Scenic Route

by D. D. Prince

  “Just… for being you. I’m not trying to get heavy, but you… you’re a pretty awesome boyfriend so far.”

  “Yeah?” he asked.

  “Yes. Let’s go hunt for some candy,” I said. “We give the kids ten minutes head start and then the whole crew competes for the rest. The competition for the candy is hard core. Noses have been bloodied, knees have been scraped, and sometimes, chocolate bunnies are beheaded…pulled apart in tugs-of-war.”

  He laughed. “Well, let’s do this, then. I could murder some chocolate.”

  ***

  When we said our goodbyes, Dirk gave me a hug and whispered a “Sorry” into my ear.

  I nodded and tried to pull out of his embrace.

  He didn’t let go. “I was an ass. I’ll crush him if I ever see his mug again.”

  I nodded once more and patted his back. I wasn’t crazy about Dirk, he was annoying and basic, plus he couldn’t likely crush anything much, but his anger on my behalf? He kind of redeemed himself a little bit with that.

  My brother and Spencer were both staring at him, with daggers shooting out of their eyes.

  ***

  We went back to Phil’s place with loot: so much chocolate, two pies, and enough leftovers to feed us for three days, after dropping Phil off at the airport on the way.

  And then I pulled the bed out and changed the sheets. We binged on chocolate while we played Red Dead Redemption 2 until I was yawning. I put my head on his lap, telling him to switch to single player mode.

  When I woke up in the morning, I was asleep beside him, his arm around me. I got up and went into the bathroom and found his new toothbrush was in the bathroom beside mine.

  It made me smile all the way through making us breakfast.

  After bacon and tomato sandwiches, we went to pick up Chakotay, first having a coffee and hanging out with Ella and Deacon (who had been there for a sleepover since Saturday after cards), and Ella’s parents for a bit.

  Ella went all awe-face and googly-eyed at my necklace.

  Deacon gave Spencer brotherly teasing shit for it, but I didn’t hear what he said. Spencer jokingly punched Deacon in the arm and Deacon put his arm around Spence and gave him a bit of a noogie, but then actually kissed the top of Spencer’s head, which got me a little choked up.

  I didn’t know much about their relationship, but Ella had said, back when her and Deacon first got together that Deacon and Spencer had a love-hate thing going for a long time, so yeah… misty-eyed here, too.

  We took Chakotay to the park and then wound up back in the sofa bed after leftovers and made love for hours.

  Spencer explored my body like he was looking for secrets. Like he was memorizing every curve, every scar, each and every inch of me. My protective, broody-hot, alpha-male biker made me feel treasured.

  I could definitely fall in love with him.

  14

  It was the Wednesday after Easter, and I had it on good authority (Ella and Jenna) that nothing was happening with the club on the weekend, so I told them that I wanted to throw a little surprise birthday party for Spencer. They were all over the idea. Our group loved to party.

  I’d been covertly planning from work, the only time Spence and me weren’t together. I’d spent a ridiculous amount of money on Amazon, ordering party stuff. Streamers, birthday banners, and silly string. I’d also ordered his gifts, including a top-of-the-line Belgian waffle maker, a Harley Davidson Bulova watch, and on eBay my bid won for a signed framed poster of Bam Margera that I really couldn’t afford, but bought anyway.

  I’d left my waffle maker at Joe’s, so it was sort of for me too, but for him, mostly. Because Saturday night, we’d stay at the clubhouse and Sunday morning, I wanted us to slip out early to go back to the tiny crappy little kitchen above the florist and I’d make Spencer those waffles he’d been waiting seven months to eat.

  I had it all shipped to Mom and Dad’s, along with a special Victoria’s Secret shipment, and told Mom to hold it for me, not telling her what it was.

  I recruited Andie to make a birthday cake for him. A chocolate peanut butter frosted one with Butterfinger dust between layers. She was putting a replica of Spencer’s black Harley on it in fondant. She told me that she was also going to try to put an edible caricature of Spencer on the bike if it looked good; it was an experimentation thing. I was so excited.

  I hadn’t been to the clubhouse since Saturday, Spencer bringing me to work and picking me up and being with me at Phil’s each night, so I phoned Deke on Wednesday afternoon.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi Deke, it’s Pippa.”

  “Everything all right?” he asked.

  “Totally all right, yep. Um, I’m calling because it’s Spencer’s birthday this weekend, so, I was wondering if it would be okay if I threw a little surprise party up in the lounge room of the clubhouse for him.”

  The phone was silent a second. I was about to say hello, in case the call had been dropped when his deep voice finally spoke again.

  “Not sure it’s a great idea, babe.”

  Oh. Maybe I’d do it on the rooftop terrace. Decorate the railings and stuff. Hopefully it didn’t rain. Jenna and Rider wouldn’t mind if we had it at their place.

  “Oh. It’s okay. I’ll have it somewhere else. If you have time, come by. I’ll let you know where---”

  “Not the location that’s the problem. Spence don’t like celebrating his birthday, Pippa.”

  “Uh...”

  “Not sure he’d like a surprise party at all, babe.”

  “Um…”

  He was quiet on the phone a minute.

  “I ordered a cake and bought all sorts of decorations, and…”

  “You know what? You wanna have a party for him, have a party for him. He seems like he’s turned a corner lately. Maybe it’ll be all right.”

  I felt trepidation.

  “Lots of booze there. Have at it.”

  “I’ll bring booze and…”

  “Nope. My contribution to the party.”

  “It’s just gonna be smallish. I figured I’d talk him into taking me for a drink at the Roadhouse Saturday night and get him to take me upstairs for something and get the family and close friends and we’d spray silly string and have a cake and give him presents.”

  “I’ll get him upstairs. You text me and gimme the cue.”

  “Really? Maybe this was a bad idea.”

  “He’s turned a corner, I’m bettin’ it’ll be fine.”

  “You’re kind of freaking me out, Deke.”

  “Naw. Don’t worry, Pippy. That boy of mine is gone for you. This’ll be good. Bout time, actually.”

  “Why does he hate his birthday?” I asked. “No, wait. Don’t tell me. It should be him that tells me. When he’s--- ready.”

  “You’re a good girl, you know that? My boy’s lucky to have you.”

  “I’m lucky, too,” I said softly. “Thanks, Deke. I’ll keep you posted on plans.”

  “Right-o.”

  “Bye.” I hung up and got set up for my next appointment, hoping I could make Spencer’s birthday an actual happy birthday.

  Just before my last appointment for the day, I called the Chinese food place down the street from the florist and asked them to do the catering for Saturday night.

  ***

  That night, at Phil’s apartment, we’d had dinner (I made spaghetti squash with meatballs and as I prepped, he got concerned with what I was planning to feed him, so I made him spaghetti and I ate the spaghetti squash, telling him I’d indulged far too much the previous weekend and needed to cut back on the comfort foods. He disagreed, dropping to his knees while I was at the stove and biting my butt.

  “This ass is perfect.”

  He tasted my squash and told me it was all right, but no… I should not assume that mean he would have it instead of spaghetti next time.

  After dinner, as we got back from taking the dog for a walk, I said, “So, thinkin’ about doing a girlie night at th
e Roadhouse Saturday night.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yep. What do you think?”

  He shrugged. “Whatever you want. I can toss ‘em back at the bar with the boys and watch you dance.” He leaned over and kissed my neck. “Love watchin’ you laugh and dance with the girls.”

  Hm. No mention of his birthday.

  “Your eyes are only on me, though, right? Not on Stripper Jenna?” Jenna really loved getting all eyes on her on the dancefloor. Lots of shimmying, hair tossing, and hip action.

  He laughed. “She does put on a show. Hard not to look. Brothers nicknamed her the dancefloor seductress. It’s how she caught my brother’s eye.”

  “Hm.”

  “Don’t go gettin’ jealous. Did I say anything when you drooled all over your chin the first time you saw Brady?”

  “Hm,” I grumbled. He had a point. “You didn’t say anything, but you gave me a look so I’m giving you a look.” I stared pointedly.

  He smiled.

  “Okay,” I said. “I won’t say anything, but maybe I better take a cue from her and up my seduction factor on that dancefloor.”

  “Don’t. Please don’t. You up your seduction factor anymore and I’ll have to beat the guys off with a stick. You can move, too, baby. Trust me. My eyes will be on you. Only you, especially now that you’re mine.”

  “You make me all squishy inside, you know that?”

  “Squishy?”

  “Yep.”

  “You don’t make me squishy. What’s the opposite of squishy?” He grinded up against me.

  “Ooh. Well… that’s a hard question.”

  “Mm. Hard indeed. Wanna do somethin’ about it?”

  “Always.”

  He grabbed my ass and rubbed his hand up and down it.

  “So, we’ve got nothing else on the go this weekend?”

  “Nope,” he said, nuzzling my neck and planting kisses on it. “Well, I might have to go to the garage Saturday afternoon for a few hours and work with Ride on a build. We’re close to a deadline on a custom and he’s been slammed at the garage with Jess off duty, so we’re behind.”

  “Oh.”

  “So, I could drop you off with your ma or…”

  “I could hang out upstairs,” I offered.

  “Don’t want you alone, baby.” His voice went husky.

  “No, upstairs above the roadhouse.” I was thinking it’d be a good time to decorate. “You can just text me when you’re done, and I’ll come down.”

  “Yeah, all right. If that’s not too boring.”

  “I mean, I know you don’t want me alone with this Jackals stuff, so, that’s okay. I can clean your room.”

  “Room’s pretty clean. Haven’t been there to mess it up.”

  “It could use a dusting, I’m sure.”

  “Yeah. Could grab some more stuff and bring it to your brother’s.”

  “Yep. You just text me when you’re done. If I get bored, I’ll play on your Xbox.”

  ***

  It was Saturday afternoon, and I was stressed right out.

  Not only did I get a text from Rider late Friday night warning me that:

  “A surprise party for Spence is a bad idea. he’ll engage asshole mode, Pippa. Just sayin. Fair warning.”

  And another from Jenna saying:

  “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. We’ll make sure Spencer has fun. We already bought a present. LMK if you need anything.”

  Jenna and Ella had both told me their men advised them to talk me out of it. The girls both blew it off as no big deal, but I had to admit that I was wondering if I’d made the right choice, planning this party.

  Saturday afternoon, I also got a phone call from Jojo.

  “Hi! How’s New York? How’s the new job?”

  “I told you he hates his birthday,” is how she greeted me.

  “Uh…”

  “He’s gonna be mad.”

  Shit.

  “Your dad said it’ll be okay.”

  “Dad’s wrong.”

  “Maybe I should tell him.” My heart sank.

  “Don’t tell him. Just cancel it.”

  “But---”

  “If you tell him, you’ll be having your first fight. Cancel it.”

  I heard a piercing child’s cry. “Shoot. Gotta go. Bye. Call you tomorrow. Cancel it.”

  She ended the call.

  I had even recruited Bronto to help me with banners and streamers in the big room. He had also swung by the party store to buy helium, went to my parents’ and snuck in all the stuff I’d had shipped there as well as to the apartment where I told him to grab the duffle bag from the closet. I’d secretly packed it and stashed it with a change of clothes for each of us.

  At 4:50, I had another text. I looked.

  Jojo: “Did you cancel it? I was not joking.”

  The food was going to be delivered at seven. People were coming at six thirty. If he was furious and made me cancel, we’d eat Chinese food all week with all the food I’d ordered.

  I even got a special merry widow delivered to Mom’s, in red, that I was wearing under my jeans and hoodie.

  I replied.

  “I’m about to. Talk to you tomorrow.”

  I put my phone into my pocket and told Bronto, who was still hanging streamers (a testament to how good of a guy he was for him to do all that running around as well as help me decorate for Spencer’s birthday), I was heading to see Spencer. I headed outside down the stairs, then walked over to the garage, which was wide open. Bronto kept his eye on me until I got inside the doorway of the garage and then I saw him go back inside.

  Spencer was in coveralls and he and Rider were both squatting in front of a partially built bike. It was black with blue flames and had those big high ape hanger handlebars. It was way cool.

  “Hi,” I brought you guys waters. I put the two bottles down on a big tool cabinet that I could see was the common spot for beverages as there were several empty Coke and Monster cans on top.

  “Thanks, baby,” Spencer said, not even turning to look at me, evidently caught up in what he and Rider were doing.

  I pinched my bottom lip and tried to think about how to approach this.

  The week with him had been great. He was a little grumpy in the mornings, and I was the opposite of grumpy in the mornings so sometimes he’d say, “Too much talking.” I joked that I’d either learn to curb my chatter or he’d learn to deal. It wasn’t terrible and if I smiled at him and made eye contact, he’d be less grumpy. And if he kissed me quiet, it meant morning sex, and then he was also less grumpy. And he liked to watch me do yoga while he drank his coffee. And often, that meant sex twice before work, often in the shower together the second time.

  I figured he’d eventually get on the same schedule and not be so drowsy in the mornings. Or, maybe I could start pushing myself to try to stay up later and switch to his schedule.

  Then again, if the Wyld Jackals feud died down any time soon he wouldn’t have to spend every night with me. Though, I liked him spending every night with me.

  I continued to watch them for a minute contemplating whether or not we were about to have our first fight.

  It was my bad. I only hoped I didn’t make his birthday worse for him because of what I’d done. Why did he hate his birthday that much?

  Rider glanced over his shoulder at me and I think he read me, figured out I wasn’t just standing there for no reason.

  He straightened up. “Gotta take a leak. Call Jenna. Take ten?”

  “Five,” Spencer, muttered. “Got shit to do. Don’t wanna be here all fuckin’ day.” He wiped his hands on a rag and reached for the water I’d brought.

  Uh oh. This was not a good sign.

  His eyes hit mine and the grouchiness evaporated. My heart didn’t settle.

  Rider disappeared into the back, which I knew from a stop in to get my oil changed a few months ago, had an office, a waiting room, and a bathroom.

  “Bored upstairs?” Spencer aske
d.

  “Nope,” I said, chewing my thumbnail.

  “Anxious to get home and get yer dancin’ shoes on for tonight?” He gave me a smirk. “Swing by the Chinese takeout place for dinner before we get back home? Fuckin’ starvin’.”

  Shit.

  “Well, at least I got the dinner part right today,” I said, and my heart started beating really hard. He had said ‘we’ and ‘home’. Like home was my brother’s tiny bachelor apartment. I’d be all squishy if I wasn’t so freaked out.

  He frowned.

  “Um,” I stepped forward and reached for him.

  “Gonna get all dirty, Sunshine.”

  “I don’t care.” I grabbed his arms and wrapped them around me.

  “I have a feeling we’re about to have our first fight,” I said with a wince, burying my face into his chest.

  He was frozen still. I looked up. His expression was cautious, confused.

  “Happy Birthday, Spencer,” I said.

  His gaze darkened. The light vanished from those beautiful eyes. Gone.

  Oh shit. I really fucked up.

  He didn’t say a word. He just stared at me.

  Ouch. My heart hurt.

  “I um… did something and got warned against it but did it anyways and I’m worried it was the wrong thing.” I kept my eyes on his.

  He hadn’t let go of me yet.

  Yet.

  “I…” I blew out a breath. “I organized a surprise party for you tonight. And---”

  His body jerked.

  “I didn’t listen when your sister said you didn’t like your birthday. She told me the date last weekend casually when she rambled off what candy you liked for the Easter basket and gave me a bunch of fast facts. So I have been quietly planning it. Nothing huge. Just upstairs with the gang and some food and a cake and some presents. I’ve been decorating all afternoon up there while you’ve been down here, and everyone has been warning me today that you’re gonna… like… freak. I didn’t realize it was that extreme. So, I decided not to spring that on you and risk making you angry or causing a scene. Do you… do you want me to tell everyone not to come, to pop all the balloons and rip the streamers down and…”

  He was just staring at me. I couldn’t read his expression. He was doing that jaw-clenching thing though.