Scenic Route

by D. D. Prince

  “I’ll be there early Sunday morning to help you cook and hide the Easter eggs ‘n stuff.”

  “Come for a sleepover Saturday night?” Mom suggested.

  Chakotay came over and started eating his food while I pulled a box of cereal out of the cupboard.

  I jiggled it at Spencer and he curled his lip.

  It was Bran Flakes. I looked back in the cupboard and pulled out a brand-new box of Froot Loops that my brother had bought before he left. He gave me a thumbs up.

  “I’m going to Sioux Falls Friday and I’ll be back Saturday, but then I’m goin' over to play cards at Ella’s parents Saturday night. Actually, do you and Dad wanna come? They have a blast at these card nights. If I tell them you’re interested, they’ll be stoked.”

  “No, I’ll be too busy getting things done and your father will have just gotten home from the east coast, so he’ll be glued to his recliner. I’d love to come some other time, though. We love playing cards.”

  I divvied up some blueberries and granola between the two bowls of cereal.

  “Maybe I should skip it. Come over Saturday night and help you peel veggies and stuff,” I started.

  “No, honey; go play cards and have fun. What’s in Sioux Falls Friday?”

  “The MC is having a big fish fry. Jenna, Ella, and their guys are goin’.” I fetched a banana to chop and add into the cereal as well as the milk.

  “Oh. Is that younger brother going, too? He’s very handsome. You should bat your eyelashes at that one, if he’s still single. I wouldn’t mind him takin’ me for a ride on his motorbike, if you know what I mean.” She giggled.

  I dropped the milk and half the carton spilled on the floor.

  Spencer was silently laughing. His eyes were on me, his shoulders shaking, and his eyes dancing.

  I grabbed the phone and took it off speaker.

  “Shit.”

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “You made me drop the milk with your dirty talk. I gotta clean up. I’ll call you later okay? Say Hi to Aunt Chris and Uncle Ben. Love you.”

  “Okay, love you, sweetie.” There was laughter in her voice.

  “You need me to hit the supermarket Sunday morning on my way for whatever you forgot, let me know.”

  “Will do,” she said still chuckling.

  No matter the meal, be it Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, or otherwise, we always had to run to the store for some forgotten thing during the madness.

  I ended the call and reached for the paper towel.

  Chakotay was already licking the milk off the floor.

  “No, boy. Milk isn’t good for doggies.” I snapped my fingers and he sat back on his hind legs and gave me a sad face.

  I dropped paper towel on it, studiously avoiding Spencer, and patting the dog’s head.

  “You’re such a good boy.”

  I put my forehead to his and kept scratching both his ears. He wagged his tail like crazy. I rose, poured milk into the cereal bowls and took Spencer one without looking at him.

  “Thanks, baby.”

  “Mm,” I grumbled and sat beside him with mine and turned the television on to catch some news before I had to jump in the shower.

  “What’s all this shit in my bowl?”

  “Froot Loops.”

  “There’s maybe four Froot Loops in here. What’s the rest of this?”

  I looked in. It was as filled with Froot Loops as it was with other stuff. Berries, granola, bananas.

  “I made it healthier. There’s way more than four. There’s probably four thousand Froot Loops.”

  He shook his head in dismay and ate it with a miserable look on his face.

  I ate mine, ignoring him, and then grabbed clothes to bring into the bathroom (thankfully remembering) and then I took a shower and got ready for work.

  When I came out, dressed in faded jeans, high-heeled booties, and a super soft yellow off-the-shoulder sweater, he sat up straighter, eyes heated again.

  “We good to go to work?” I asked.

  He got to his feet and gave me a once-over. “We been up for hours, Sunshine. Feels like it’s time for a nap, not to get our day started.”

  “Early birds catch the worms,” I said brightly and grabbed my bag and my keys, then shoved my phone into my bag.

  He was suddenly in my space, sifting his hand through my hair.

  “Yeah, I’m not a morning person, never have been, but so long as gettin’ that worm means the same thing as being able to watch you do the splits real slow-like while you’re in a handstand, I’ll get up before the roosters.”

  I sucked on my lower lip.

  His eyes dropped to my mouth.

  “Let’s go.” He latched the leash onto Chakotay and we left for work.

  10

  He walked me inside, greeting Scott who was sitting at reception. Jenna was watering the plants.

  “Scoot,” Spence greeted Scott, and they did a fist bump.

  “Mornin’,” Jenna greeted.

  “Hey,” I gave her a smile. “Scott.” I tipped my head to Scott.

  Jenna’s eyes bounced between me and Spencer questioningly. She had the sense to keep her mouth shut, though.

  A customer burst in and pointed at me. “I’ve got a bone to pick with you,” she snapped. Mrs. Kenny. She was a pain in the ass.

  Spencer stepped in front of her. “Step back.”

  “It’s okay, Spence,” I whispered. He stood in front of me. I peered around him and saw her looking up at him with fear. I scooted around to get beside him and he was looking at her like she was something he’d scraped off his shoe.

  “My uh… most of my eyelash extensions fell off. You said they’d last for weeks.”

  “I can take a look if you give me two minutes?” I offered.

  Spencer’s nostrils were flaring at her.

  She sat down in the waiting area and picked up a magazine and opened it, covering her face to hide.

  I grabbed his hand and his eyes shot to mine.

  “Don’t scare my customers,” I whispered.

  A swallow moved down his throat. I let go of his hand. He grabbed for mine again.

  “When’re you done?”

  “Sevenish.”

  “I’ll be here for you at seven. We’ll bring your car to the Roadhouse parking lot for the weekend, then ride back to your place on the bike. Gimme your keys.”

  “To be honest, I’m not sure it’s such a great idea. Maybe I’ll just go stay at my aunt’s. She lives in Westport, so it’s not like the Jackals are---”

  “Nope. You’re comin’.”

  “I really don’t feel like a party, Spence, and---”

  Jenna cut me off. “A party is probably just what you need.”

  My eyes narrowed on her in a mind your own business way. Jenna never minded her own business.

  “I’m so glad you’re coming. I’ll tell Ella and Jojo.” She reached for the desk where her phone sat.

  “Wait. I’m not…”

  Spencer grabbed me by the back of the head and planted a kiss on my lips. “Gotta get Chakotay back and catch a shower, then get the showroom open. Ella’s not in till noon today. See ya tonight. Here. You go nowhere else.” He shot Scooter a chin lift and left.

  I stood dumbfounded a second and then blew a breath out and decided to go to the bathroom and take a second to pull myself together before dealing with Mrs. Kenny.

  ***

  Jenna popped her head in after my second appointment of the day.

  “So?” she asked.

  “So?”

  “So, you and Spencer?”

  “He’s gotta get it through his thick skull that he’s in the friend zone,” I said, matter-of-factly.

  Jenna busted up laughing.

  “That’s funny?”

  “Sister, you two are so outta the friend zone it ain’t funny.”

  “Nope.”

  “Oh,” she looked at me snarkily. “So you didn’t fall on his dick last night?”


  “Not at all.”

  Her face fell in shock.

  “I’m Pippa, not Jenna.” I rolled my eyes

  “Low blow,” she grumbled.

  “Sorry, I’m out of line.”

  “That’s okay. I got my head outta my butt about him and life has been dreamy ever since.”

  “Dreamy?”

  “After the drama, absolutely. You really didn’t sleep with Spencer last night?”

  “I didn’t have sex with him,” I said.

  “Oh. Hm. Foreplay.” She shrugged.

  “What?”

  “One long foreplay sesh. Now that I think about it, I can feel the sexual tension sizzling. You’re gonna get it good tonight.” She wiggled her fingers dramatically.

  “I’m getting nothing tonight.”

  “At the latest, tomorrow night at the party. If it goes that long, though… I fear you’ll be claimed in front of the whole club.”

  “Stop being ridiculous.”

  “Bet ‘cha.”

  “I ain’t a gambler.”

  She laughed. “It’s gonna be a great party. All of us… I think I should get Andie to come. We need to pair her off with a biker, too.”

  “I’m not paired off with a biker, either.”

  “Keep telling yourself that.”

  ***

  “We’re all goin’ for pizza,” Ella said, poking her head in. I was getting my stuff all closed up.

  “Hey, babes. All who?”

  “Everyone. Me, Deacon, Rider and Jenna, Dee and Scoot, you and Spen--”

  “One of these things is not like the other,” I interrupted.

  “Huh?”

  “All couples? Me and Spencer aren’t a couple.”

  “I was going to keep going and say ‘and Jojo and Andie’,” she said.

  “Oh.” My shoulders slumped. “Sorry. I’m touchy on that subject.”

  “You okay?”

  I blew out a breath. “Spencer’s not getting the boundaries I’m trying to establish.”

  “Boundaries?”

  “Friends who happened to have sex one drunken night.”

  “And the morning after…”

  “And the morning after,” I agreed.

  “And neither is Jenna respecting those boundaries. Come to think of it… or Rider. He commented something yesterday like ‘Jackals know she’s yours?’ Like I’m a piece of property. So, of course I’m a bit touchy.”

  Ella winced. “You have to look past a biker’s choice of language sometimes and just consider the meaning. It comes from a good place.”

  “Yeah, well Spencer’s insisting on me coming to Sioux Falls, which I get, since the Jackals rode by in some sort of formation again before the sun rose this morning by the apartment and saw us together, but---”

  “Saw you together?”

  “We were walking Chakotay before seven and---”

  Ella burst out laughing.

  “What?”

  “You were walking his dog with him at sun-up and you think you two aren’t together?”

  My face burned hot. “It wasn’t like that. He insisted on staying and I wouldn’t let him, so he was staying in his truck all night in the cold and so I finally let him come in because I heard bikes and got scared that I was putting him in danger. He was being stubborn. We didn’t do it.”

  “Ah. So, you let him sleep on the floor?” she asked.

  I twisted my lips. “No.”

  “He slept in bed with you? I mean, I know you said you only have a sofa bed to sleep on up there.” Her eyes were dancing with mirth.

  I stared at her, my lips tight, nose scrunched.

  “He’s going to melt your resolve like Rider did with Jen.”

  I blew out a breath.

  Ella reached over and grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

  “Honest to God, he’s smitten with you. I work with him, see him every day, and you know he can be an ass, a major one, but I know what I’m seeing, and he is head over heels. He’s frustrated as shit right now because a) you’re getting over a bunch of pain and he can’t rush it and get to the part where you trust it and give yourself over to it and b) he’s worried about those nasty Jackals hurting you. He’s not easy to be around right now. He went from trying to court you to absolutely jacked up with rage over what happened yesterday. He isn’t talking about it or anything but after working with him for the last six months day in day out, I can read him like a book. Cut the guy a break unless you really, really don’t want him. I mean, if you think you might want something with him, hang in there and take one day at a time. Give it a chance.”

  I chewed my lip.

  “Think on it before you cut him loose. I’m not saying it’d be riding off into the sunset on the back of his bike with no drama at all. Chances are, there’ll be some drama. This club is facing a lot right now. But, for me, for Jenna, the Valentine boys make it worth it. Is Spencer in that league too? I think…” she stopped, looking thoughtful. “I think he might be. Honestly. Girlie… he’s like his brothers. Might be a bit more work with him as he’s got some baggage so a little more of a winding road toward your happily ever after rather than a straight run, but seriously… total package.”

  “You and Jenna are ganging up on me.”

  She nodded. “Yep. We want you happy. You are perfect for him. You won’t put up with his shit and he’s crazy for you. And the three of us as sisters? It feels like it was meant to be.”

  “I thought me and Joe were meant to be.”

  Her expression dropped.

  My tears were about to roll again. “And I was wrong. So, I’m scared. I feel like it’s too soon. Ella, the way he looks at me makes my heart race. He is the best kisser, the best lover I’ve ever had. And we had an amazing night. He fucking worshipped my body. God, the way he stares at me when he’s touching me… but, I’m scared.”

  She shut my door and put her arms around me. I hugged her and started to cry.

  I sniffled. “And I’ve seen him get assholey when he drinks sometimes and with what I just went through…” I let that hang.

  “Hey, it’s normal to feel like this. I think it is, anyway. You’ve been through a lot. Just be open about how you feel. If he’s serious about you he’ll put in the effort, and he’ll have a mind to what you’ve been through.”

  “I feel like damaged goods,” I whispered. “Look at him. Why would he wanna untangle the knots of me?”

  “If he doesn’t, you don’t need him. Look at you! You’re a fox. And you’re even more beautiful inside than outside, which is saying a lot. But, if you think he might be willing to try, why not let him? See if it’s worth it.”

  The door knocked and opened. Jenna stepped in to say something and her expression dropped.

  “Are you okay?” She slipped in and shut the door.

  I wiped my eyes and reached for a Kleenex.

  “I’m just opening up a little, I guess.”

  Jenna’s mouth dropped. “With Ella? Not me? How many times have I tried to get in there with you? This isn’t fair. I’m a little bit jealous.” She folded her arms across her chest grumpily.

  “It’s not easy for me,” I whispered. “Ella just caught me at the right time.”

  “She barely let me in, Jen. Not to worry, though. We’ll get her all liquored up tomorrow night. The Dominion Sisterhood trifecta will get her talkin’,” Ella said, rubbing my back.

  “What’s that?” I asked, wiping my eyes.

  “Shooters,” Ella told me. “Lots of shooters. And the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun train. And dancing and laughing and girl talk if you want it.”

  I smiled. “I could use some shooters and dancing.”

  Ella and Jenna giggled and then they both hugged me at the same time.

  Spencer walked in on our girl huddle right then.

  I looked up at him.

  His eyes went concerned. “What happened?”

  “Just havin’ a girlie moment, never you mind,” Ella told him.

/>   “Let’s go get pizza.” Ella jiggled her keys. “I got the shit-box. Deacon’s gonna meet us there. Spence followed me over. Want a ride, Jen? Rider was wrappin’ up something at the garage and said he’ll meet us there. Scott just left to pick up Deanna.”

  “Bike’s out front. I already got your car over to the parking lot at the clubhouse,” Spencer said. “And Jenna is ridin’ with you. That’s not optional.”

  “No need to be bossy,” Jenna said. “I get it.”

  Spencer rolled his eyes at her, looking impatient.

  “I never gave you my keys,” I told him.

  His eyes lit with a devious gleam.

  “Did you take my keys?” I reached into my bag. There they were. Huh?

  “Not everyone needs keys.” He shrugged.

  “You didn’t hot wire my car!”

  “Nope. Could’ve. But, didn’t. Towed it. Let’s go.”

  “You towed it?”

  Jenna laughed.

  I glared at him. “I’ll ride with Ella, too,” I said.

  His smirk melted into a dirty look.

  “Back off, Buster,” Ella said. “She’s comin’ with me.”

  I felt his eyes burning into me, but decided to ignore it.

  I wiped my eyes some more.

  He left.

  Jerky alpha male. Why wouldn’t he have another conversation about my car instead of taking it upon himself to have it towed?

  We got outside, and Spencer called out “Let’s go” up to the terrace, where Andie and Jojo were sitting, in Adirondack chairs, laughing about something.

  “Are you supposed to be up there alone?” Jenna called.

  “We told him we’d call him if we saw anyone pull in. He said he was just poppin’ in to get you guys,” Jojo called down as she and Andie came down the stairs.

  Us girls piled into Ella’s big green classic muscle car and followed Spencer to the pizza place.

  When we got there, Scott and Deanna were pulling in on Scott’s motorcycle. Rider and Deacon’s bikes were already there. We had a big table in the back, and Rider said hello to us as he kissed Jenna in greeting and told us he and Deacon already ordered, because we were taking so long. Food was on the way.

  There were pitchers of beer and pop on the table and the waitress was bringing over a giant Caesar salad bowl. Another waitress was bringing over a platter of cheesy breadsticks as we sat down.