by K E Osborn
Shit!
I finally look at Shay, as the man comes running in and bends down to the mess that is Brandon on the floor, his hands shake as he assesses the damage we’ve inflicted on the fucking cunt. But my chest is aching not from the adrenalin, but from the broken mess that is Shay. She’s cowering holding herself as tears stream down her face endlessly. All anger is swept away as my nurturing instinct kicks in and I rush to her side sweeping her into my arms as she collapses into them.
“Shay? Baby?” I murmur, and she cries hard and I hold her to me.
“What have you heathens done to my son?” the man calls out, and I huff.
“You should be ashamed, letting your son treat your students the way he does,” I spit back.
“What? What do you mean?” he asks.
“Shay, tell him!” Gadget demands.
Shay looks down to a moaning Brandon and takes a deep breath steadying herself.
“Brandon told me if I didn’t let him have his way with me then he would fail my classes.”
My muscles clench as bile rises in my throat. “Did he… did he force himself on you?” I ask.
She looks up at me and her eyes flood with tears and she shrugs. “Just kissing, but I never kissed back, I swear. I would never do that to you, I promise,” she defends like I’d be angry with her. I’m not angry at her at all. Brandon on the other hand, I want to lay into him all over again.
“You fucking little cunt. I’m gonna rip your tongue off for violating my girl,” I sneer.
“Then I’m going to rip your balls off, so you can’t touch anyone else again. You fucking piece of shit!” Gadget berates, and I look at him and nod in agreement.
His dad puts his hand up to stop us from inching closer to him, and he exhales. “Okay, I had no idea this was going on, and I’m utterly appalled by my son’s actions. I’m so sorry, Shay. So sorry. You have no idea. Trust me, Brandon’s job here is terminated immediately, and I encourage you to seek legal advice and press charges. He can’t get away with this kind of moronic behaviour.”
Shay cuddles into me, and I grip onto her harder. “Oh, trust me. We’re going to the cops. He’s not getting away with this,” I say.
His dad nods, as I turn with Shay under my arm and begin to walk her out of the hall.
She looks up at me and sniffs. “Thank you.”
I shake my head and huff. “You should’ve told me.” I regret saying it instantly as fresh tears fall from her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m just so fucking angry at him for using you like that. I could have fucking killed him, Shay.”
She rests her open palm on my chest above my frantically pounding heart and sniffs again. “I know, and I’m glad you didn’t. I’m just happy you and Gadget worked as a team.”
“Yeah, for once we worked well together. We had a common goal I suppose… rip someone else apart rather than each other.”
She lets out a small giggle, and it’s music to my ears as Gadget catches up to us. “The dad said he’s going to take Brandon to the station to file a report. We should do the same.”
Nodding, I grip onto Shay tighter and walk her out of the hall to my ride so I can take her to report that fucker and get some justice.
***
We spent a couple of hours at the cop shop, and Shay told them every little detail. I cringed at every word she spoke about him basically assaulting her. It made me sick. Especially that she was going through all that alone. I wish she would have told me, but I understand why she didn’t. She didn’t want to lose grades, and she knew it would end up with Brandon being bloodied up. His dad walking in couldn’t have been timed better, to be honest. I’m just glad he believed her and understood what a prick his son really is.
Once word spread about Brandon’s arrest, more girls came out saying he was doing the same to them. He was basically trying it on with the whole female science class. But we’re back at the clubhouse now, and sitting in the clubrooms all celebrating another victory. I glance at Shay and smile as she talks to Flame and Meli. They have gotten quite close since their incident. I guess sharing something like that will bring you together.
Looking around the room at all my friends, my brothers, my family. I’m feeling good. My girl is getting ready to graduate from her class without Brandon badgering her, she’s agreed to marry me, and everything has settled down in the club. Everything is going right again. A wave of happiness flows through me, and I can’t stop the words before they fly out of my mouth.
“Everyone, can I have your attention please?” I ask as I walk over to Shay.
She glances at me raising her eyebrow. Everyone chuckles, but reduces their voices and stops talking.
“Shay is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met—”
“Speak for yourself, Techno,” Irina calls out making everyone laugh.
Shaking my head, I wrap my arm around Shay. “Anyway, as I was saying… Shay is beautiful, and I love this woman with everything that I have.” A round of cheering and catcalling echoes throughout the clubroom. “Shut up and let me talk! So the other day I asked Shay an important question.” I look down at her as she smiles. “I asked her if she’d marry me.” A round of gasps fill the room—there’s no laughter, no cat calls, just dead silence, as I stare at Shay and my chest squeezes with excitement.
“No,” a thunderous voice grunts out. I furrow my brows turning to see Gadget storming up to me.
Tensing as I swallow hard, Shay steps in front of me and puts her hand out to stop Gadget from getting to me.
“No Shay, I won’t let you.”
“Stephie, c’mon, you think you can tell me who I can and can’t marry?”
He scoffs. “I bloody well am gonna try.”
She huffs tilting her hip to the side. “Stop it! You two worked so well together to help me. What changed, huh?”
Gadget glares at me, an intense fire burning in his eyes. “He’s no good for you, Shay. He may care for you, but he’s a biker. He will break your heart, that’s what bikers do.”
She chuckles. “Right, so you’d break a girl’s heart, just like dad has broken mum’s? ‘Cause they’re so unhappy, right? After forty-seven years of marriage? And look at Steel and Flame, huh. You think they’re not gonna make it? You’re being a dick!”
“No, I’m not. Techie… he’s not even smart enough to get into Mensa, so he’s certainly not smart enough for you, Shay.”
I furrow my brows and grunt as Shay steps back into me holding me into place. “Hey, that’s a low blow, brother. I’m only one point off Mensa!”
Gadget laughs. “Yeah, well how does it feel knowing that Shay aced it, and is five points higher on the IQ chart than you?”
Shay slumps her body and turns to face me.
I take a deep breath looking in her drooping eyes. “Your IQ is 152?”
She nods and winces. “I’m sorry, that’s why I never told you. I knew it would bother you and—”
Running my hand through her hair and tucking some behind her ear, I smile. “Bother me? Baby, I think it’s hot.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake! You don’t want someone dumber than you, Shay.”
She turns back to face her brother and shakes her head. “Techie and dumb… don’t belong in the same sentence.”
“Right, well then, there’s only one way to settle this,” Gadget says rolling up his sleeves. I tilt my head and sigh. Last thing I want to do is beat Shay’s brother up in front of her.
“Gadget, stop—”
“You stop. There’s only one way to sort this out once and for all. We battle it out—”
“Boys c’mon, you’re brothers. We don’t need you fighting in here,” Gator says stepping up to us.
Gadget shakes his head and raises his chin defiantly. “Not a battle with fists, Prez, this is going to be… a fact battle. Techie, you think you’re so sharp, try and out-fact me!”
Everyone cracks up laughing, and I sigh with a hint of relief. I really didn’t want to beat him to a bloody p
ulp in front of Shay, though I would have if he made me.
“Okay, and if I win this fact battle what do I win?” I ask.
Gadget huffs but smiles cockily like he’s sure I won’t win. “If you win, you can marry my sister.”
Smiling, I nod. “And if I lose?”
He smiles even wider. “If you lose, you break up with her, and let her live her life away from the club.”
My chest tightens, and Shay turns back looking at me and smiling.
“You got this. I trust you, Yoshi.” She brings her hand up to my cheek and caresses it, leaning in to kiss me tenderly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Everyone is crowded in a circle around Gadget and me, as we stand in front of each other staring down. Cracking my neck from side to side, I take a deep breath as I prepare to battle it out with Shay’s brother. This could get interesting.
“Okay, so how this works. Gadget will start with a random fact, and then Techie will follow taking something from that fact and creating a new fact. This will continue until we run out of continuations or a fact is incorrect from an opponent. Are we clear on the rules?” Shay announces.
“Clear,” I say.
“Crystal,” Gadget replies.
Someone starts playing Europe’s ‘The Final Countdown’ over the stereo and everyone laughs as the theme music eggs us on for a brave battle.
“Gadget, your first fact please?” Shay announces, and I take a deep breath knowing there’s a lot on the line here.
He stands tall and rolls his shoulders. “I’ll start with an easy one. Pi in mathematics is one of the most common constants. It’s the circumference of any circle, divided by its diameter. However, no one knows its exact value, because when calculated the number never ends. But for practical use, we say it’s three point one four two.”
I raise my eyebrows and nod as Shay smiles at me. “True. Techie, please take something from that fact and create a new fact,” Shay says.
“Pi… pi… pie.” I smile. “The average sweet pie is full of sugar, but can also contain carbs and protein as well. The Raspberry Cream Pie will average at around three point three four grams of protein, which is close to the numerical number of Pi, just a little naughtier.”
Shay chuckles and nods. “True. Gadget your fact.”
“Oh, c’mon the fact he took was three point one four two, his fact was three point three four, surely that’s a disqualification?” Gadget queries.
Shay’s lips turn upward, shaking her head. “I believe the fact he took was pie, not the numerical value, please continue Gadget or your turn will be disqualified.”
I like bossy Shay. I smile at her, and she winks at me.
“Fine, raspberries.” He takes a deep breath and nods. “Raspberry leaf is a well-known herbal remedy used for medicinal purposes for many things including leg cramps, nausea, and improved sleep during pregnancy. A strong raspberry tincture will soothe sunburn, eczema, and even rashes when applied externally, and rinsing the mouth with an infusion of raspberry leaf is known to help alleviate symptoms of gingivitis or gum disease.”
Shay nods. “True. Techie, your fact.”
Running through my options, I tense slightly. Nodding, I take a breath. “Sleeping during pregnancy.” Shay looks at me and raises her eyebrow like she’s unsure I should know anything about pregnancy. “While pregnant, the best position to sleep in is the SOS position or the sleep on side. Sleeping on your left will increase the amount of blood and nutrients that reach the placenta and the baby. It’s also wise to keep the legs bent and a pillow between the knees while sleeping.”
Shay lets out a shocked laugh and nods. “True. I had no idea you knew about pregnancy.”
I smile. “I know about a lot of that stuff, babe.”
She smiles and raises her eyebrow at me in satisfaction as Gadget groans. “You guys are not having kids,” he murmurs.
“Is that your fact?” I ask and Shay chuckles as does the rest of the room.
“No, fuck! Urgh. Okay, umm… placentas.” A groan of disapproval rings around the clubroom as I chuckle along with Shay, and Gadget looks up at the ceiling thinking about his next fact. “Right, the placenta from a newborn child of the Māori from New Zealand is traditionally buried to emphasise the relationship between humans and the earth. In Costa Rica and Cambodia, the health of the baby and mother is said to be ensured by burial of the placenta. Likewise, the Navajo bury the placenta and the umbilical cord at a specially chosen site, especially if the baby dies during its birth. And the Aymara of Bolivia believe if a mother dies in childbirth, they bury the placenta in a secret place so that the mother won’t return to claim her baby’s life.”
Shay shakes her head as I furrow my brows. “Dude that’s twisted,” I say, and he shrugs.
“It’s also true. Techie, your fact?” Shay says, and I shake my head wondering what the fuck I’m going to take from that. “New Zealand, I can pick that, right?” I ask and Shay smiles.
“It was in his fact.”
“Oh, c’mon, that’s such a broad topic it should have to be more specific than that,” Gadget chides.
“Rules are rules, Stephie. It can be anything from the previous fact… New Zealand is acceptable. Techie continue.”
“Thank you, Peach. In New Zealand, people think the primary languages are only English and Māori, but another form of language recognised and used as an official language is New Zealand Sign Language.”
I smile a shit eating grin and nod my head matter-of-factly, as Gadget shakes his head and huffs. “That’s bullshit, sign language can’t be an official language of a country. Ha! I win, your marriage is off.”
He throws his hands in the air and walks around in a circle. I look to Shay, and she frowns. “I’m not sure on this one, Techie. I haven’t heard of it either.”
My chest tightens and my heart starts to race as she furrows her brows. “Fact check. Google it, I’m sure it’s there. I know I read it somewhere,” I beg and she nods frantically.
“Yes, I have to fact check.”
“No, either you know the answer Shay or the fact speaker loses. Those are the rules,” Gadget chides.
“We never said what would happen if I didn’t know the answer, Gadget. It’s only fair that I fact check. This is, after all, my life we’re playing with. I’m not going to let you win just because I don’t know.”
He huffs, grunts, and hands her his tablet. “Fine, but when it comes back that it’s not an official language, your engagement is off!”
“And if it comes back that it is?”
“Then, he won fair and square. But he won’t because it’s bullshit!”
I start to think maybe I read it on Wiki, and we all know you can’t trust everything you read on that site. A cold sweat rushes over my body as I move in behind Shay. She opens the web browser and searches for the languages of New Zealand. She scrolls down and then turns from me so I can’t see her face pale as she chews on her bottom lip.
Shit, I’ve fucked this up!
She takes a deep breath and starts to read out from the web page. “It says and I quote, ‘The countries de jure official languages are English, Māori and…. New Zealand… Sign Language.’”
The room erupts in cheers, and I let out a roar of excitement as I rush to Shay and pick her up swirling her around by her waist. She laughs and wraps her hands around my neck moving down to kiss me.
“Fuck this, this is fucking stupid,” Gadget calls out, and I put Shay back to the floor and she turns facing him with a giant smile on her face.
“So, can I marry Techie?” she asks.
He frowns and slumps his body as everyone watches. “Fine!”
“You know I was going to marry her anyway, right?” I ask and Shay giggles slapping my arm as Gadget shakes his head and grunts.
“Figures, you are a cunt.” He storms off out the back, as I spin Shay around and press my lips to hers firmly knowing that now everyone knows she’s mine, and I will work for her if
I have to.
Steel comes up behind me and slaps my back. I pull back from Shay and glance at him with a smile.
“You’re stealin’ my thunder,” he whispers quietly.
I chuckle, shrug and tilt my head. “No time like the present. Get that ring out and ask Flame now,” I say, and he smiles.
“Nah, brother. This is your time, enjoy it.” He grips my shoulder and walks off to Flame wrapping her up tight in his arms.
Shay moves up and cuddles into me. “So, how long do you want to wait to get married?”
“I want to marry you now, so as soon as possible.”
Shay smiles and widens her eyes like she’s excited. “Vegas?”
My stomach flutters at the thought, and I nod. “Hell yes, are you serious?”
“It would have to be quick, though. I couldn’t miss too much Uni. I’m too close to finals. But yeah I’m serious, the whole club can come with us too, right?”
I knew she was my perfect match, there’s nothing like a club vacation and to throw in a wedding. This is going to be epic.
“Shit yeah.” I thrust two fingers in my mouth and whistle loudly gaining everyone’s attention. They all look to me and chuckle.
“God, if you tell me she’s pregnant now I’m going to stab you. No joke,” Gadget grunts and I chuckle.
“No, but we are going to Vegas, and we want the club to come too if Gator sanctions it. Shotgun wedding anyone?” I glance to Gator, and he nods.
“Vegas it is,” he announces, and the clubroom erupts in cheers and laughter as I pick Shay up by the waist and spin her around again. She bends down and presses her lips to mine, and that all too familiar spark surges through me. Yes, I know this is quick, but I don’t care. This is right, and she’s the piece that has been missing my entire life. The piece to my heart that completes this technical puzzle.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
We arrived in Vegas yesterday, and I had to pay the guys at Caesars Palace a pretty fortune to squeeze us in for a quickie wedding. This place gets booked out quick. But they found a time, and we had a look at the venue—the Venus Garden, and it’s perfect. A quaint little garden area with Roman architecture surrounded by tropical palm trees and floral landscapes. There’s even a Koi fish pond, which Shay fell in love with, and a fountain setting a peaceful ambiance. The place is exactly right for us—stylish but a little quirky.