Scenic Route

by D. D. Prince

  Spencer sat beside me. On the other side of me was Jojo.

  I was starved.

  We all dug into the food and the others were laughing and joking around.

  I was quiet, reflective, eating my feelings. Spencer was silent beside me.

  Four large pizzas were brought to the table.

  “What’s on those?” Jojo asked, leaning forward.

  Rider pointed. “Ham and pineapple on that one. Pepperoni and mushroom. Veggie and roasted garlic. And sausage and anchovy.”

  I proceeded to eat a piece of veggie and garlic (it had two kinds of onions on it), then a piece of sausage and anchovy, then another piece of veggie and garlic.

  “Tryin’ to make a point?” Spencer whispered in my ear as I dug into my third piece, which had a very large onion on it.

  I plucked the onion off the top and dipped it into a garlic dipping sauce and then popped it into my mouth, giving him a snotty look.

  The garlic dipping sauce was really good, so I then proceeded to dip my pizza crust into it.

  And then I did it again. He smiled and leaned over and squeezed my thigh.

  I responded by pulling my leg away and pulling another big round red onion off my piece of pizza and drenching it with more garlic dip.

  He looked at me with amusement, but something about his expression also had a bit of a dangerous edge. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

  “Why didn’t you talk to me about the car? I’m pissed at you, makin’ these alpha male statements.”

  He leaned into my ear. “You argue about everything with me. I’ve decided to save the energy it’d take to argue with you, so I can put that energy towards other things.”

  I glared. “Like what?”

  “You’ll see…” He eyed me flirtily.

  I lifted, then tipped the garlic sauce bowl directly into my mouth.

  He laughed.

  Ella and Andie were in a debate over pineapple on pizza. Ella was pro-pineapple, hence the reason there was one on the table (Deacon knew this) Andie: against it. Andie was also a little tipsy and getting louder about it. And kind of hilarious about it.

  Andie and Jojo had hit it off the past few days and it was decided that Andie would come to the Sioux Falls party, too, have some fun.

  She was a good friend, usually really shy, definitely way tamer than Jenna and me (me before I’d become damaged goods, that was) even tamer than Ella (except tanked Ella. No one was wilder than tanked Ella, though it only happened a few times a year), and was an awesome baker who regularly told us she was buying our love and friendship with sugar (deliciously so), and it’d be great to have another single person there this weekend from our friend group, especially someone who wouldn’t be trying to push me into Spencer’s arms.

  They talked plans. Scott was going to drive the Mystery Machine bus with our luggage and the girls who didn’t have a motorcycle man to be wrapped around. I didn’t bother trying to state my case as a single girl who was not in a relationship with a biker, particularly since that point in the conversation included Spencer wrapping his arm around my chair, as if to make a point about me being expected to ride with him.

  Jesse, Bronto, and Pudge were staying back to keep an eye on things while Deacon, Rider, Deke, Blow, Spencer, and the other members headed to the party.

  I was suddenly looking a little bit forward to the big biker party, but I was pretty sure he wouldn’t let me ride on the bus. Riding with him, in that formation with the others, that’d feel very real. I wasn’t sure how to deal with that.

  ***

  Everyone had stopped eating and were making motions to head out.

  Deanna wanted to go to the Roadhouse for drinks, but no one else was interested, as we had to get up early and all seemed more content to be with their significant others. Deanna couldn’t come this weekend as she had to work and had two little tots, so was clearly feeling bereft about not partying tonight.

  Jenna was looking like she wanted a nap. Rider was rubbing her belly for her as she complained about eating too much.

  Deacon and Ella were whispering against one another’s lips in the corner while he twirled a lock of her curly hair around his index finger. They were looking like they were anxious to get home and be alone.

  Spencer’s arm was still around the back of my chair, which meant I was sitting on the edge of it. Uncomfortably. Jojo was watching us, smiling with a goofy grin.

  I gave her a weird look and she giggled, but said nothing.

  “So, we’ll see you guys tomorrow then.” Jojo’s expression sobered as she tagged her coat from the back of her chair and got it on.

  The waitress brought the bill toward Deacon and Rider’s end of the table.

  “Got it.” Spencer waved her over.

  “I got it,” Deacon called down.

  “Naw, my turn.” Spencer said and pulled cash out of his wallet.

  Everyone thanked him and we all parted ways, Ella saying she’d be taking Jojo and Andie back over to the salon parking lot, Deacon following.

  We all decided to convoy together in the morning from the Roadhouse/ clubhouse parking lot.

  And that left me and Spencer getting on his bike and heading back to my brother’s apartment.

  ***

  He tried to reach for the keys, but I sort of hip-checked him so I could unlock the door myself. But before we moved to go up, I froze. The top door looked open just a crack. As I froze, Spencer grabbed me by hooking me around the waist with his arm. “Stay here,” he whispered. We’d both noticed at the exact same time. “Phone in your hand, dial 9-1-1 but don’t hit call yet. Listen so you’ll know if you have to.”

  I held my breath. He kissed my temple and then quickly reached down and got his left boot off and suddenly had a sheathed knife in his hand as he went up the stairs as quiet as a cat in just one boot.

  I saw I’d missed calls from my brother and my mother as I unlocked my phone and did what I was told.

  As he quietly opened the door, I stood there, back against the wall, phone ready, finger hovering over the green button, heart galloping.

  I heard a big angry grunt and a thump and then I heard, “Holy Christ, man!”

  Phil?

  I gasped and ran (stumbling over Spencer’s discarded boot) up the stairs in time to see my brother and Spencer getting off the floor at the same time.

  I was breathless and relieved.

  “Fuck, man!” My brother was staring, open-mouthed, at Spencer.

  Spencer’s temple and throat both had bulging veins. He was looking hopped up on adrenaline.

  He put the knife (which was no longer in the sheath) down on the coffee table and paced for a second, catching his breath.

  It was an odd sight, Spencer wearing just one boot.

  He waved at my brother, who was staring at him, in a ‘give me a second’ gesture.

  “He took me right to the fuckin’ floor when he jumped me. Holy fuck, Squeak. Your man pulled a knife on me.”

  I was aghast.

  “Get over here and gimme a hug!” My brother opened his arms.

  I ran into them and squeezed him hard.

  “Good to know he’s lookin’ after my baby sister.” My brother let out a huge belly laugh.

  “Go get some beer for us, brother!” My brother ordered. “You jumped me and took me down, least you can do. This sister of mine never has any beer in the house. Squeak, you got a biker for a man now, how come you still don’t know to keep beer in the fridge?”

  Spencer looked at me, chest rising and falling fast.

  “You okay?” I asked him.

  He nodded. “Keys,” he ordered, and I handed them to him. He headed out the door, closing it behind himself.

  “What are you doing back?” I asked.

  Phil’s joking manner evaporated, and he engulfed me into his arms again. “Worried about you, Squeak. Glad to see you’re in good hands. I texted him, called you, but guess neither of you got my messages that I decided to fly back
for the weekend. Just needed to see for myself you’re all right. See that you’re in good hands.”

  I blew out a long breath.

  “Right?” Phil pushed.

  “He’s making me go to Sioux Falls this weekend. Doesn’t want me alone with some crap going on with the Wyld Jackals MC. Wait, now I don’t have to go…” I whispered.

  “Nope. Go. I got plans with buddies tomorrow since you two are outta here. You can go back ‘n stay at his place tonight since I’m here, ‘n I’ll be here ‘til Sunday night, so I’ll make Mom ‘n Dad happy for Easter dinner, and get to spend some time with you. You can drive me to the airport. Had to cab it here since neither of you answered your phones.” He let go of me. “So, this guy’s takin’ care ‘o you and you’re giving him a hard time?” He crossed his big arms over his burly chest.

  Obviously, Spencer was making it clear to my brother that I was resisting.

  “He’s trying to claim me, Phil. And it’s just too soon---”

  “Good he’s claimin’ ya! I like him.”

  I glared at him. “I just ended a long-term relationship that was probably a step away from an engagement before it went to shit. That relationship broke me, and you know it. He was the one to find me in that alley after what Joe did and I think it created some weird protectiveness that is not a good basis for a relationship.”

  “I don’t know about that, but I know this: You’re a primo fuckin’ catch, baby sis. You ain’t gonna be single long and he knows it. He wants you, he has to get in there. Told him as much.”

  “When?”

  “Yesterday.”

  “So, I can’t blame you for his alpha ways,” I grumbled.

  He barked out laughter.

  “Seriously, Phillip. I need time and a couple of rebound relationships before I get serious with someone. He’s in my friend group; he’s not going anywhere, and if I screw up…”

  “So, don’t fuck it up.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Excuse me. I have to go make sure I didn’t shit my pants with that scene and that knife.”

  He laughed some more.

  Where was the knife? I blinked at the spot on the table where I’d seen it. The knife was gone. Spencer must’ve taken it on his way out the door.

  On my way back out of the bathroom, my brother asked,

  “Was there a dog here, Squeak?”

  “Oh yeah.” I looked at the pot with dog food crumbs and water-filled chip bowl on the floor. “Spencer’s dog.”

  “What kinda dog?” my brother asked.

  “German Shepherd.

  My brother’s face split into a grin.

  “He’s named after a Star Trek character,” I added.

  My brother smiled huge. “What character?”

  “Chakotay.”

  Spencer was back, a six pack in hand.

  “Welcome to the family,” my brother announced.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Sit, have a beer with me and then you two get outta here,” Phil added and moved to the sofa.

  Spencer glanced at me and then sat down and pulled one off the plastic and passed it to me.

  I accepted.

  He passed one to my brother.

  “You all right, man?” Phil asked.

  “Yeah, the walk to the store and two cigarettes helped,” Spencer grumbled and cracked open his beer. “You?”

  Phil laughed, “I’m good. That was funny. No one’s taken me to the ground since I was fifteen and on the wrestlin’ team.”

  “You think it’s funny, be glad I wasn’t carryin’ my gun.”

  “You carry a gun to keep my sister safe?” My brother’s face was hard as stone.

  “I will if it gets to that. It got to that with these guys a few months back. Lookin’ like it might be headed that way again. In fact, didn’t like the feelin’ comin’ up your stairs with that door open. Think it’s time to carry.”

  “You do what you gotta do,” Phil said. “Just try not to shoot me in my own apartment.”

  Spencer gave him a smirk.

  “How’s the job going?” I asked Phil and he filled me in on his work situation and told funny anecdotes about a few of the guys he worked with, guys I knew.

  About twenty minutes later, my brother yawned big. “You two should head out. I gotta crash. Jetlag.”

  “Oh, I have to pack for the weekend,” I said and got to my feet. “Wait, it’s two hours behind there. If anything, you should be the opposite of tired.”

  Phil gave me a grin. “Okay, so I got a booty call comin’ over at eleven thirty. You two need to skedaddle. It’s been a while.”

  I threw my hands up in the air. “Ugh.”

  “Thanks for keeping the place clean, Squeak. She won’t be grossed out. When’s the last time you two changed the sheets, by the way?”

  “Oh my God, Phil!” I screeched. “Nothing has happened on the sofa bed since I’ve lived here, and you know I’m religious about regularly changing the sheets.”

  “Well, somethin’ll be happenin’ in a little bit if you two skedaddle.”

  “And I can’t say I’m looking forward to sleeping here again.” I made a gag face.

  He howled with laughter. “Love gettin’ her goin’. She can’t handle any sex talk from me.”

  “How would you like it if I turned the tables, big brother?” I put my hands on my waist.

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t piss me off.”

  I laughed. I opened my mouth to say something and caught Spencer’s expression of warning and I snapped my mouth shut.

  “Men don’t wanna think about their little sisters havin’ sex, Sunshine. Do not go there.”

  “Men have double standards.” I spun on my feet and headed to the closet to pack a bag.

  Two days. Five changes of clothing. (What? It was early Spring. Anything was possible with the weather.)

  As I was heading back out after gathering my stuff from the bathroom, Spencer looked at me.

  “Forget something?” he asked.

  I twitched my lips. Was I forgetting something?

  “We’re on the bike, Sunshine.”

  My mouth dropped open.

  I had a wheeled make-up case the size of a small suitcase. Plus, a suitcase. Plus, my purse.

  “Uh…”

  “And we’re only gone two nights. You can’t just fit a coupla things into a backpack?”

  I shrugged, looking at my bag and was about to explain that I never packed light for anything.

  “I’ll get Bronto to swing by and meet us. Bring this stuff to the club.”

  He dialed on his phone. “Where are you? Doin’ what? All right, come over to Pippa’s brother’s apartment now and grab her bags for the weekend. Need you to load ‘em in the bus… no tonight and because I fuckin’ said so. Be here in ten.” He ended the call.

  “Don’t be mean to him,” I hissed.

  He raised his eyebrows at me. “Let me handle the prospect, all right, Sunshine?”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “What’s this?” Phil asked.

  “Prospect has the hots for your sister so has a hate on for me right now.”

  My brother grinned. “Make sure he knows the score.”

  “Oh, I have,” Spencer jerked his chin up.

  Phil smirked and then his expression darkened. “So, Reardon.”

  I felt a chill slither up my back.

  “Wish he’d succeeded, Pipsqueak. That motherfucker belongs in the ground.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not talking about him. I refuse to even think about him. I’ll deal with court in a few weeks and hopefully that’ll be that.”

  Phil ignored me and kept going. “Fuckin’ pulls that shit on you and then to leave debts with outlaws that come after you? I got half a mind to get myself arrested so’s I can go to jail and shiv ‘im.”

  “Stop it.” I rolled my eyes and shot Spencer a dirty look.

  Philip scowled. “Don’t go givin’ him shit for telling me. He’s showin
g me the respect you’re not by keeping me in the loop. You haven’t said shit to Mom either. I asked her the other day what was new with you. She was clueless about all this shit.”

  “Um,” I put my hand on my waist, about to argue.

  “Nope!” Phil cut in. “You get in yer head and stay there, and you never ask for a lifeline on anything. Stop that shit, Squeak. Fuckin’ stop it. You got people that care. Lots of ‘em. Don’t try to go it alone all the fuckin’ time. Drives me bananas. Valentine, you keep at her, keep diggin’. She’ll try to tell you everything is fine, but one look in her eyes and you’ll know when it isn’t. As long as you’re with my sister and keep lookin’ in those pretty brandy eyes of hers, you’ll always see the truth of what she’s sayin’ to you.”

  “I already figured this out, man,” Spencer said softly.

  My heart was racing, my chest burning.

  Phil sniffed and waved his arm toward the door.

  “Good. Now go. I gotta get a shower and smell good for my lady friend.” He said this gruffly and grabbed me and hugged me, putting his mouth to my cheek. “I like him, Squeak. Mom ‘n Dad will too.”

  “Good news: think your ma already likes me,” Spencer put in, cockily.

  “Ugh.” I groaned. Mom would just die if she knew Spencer overheard her comment about ‘riding his motorcycle’.

  Phil leaned over and held his hand out and Spencer grabbed it to shake it.

  “But,” Phil held on to Spencer’s hand and his smile went scary. “You fuck her up, I fuck you up. Know you’re tough, know you’re in that MC, but I’d die for this girl right here. Know that.”

  “Respect,” Spencer said. “Feel the same about my baby sister. And I won’t fuck up, man. Been waiting for a girl like her for a long fuckin’ time. In fact, think maybe I waited for her, specifically. Just didn’t know that was what I was doin’ until I did know.”

  I felt faint. I just stared at him. He avoided my eyes, though. My eyes moved to my brother, whose eyes were on me. He let Spencer’s hand go and thumped his fist against his chest.

  “Let’s go, baby,” Spencer said.

  We headed downstairs, them carrying my bags and not allowing me to do it, and then Phil went inside.

  Spencer lit a smoke and leaned against the side of the building.

  I leaned against the wall beside him.