Heavy Hogs MC

by Elias Taylor

  “Hey.” He had been on better terms with his entire family since he brought Beth home for dinner. It was as if they decided to forget the fistfight since it had led to Christian being with Beth. His mom was already badgering him to bring her by again. Christian wouldn’t go so far as to say his dad and he were now best buddies, but there had certainly been less lecturing and fighting.

  “What’s up?” Tyler asked.

  “The usual,” Christian said. “I need to finish some editing, and then I have a quick engagement shoot this afternoon.”

  “Nice, nice,” Tyler said.

  “Then, I’ll probably meet up with Beth or something.” Christian spoke in a casual tone, but he was almost certain he would meet up with Beth. They had been spending all their free time together, and Christian had zero regrets about that.

  “Okay, dude, I love that you’re in a committed relationship or whatever,” Tyler said, “but I was actually thinking you and I could go out. Like we used to.”

  Christian leaned back in his chair. He and Tyler had enjoyed plenty of wild nights out on the town. It had been a way to distract from his pain over Tisha at first, then it had become his lifestyle. He would work hard all week and then blow off steam on the weekend while drinking and chasing one-night stands. Tyler had never been as wild as Christian, but he was single, and he liked to go out now and then.

  “I dunno,” Christian said. “I might be pretty tired after the shoot. Plus, I do have plans with Beth.”

  “Lame,” Tyler said. “But, hey, I get it. You’re lucky you found her.”

  “I know,” Christian said. He couldn’t help but smile. He grinned like a fool every time he thought of Beth.

  “Well, you’re a jerk for not coming out,” Tyler said. “But you deserve it after everything.”

  Christian remembered with a start what had occurred the day before on the sidewalk. He had been trying not to think of it. Why should he care about Tisha and her new guy? But it had shaken Beth. She tried to act like she was over it, but the whole evening, Christian could tell it was bothering her. She laughed and joked like usual, but every now and then, a shadow would pass over her face, and her mouth would sink into a frown.

  Christian hated that Tisha still had this strange sway over Beth’s mood.

  “That reminds me,” Christian said. “We ran into Tisha yesterday.”

  “Oh, shit,” Tyler said. “Was she a bitch like usual?”

  “Not really,” Christian said. “She was actually crying because she and her fiancé got into this fight on the street. It was really awkward.”

  “No way,” Tyler said. “Maybe her fiancé finally realized what a bitch she is.”

  “Maybe,” Christian said. “I wish we hadn’t seen it, though. I think it’s bugging Beth.”

  “Well, Tisha deserves to be unhappy,” Tyler said. “After the way she treated you, I mean, this sounds like karma.”

  “I know,” Christian said. “I said the same thing. Beth’s not as vindictive as us, I guess.”

  Tyler let out a chuckle.

  “Just forget about it,” he said. “Enjoy a nice night with Beth. Both of you deserve to move on with your lives.”

  “Thanks,” Christian said. “I agree.”

  “But please say you’ll come out and wingman with me every now and then,” Tyler said.

  “Sure,” Christian said. “Just not tonight.”

  They said goodbye and hung up.

  Christian stood and packed his materials for the engagement shoot. The couple wanted to do it in the town square. There was a cute little gazebo there, and a small garden. It wasn’t as cliché as a meadow filled with wildflowers, so Christian supposed he could endure it. He just knew they were going to want to do a million staged poses on the gazebo steps when something more candid and natural would make a much better photo.

  He placed his camera in his bag, along with a bunch of lenses, heaved his bag over his shoulder, and headed out.

  Christian was pleasantly surprised when the couple showed up on time. They were nice and relaxed.

  During his time working the engagement and wedding gigs, Christian liked to think he had developed a good radar for relationships that were doomed and relationships that could last. He hated to say it, but he would not put money on most of the marriages he witnessed. There was always something off. The bride was too uptight, or the groom was drinking too much during the ceremony.

  Maybe Beth was making Christian see the world through rose-colored glasses, but he liked this couple. They were open to suggestions and didn’t get too stressed about anything.

  After an hour or so, Christian had a ton of great shots. The couple gushed over what they saw on his screen, and he told them he would have the edits in a week or so. They told him he had to agree to do their wedding, as well, just as soon as they set a date.

  Christian was in a good mood as he packed up his tripod and shoved it into the back of his car. He was even humming a bit to himself. Beth had texted that she could meet him for dinner in thirty minutes. All was right in the world.

  He looked up, and his good mood instantly evaporated.

  Tisha was standing near his trunk.

  “Hey,” she said.

  Christian narrowed his eyes. Her face was soft, and her eyes were big. She spoke softly and with a gentle smile. It reminded him of when they were dating, when she would really want something from him, like a ride to a party or for him to forgive her for canceling a date. Tisha had always been a master manipulator, and Christian had been too blind to realize it.

  He didn’t like this. He would rather she was crying and running away again. “What do you want?”

  His question came out sounding harsh, but he didn’t care. He really didn’t have time for this. Tisha blinked as if she was a lost little puppy, and Christian had just kicked her. He reached for his car door.

  “I just wanted to apologize about the other day in the mall.”

  Christian leaned against his car and glared down at the ground. Tisha never apologized for anything. Even when she told him that their relationship was over and she already had a new boyfriend, she hadn’t apologized. Tisha stepped closer, and Christian stiffened. She was wringing her hands, looking for all the world like the picture of innocence and regret.

  “I shouldn’t have said all those things, it was awful of me. You don’t deserve to be treated like that, and I’m sorry.”

  Something was off. Her apology was too perfect. If anyone who didn’t know Tisha had been watching, they would have thought she was sincere. But Christian did know Tisha. He knew her all too well. He wanted the conversation to be over, but he wasn’t sure how to end it. He knew it would be immature to just get in the car and drive away.

  Christian wondered what Beth would tell him to do. He knew immediately. She would tell him to take the high road and accept the apology. He didn’t have to forget all the wrongs Tisha had done, but he could forgive. Or at least say the words.

  Christian looked up and met Tisha’s eyes. He felt nothing. No anger, no hate, no love. Just nothing. He was well and truly over her. “It’s no sweat. I forgive you, and you don’t need to worry about it.”

  Tisha gave him a big smile. It was bright and cheerful, and it made Christian feel a jolt of apprehension. He didn’t know what game she was playing, but he was definitely done.

  “I gotta go,” Christian said. He hopped in the car and drove away before she could say anything else. Christian watched her fade in the rearview mirror. She stood and watched him with a wistful expression on her face.

  It was weird, Christian decided. He was sure she wanted him to think she was genuine, but nothing about her little performance had been nice or comforting. The whole thing was just bizarre.

  Christian couldn’t quite put his finger on what was so off about Tisha, or why he was so unsettled. He knew he didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all.

  Chapter Twenty-Four: Beth

  Beth had no idea what she was
doing here. In fact, she had almost turned around three times on her way to the sandwich shop. Tisha had asked if they could meet. She texted Beth the night before, begging her. She said she needed to see Beth.

  All of Beth’s alarms had gone off. Yet, Tisha had seemed desperate. Beth couldn’t stop thinking of Tisha’s devastated face when they had run into her after the fight. Beth believed Tisha was struggling, and despite everything, Beth still cared for Tisha.

  Beth sat at the same sandwich shop where they had met for lunch weeks before, but everything was so different now. Beth was with Christian now. They were officially dating, and Beth didn’t want to hide that. She couldn’t hide it, anyway. Tisha knew. Even if they hadn’t run into each other on the sidewalk, no one kept tabs on the rumor mill like Tisha. She probably knew Christian was Beth’s boyfriend within an hour of him asking.

  The thought of Tisha keeping track of Beth’s relationship made her squirm, but Beth couldn’t live her life in fear of what Tisha might think. She had done that for all of high school. She didn’t want to do it anymore.

  Tisha walked in and sat in the chair across from Beth.

  She was wearing well-fitting jeans and a nice cashmere sweater. She had done her makeup in a natural way. Beth imagined that Tisha had selected the outfit to make her look wholesome and contrite.

  “Hey, Beth,” Tisha said.

  She offered Beth a small smile, and Beth tried to smile back. It was so hard, though. Beth knew Tisha could be mean, and Tisha had treated Beth badly over the years, but Beth had always shrugged off Tisha’s cruelties. She could live with them. It was much harder when Beth had to hear about how awful Tisha had been to Christian. It was true that he didn’t talk about it much, but Beth could tell that Tisha had messed him up. He still had a hard time trusting that a relationship could be good and strong.

  Now that Beth cared for him so deeply, she struggled to dismiss Tisha’s behavior. Tisha had hurt someone Beth was falling in love with. That was far more unforgivable than anything Tisha had done to Beth, personally.

  “You look really nice, Beth,” Tisha said. “I heard you’re doing really well with the landscaping company, too.”

  Tisha’s voice was as sweet and smooth as honey, but Beth wasn’t about to cave. Tisha wanted something. She always wanted something. It was just how she was built. In the past, Beth had sometimes admired Tisha’s ambition. She had tenacity, and she was always going after things with single-mindedness. But somewhere along the way, it had soured. Tisha’s ambition had blinded her to other things. She no longer cared about being kind or respecting other people.

  Beth wished more than anything that she was sitting across from the fifteen-year-old girl who had been so brave and charismatic. The girl who had been her friend. But she wasn’t. Tisha was not that girl anymore.

  “Thanks. Work has been going well.” Beth knew she sounded stiff and unfriendly, but it was the best she could do.

  The waiter came over, and they both ordered. Beth got an iced tea and a cookie. It was already late afternoon, and she was planning to meet Christian for dinner.

  “You’re not getting a sandwich?” Tisha asked.

  “I don’t have a lot of time,” Beth said. She had suggested the later meet-up time on purpose. She hadn’t wanted to get stuck with Tisha for too long.

  Tisha ordered a muffin and a coffee. “You’re meeting Christian later, right?” Tisha asked.

  Beth blinked. She had never imagined that Tisha would bring up Christian in such a casual way.

  “It’s okay. I swear,” Tisha said. “I really want you guys to be happy.”

  Beth bristled at the way Tisha spoke. Something about her tone implied she wanted them to be happy, but she doubted it was possible.

  “Seriously, I hope it works out,” Tisha said.

  “Me too,” Beth said.

  Tisha’s eyes hardened, just for a second. Other people might have missed it, but Beth had been looking at Tisha’s face her whole life. The girl was up to something.

  “That’s actually why I wanted to talk,” Tisha said. “I was awful to you guys at the mall that time, and I’m really, really sorry.”

  “Oh,” Beth said. She had no clue what else to say. Tisha was giving her a wide-eyed stare as if it should be obvious how desperately sorry she was.

  “I should never have said the things I did,” Tisha said. “And I know I’ve been an awful friend lately, and I’m so sorry for that, as well.”

  Beth almost laughed. She wanted to say it hadn’t just been lately. Tisha had been a bad friend for over five years, but Beth didn’t want to fight. She never liked to deal with confrontation. Besides, Tisha was apologizing. Beth wasn’t sure it was sincere, but she was more than happy to take the high road.

  “Thanks,” Beth said. “I accept your apology.”

  “That means so much to me,” Tisha said. “I don’t know what I would do if you couldn’t forgive me.”

  Tisha leaned forward and gripped Beth’s hand. Beth thought she was laying it on a bit thick, but she gave Tisha a faint smile. Beth sipped her iced tea. The sooner she finished her drink, the sooner she could leave. Tisha’s whole charade was making her uncomfortable.

  “I’ve been kinda having a tough time. Derek and I broke up.” Tisha’s voice cracked, and for the first time, Beth was certain she wasn’t acting. Tisha was truly upset over her breakup. Beth even believed that the hint of tears in Tisha’s eyes was real.

  “I’m sorry, that sucks,” Beth said. She almost wished she could give Tisha a superior pep talk. Something about how Tisha was strong, and she could move forward after this, and Derek didn’t deserve her. But Beth knew that her heart wouldn’t be in such a speech.

  “Yeah, well, his loss,” Tisha joked. “Anyway, I’m just glad that you and I are friends again.”

  Beth thought that was perhaps over-exaggerating the situation, but she wasn’t going to argue. Tisha didn’t even live in New London. She was probably headed back to LA any day now for some fancy party.

  Beth had trouble being mean to people, even when it was appropriate. In retrospect, it was nothing short of a miracle that Beth had been able to stand up to Tisha that day in the mall. It had been a testament to how much she liked Christian.

  Beth smiled to herself. Soon she would be with Christian, and she could forget about this whole awkward meeting.

  “Yeah,” Beth said. She made a show of checking her watch and finishing her drink. “I’ve really gotta go. I’ll see you around?”

  “Of course,” Tisha said. Tisha stood and gave Beth a brief hug. It was cold and stiff, but Tisha was smiling as if all of a sudden, Beth and Tisha were back to being the best of friends.

  Beth felt a twinge of guilt. She and Tisha were never going to be best friends again. Too much had happened, but Tisha was sad about her breakup, and Beth didn’t have the heart to set boundaries. Not right now, anyway.

  Beth replayed the conversation over and over during her drive to Christian’s. It had been odd, but she couldn’t figure out what Tisha’s end goal had been.

  Maybe she had really wanted to apologize. Maybe.

  All thoughts of Tisha were banished as soon as she walked into Christian’s living room. The whole house smelled amazing, and he beamed at her from the kitchen.

  “I made chicken mushroom pasta,” he said.

  “Oh my God, it looks amazing,” Beth said. Christian walked over and kissed her full on the lips. Beth’s knees went weak, and she clung to his shoulders. It wasn’t fair the effect he had on her, but she still loved it.

  Christian poured some white wine, and they sat down to eat. Beth told him about the current job she and Mel were working on, and Christian told her about the engagement photoshoot he did that afternoon.

  Silence fell about halfway through the meal, and Beth knew she had to tell him. She didn’t like keeping secrets, and Tisha did concern him, too, after all. “I saw Tisha today.”

  Christian looked up. He was interested, but not all tha
t surprised.

  “She texted me asking to have lunch, so I met her for an afternoon snack,” Beth said.

  “Why?” Christian asked.

  “She seemed desperate, and I felt bad,” Beth said. “I still hate what she did to you, and I know she’s treated me badly, but I don’t know, I’m a pushover, I guess.”

  “You’re not a pushover. You’re kind,” Christian said. He gave her the sweetest smile, and it made Beth feel better.

  “Anyway, she wanted to apologize about how she acted at the mall,” Beth said. “And she wanted to be friends again, but the whole thing was really weird.”

  “She apologized to me, too,” Christian said.

  Beth dropped her fork in shock. “What?”

  “Yeah, she showed up when I was done with the shoot in the square,” he said.

  Beth shook her head. If she hadn’t been sure Tisha was up to something before, she was now. Tisha owed Christian a hundred apologies for years, why was she going to the trouble now?

  “I didn’t buy it for a second,” Christian said with a shrug. “But why waste my breath fighting her? I just accepted the apology and drove away.”

  Beth slumped against her chair. “That was the right thing to do.”

  “I know,” Christian said. He flashed her a sly smile. “I knew it was what you would advise me to do.”

  Beth nodded, but she was still distracted. “It’s just all so strange.”

  “Who cares?” Christian asked. “She’s in the past, so let’s leave her there.”

  He didn’t sound angry, but Beth could tell he was losing interest in Tisha as a topic of conversation.

  “You’re right,” Beth said. “I guess I still feel bad for her.”

  “Seriously, you’re a saint,” Christian said. “After everything she’s put you through, you still have compassion.”

  Beth shrugged. She continued to eat her meal. Christian reached out and held her hand. The weight of his hand was comforting. He kept her anchored.

  “I’m also kind of worried,” Beth admitted. “I don’t know what she’s up to.”