.

  I turn to her. “Yeah it's all been straightened out.” I smile yet deep down still feel a bit uneasy about everything. “Now let’s make some tight donuts and burn the fuck out of here.”

  Firing up the Olds, it roars to life and the crowd around us cheers. I look for Dane, but he's already disappeared into the crowd. Which is good I'd rather not see him watching me as I do my thing.

  I rev the engine a few times having the crowd part making room for me to take the center of the show as I edge forward the crowd starts to cheer even louder. The excitement gets my adrenaline flowing and I start to spin. You can see the smoke from my tires fill the air and then I start to do my figure eights. These are not easy to do. You have to be quick and calculating. The appreciation of these are always underrated. As I start to go faster I see the lights of a cop car in the distance. I stop short and yell “scatter” the crowd makes a hole for me to get through, so I can get away. I pull out of the crowd to only see another cop coming at my left. I know the crowd will block him so that I won't get caught but it's rare that a side show has that many cops coming to break a show up.

  All of a sudden, Asher is at my window, as I'm looking for my safest way out.

  “Scoot over I'm going to get you out.”

  He's opening my door ready to climb in.

  Protesting. “No, I got this.”

  “Hey, there are more here than you realize they're ready to make an example out of you move over.” He grinds out and that's when I see another set of lights in the distance.

  “Shit.” I yell.

  “Just come over here Sloane and let him drive.” Mona pulls on my arm. I drop the car in park and make room for Asher to get in. Chaos begins with the crowd. As soon as I'm on Mona's lap, Asher slams my baby into drive and squeals out. We only make it one block before we have a cop on our tail. I look back but see how close the officer is, but before he's even in my sights. Asher makes a sharp turn down an alley way and really floors it!

  “Oh shit.” Mona and I say at the same time Riv looks like he's about to shit a brick and I don't blame him.

  “Hold on I know a garage where we can hide.” Asher yells.

  We speed down the alley for about three more blocks, there is no cop behind us, but the road has a lot of dips and pot holes causing sparks to fly off my tailpipes, we are air born more than once before we take two sharp rights before we see an open set of barn like doors to a blacked out garage. Asher kills my lights and engine and coasts right in. He puts my car in park then quickly jumps out and closes the garage door.

  I can hear all of us breathing hard.

  “Everyone, crouch down.” Asher whisper yells and we all do.

  We sit down low for at least twenty minutes before Asher says it's all clear and turns on the lights.

  “Holy fuck that was crazy.” Riv says from the backseat.

  “Fuck, you can say that a
gain. I may need to wipe after that.” Mona laughs out.

  We all laugh with her as I crawl over to the driver side to make my way out of the car.

  I get out and look around. The garage is huge. There are about fifteen other cars off to the left all ranging from classic muscle cars to exotic cars that most dream about.

  “Where are we Asher? This place is a killer.” I say.

  I feel Asher standing next to me causing a chill to break out across my skin.

  Mona and Riv are out of the car now too, looking around while having the same expression as myself.

  “This is my garage I always keep the doors open for nights like this making it an easy hide out.”

  “Well shit man, this is an awesome collection you have.” Riv whistles out.

  “Thanks brother, but they're not all mine some are actually my dad’s. Hey, would you like a beer while we wait till all is clear?”

  “Damn, you know I do.” Riv says as Mona nods in agreement.

  “Yeah, make that three.” I laugh out.

  I could use a beer to steady my nerves, but I need to call Dane first to let him know what happened, so he won't worry. I go to my purse in my car and reach for my phone. I turn it on and I have way too many messages and texts.

  “Fuck.” I say as I look at them all. “Dane and Reese are freaking out.”

  I start a group text to Dane and Reese.

  Fuck we made it!!! We're all okay but we're holed up in this killer garage with Asher, we’ll be back at the house here shortly.

  I hit send and waited to hear the wrath of Dane about Asher. Yet no text comes back in.

  “Sloane, come over here and check this out.” Mona calls over.

  I walk over to where she's standing, and I see all my favorite cars from a classic Porsche to a 1969 Chevy Chevelle. The one in particular that Mona was standing by wasn't even a car though, it was a fully customized Harley knucklehead!!! Mona knows I've been wanting a chopper for a long time, but this is the epitome of all choppers!! It was painted a beautiful burgundy heavy with flake and gold pinstripes along the whole bike. It had a brass sissy bar with other brass touches throughout to tie it all together. I take my hand and skim the back of my knuckles along the rich black leather of the king and queen seat. If there was a dream bike this would be it.

  “Damn, Mona, this is it.” I say with pure lust.

  “Right! We need to get some bikes already like we always planned.”

  We’ve been waiting to get Motorcycles for over a year now, but I had to wait to start to save up after I finished restoring my Olds. Now that it's done I'll be able to start saving again. Of course, if I sold some more photos at The Java Pit I might be closer than I think. Definitely nowhere close to owning a Knucklehead, but at least a sportster and chop that up so it can have that classic look. I let out a sigh as I do the math in my head in order to make this happen.

  “You like my bike huh?” Asher asks from behind me.

  “What's not to like? It's everyone's dream bike if they have the means.” I say not being able to take my eyes off it. Asher and Riv just laugh at my response as Mona nods in agreement.

  “Do you know how to ride?”

  “I do, my brother had a bike for a bit, but he sold it for car parts.” I reply.

  “Would you like to go for a ride? I'll even let you drive but I insist to be on the back.”

  I look to him to see if he's serious and I can tell that he is. That's what makes me laugh harder than I should.

  “Can you imagine you behind me.” I continue to laugh.

  That came out wrong and Asher's eyes come back to mine with the full implication in his eyes. My laugh falls short and a smile spreads across my face. Mona punches my arm and I look away from Asher to her as I rub my arm.

  “That's probably not a good idea tonight. We need to get going anyway and find out what happened to Reese and Dane, neither have text me to let me know they're safe.” I say.

  “Yeah, you should be clear to leave now.” Asher says as he grabs for my phone.

  “Hey.”

  I don't have a passcode to unlock my phone, so I see him open it up to my contacts. He's programming his number into my phone and all of a sudden I hear his ring.

  “Now I have your number as you do mine.” He smirks. “If you have any problems call me and that goes for anytime Sloane.” Asher unleashes a blinding white smile at me, that makes me feel weak in the knees. He leans down to give me a hug good-bye, but he picks me up to where my feet don't touch the ground. Our bodies are pressed together, and he feels so different than Dane. Bigger, stronger. His hug is gentle as our bodies meld together. I breath him in. His smell of leather and lavender is intoxicating. Asher sets me back down and keeps a hand on my waist as I steady myself.

  “You know in a garage full of classics I'd still want to just stare at you.” Asher says by my ear in a low hush.

  I feel a blush deepen on my cheeks and butterflies dance in my belly.

  “Thanks for helping us out.” I whisper not knowing what else to say.

  “Yeah thanks for helping us.” Mona practically yells.

  We both turn to her and I can see the disapproval written all over her face. Riv just has a smirk on his face but says nothing.

  I turn to get back into my car and Riv and Mona join me.

  Asher looks out the garage door signaling that the coast is clear, and I fire my baby up.

  After pulling back out into the alley I say out my window to Asher, “Thanks again, we’ll see you around I'm sure.”

  “Count on it.” Asher says back with a wink.

  As I pull away Mona starts hitting my arm.

  “What the hell, Sloane.”

  “Fuck Mona stop hitting me, it was nothing.”

  I look to her as if I don't know what she's getting so worked up about, but I know. She saw the moment Asher and I were having, she knew that was more than friendly chit chat.

  Letting out a long drawn out sigh, I know this could be a problem if I let it but it's nothing I want to think about right now, so I hit the gas and speed into the night.

  Chapter 18

  As we pull into the driveway of Dane's safe house we see all the lights are off and no one is there. We all make our way inside but there is nothing to indicate that they came back.

  “Maybe you should text Reese.” Riv suggests.

  I do as he says, and I get a text back instantly.

  I’m back at my dorm room with Lux. Dane was taking Moxie back to her house. He didn't text you?

  I text him back that no he did not.

  I tell Mona and Riv what Reese text and they exchanged a look that I know well. It's the look of disappointment.

  “Ask Reese if we're still going to Tahoe? If not me and Riv want to go do something that's not so drama.”

  My eyes widen at Mona's statement.

  “Are you serious?” I ask.

  “Yeah babe it's getting weird, and my gut is telling me something isn't right with that whole Dane and Moxie situation.”

  “What?” I can’t believe she just said that.

  I look to Riv and he only puts his head down, so he can avoid my eyes.

  Instead of texting Reese I call.

  “Sloane why are you calling me?”

  “Hey why are you talking to me like that? I don't need your attitude.” I spit out.

  “I'm sorry I'm just a bit irritated with you and I'm trying to have some time with Lux here.”

  “Irritated with me what did I do?” I ask.

  “You let Asher drive you out of the side show. Dane was pissed and so was I.”

  “You've got to be kidding me!” I say in utter shock. “I was about to be trapped I could have gone to jail, why would Asher helping me, Mona and Riv avoid that be irritating?” I seethe.

  “Asher goes to our school he's a year older plays football and just busts our balls since day one.”

  “You've got to be kidding me, you both are bent, because you're having
to pay your dues.” I roll my eyes at the maturity level that my brother is displaying right now. “Listen here Reese, I can't believe I have to remind you that it's always been family first before anyone else yet you're treating me like some asshole girlfriend that cheated on your new best friend.”

  I hear movement in the background with a door closing.

  “Look, I'm sorry Sloane you're right. I don't know why I'm treating you this way at all.”

  His tone is sincere, and I know he means every word. “Look Dane took Moxie back to her sorority I'll text you the address it's up to you if you want to see what's happening. Again, I'm sorry I let any of this happen.”

  I didn't know what to say, there was an underlying implication that there was more to all this than I realized and there was a moment of hesitation of wanting to find out what. My gut instinct was telling me I needed to know.

  “Alright you text me that address and no one needs to know how I got it but remember I'm your sister so if you're feeling your loyalty lies elsewhere, tell me now before you alert your roommate.” My tone is so firm and deadly I barely recognized my own voice.

  “No, we’re good Sloane, again I'm sorry I just hope everything is all a big misunderstanding.”

  “Me too.” I whisper.

  A few tears slip from my eyes and I quickly wipe them away. I end our call and instantly an address pops up. I stare at it for a moment, before I turn around to tell Mona what's going on but she's right there behind me. I jump at her close proximity

  “Fuck Mona, can you stand any closer?” I say as I grab my chest, so my heart doesn't leap out of my chest.

  “I heard everything Sloane, do you want us to go with you?” She asks.

  “This doesn't sound like a good time, you don't have to.”

  Mona doesn't say anything for a moment, but she just stares at me obviously debating what to do.

  “Riv!” Mona yells. He comes trotting to where we are with a sandwich in hand.

  “Grab our stuff and Sloane’s and load up the Impala and then take it all to my house, we’ll meet you there.” She takes her keys to her car from her front pocket and tosses them to Riv. He catches them with his free hand nods and turns to where our rooms where.