by Amy Davies
“Yeah, Dad, the Phoenix boys did go promoting their band up the coast. They are amazing. I have seen them a few times now with Gunner and Maisey down at Max Point, which isn’t too far from my place. Hayley won’t let them sign to the label until they get their college degrees.” My dad nods his head in agreement. I think he likes the way Hayley Phoenix thinks. “All three boys are doing well in school. I think they all have part-time jobs also, besides school and the band. I know that Rafe works down at ‘Raider’s Repair’ because he still loves his bikes and cars and fixing them up. If you want to see him again I can set something up, maybe bring to family dinner next week if you would like?”
My dad nods “OH. MY. GOD Rafe, Ryder and Reeve are Inside Noise?” This comes from Tru and I nod proudly. “WOW! The girls are going to freak the hell out. Ok, I have to let them know that I know these boys like on a very close personal level.” I shake my head at my baby sister. She is going to take full advantage of this.
“Are you sure it’s a good thing being with Rafe, honey? It might bring back a lot of painful memories about Shane and Dallas. I’m not sure this is right for you.” I snap my head around to face my mom. I never thought she would feel like this towards Rafe, she was so grateful when he brought me to the hospital that night.
I know that finding out I was pregnant was hard on them, but I was the one dealing with it both physically and emotionally. It’s the simple fact the Rafe Phoenix saved me that night, we have no clue as to how long I would have been bleeding out on the ground before someone found me. I keep my eyes on my mom and try to see what she is really thinking her face is filled with so many emotions. She takes a quick glance at my dad, who is also staring at her. Tru is now looking down at her hands in her lap. I think that there is more to my mom’s feelings against me and Rafe than she is letting on. I try to wrack my brain thinking of any reason that my mom wouldn’t want me to be with Rafe, but I can’t find anything. The Phoenix family was very well liked in our area and further afield, they don’t disrespect anyone. They helped out in the community constantly. Hayley often did collection drives to help certain causes out, whether it was more books and toys for the local community day care center, or food drives for the homeless.
Once a year Phoenix Records always does a huge car wash day which was always a huge success, and why wouldn’t it be, with the whole Phoenix family coming to help out. Seeing Rafe, Ryder and Reeve removing their shirts and getting wet is always beyond any girl’s wet dream, even as teenagers. Even Nix and Braxton came out and you can totally see where the boys got their extremely hot DNA from. Everyone loves the Phoenix boys. Darryl Phoenix doesn’t like his given name so we all grew up calling him Nix. He is Johnny’s baby brother and reminded us all of Jason Behr. Now Braxton Preston is Hayley’s baby brother and he was simply stunning and looks a lot like David Paetkau. Hey, we live in LA so we tend to use actors as a visual effect. Don't judge me. Knowing all of this about the Phoenix family, I am quite puzzled by my mother's reaction to me being with Rafe. It is obvious they are an upstanding family, Rafe included.
I look at my mom and my heart skips a beat, she is really concerned for me. I nod my head “Yeah, Mom. I’m sure. Rafe has been amazing. He knows everything about Shane, he even asked me the other day if he could come and see his memorial.” I nod my head in the direction of my son’s stone. We had a white granite stone made with baby angel wings and the letter ‘S’ in-between the wings. My dad nods his head, which tells me he thinks it’s a good idea. He knows how much Shane meant to all of us before he died.
“Well maybe this weekend you could bring Rafe over and we can have some lunch. Does that sound good to you, baby girl?” I go to agree but then our plans remind me we can’t this weekend. Damn it. We are going away this weekend.
“We can’t this weekend, Dad. Inside Noise have a gig down in Vista again and Rafe has asked me to tag along with them. A few of us are going down for the weekend, leaving Friday afternoon and coming back Sunday evening” I see my mom shift in her seat and I look at her. “You ok, Mom?”
She shifts again and starts clearing the table away. I look at my dad and sister, who are just as confused as me. My mom put the plates back down and leans her hands on the table and takes a deep breath. “Will you be in the car with Rafe? I don’t like the idea of you being in that car with him, I have seen him drive it around. He has opened that car up a few times, Lucy, and I don’t think it’s safe for you. He drives too fast for my liking.” Wow, this coming from a racer’s wife.
Ding,Ding,Ding and there it is, ladies and gentlemen.
“Emily, you can’t be serious. I have seen Rafe handle that car and he is a fine driver. He wouldn’t put Lucy in any danger...”
“But we don’t know that, Sam. He could lose control and crash.” She shakes her head, as if trying to shake an image from her own thoughts. My dad’s NASCAR crash that ended his career pops into my head. That was one of the worst days of my life.
“Mom, Rafe wouldn’t do that. He has been crushing on Juicy for years, most of high school in fact.” I gawk at my sister and she shrugs her shoulders. “What? We all knew it but you were too blind to see it, Juicy.” I’m still shocked that Tru knew that Rafe liked me in school. Was I the only one who didn’t know? Why didn’t he just ask me out? I know he said that the timing was a factor but he didn’t even show an interest in me, did he?
“To answer your question Mom, Rafe won’t be driving me in his car. Hayley is letting us take a Phoenix Records tour bus down as there are a few of us going. Maisey and Gunner will be there as well as the Phoenix boys and a few of their friends. I will be safe. I believe that Nix and Braxton are driving us down and staying with us.” I see her visibly relax and nod her head slightly.
My dad smiles at me and stands. He collects the dirty plates from my mom and kisses me on the head and heads for the kitchen. Tru and I help to clear the table, and once that’s done we head up to my bedroom. It’s still the same as I left it before my travels. I didn’t stay here long when I finally came home. My big white four poster bed is the focal point of the room. I have a bay window with a window seat where I used to sit and read. Some of my books still line the white book shelf, yes I love white. Some band posters are on the side wall next to my walk in closet. Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Switchfoot. I have a mixture of musical tastes. Maybe I should get myself an Inside Noise poster. Rafe would love that.
I am lying on the bed in my old room with Inside Noise playing in the background, thanks to Tru. I love that the boys write their own songs but cover songs also. One of their tracks called ‘Can’t Let Her Go’ is my favorite, the words seem to hit home a little close to Rafe’s hidden feelings for me. Reeve’s voice is soothing, singing about loving a girl that can’t see him. She seems in her own world but he just can’t let her go.
Wait. Is this song about me?
Chapter 10
Rafe
I’m lying in bed in just my grey sweats, reliving the day I just had. I can’t believe after all these years of wanting Lucy she has agreed to be my girlfriend. Fuck, I feel like I’m in fifth grade again. My heart was trying so damn hard not to break through my chest but when she said yes? Fuck me. She made my day, hell, my year. I can hear all the boys in the living room playing the X-Box. Skeet is going crazy shouting at the fifty inch TV screen, like the soccer players can actually hear him. We all team up and have a blast. I swing my legs off my bed and stand, just as my phone lets out a rather annoying dog barking noise. Freaking Reeve, I’m so gonna kick his ass. I see my Snowflake's name on my iPhone screen and I can’t stop the big ass grin cross my face.
Snowflake: Hi
Me: Hi yourself.
Snowflake: What you doing?
I walk out to the living room where Ryder, Reeve, Gunner, Skeet and Beck are all screaming at the TV, we always play FIFA 14. The Phoenix boys always go LA Galaxy, as we are huge fans. I have a jersey that I wear to the games with Jake Slone’s name and number on the back. He is the bes
t left winger around at the moment.
Me: Playing X-Box with the boys, they are all here. What you up to?
Snowflake: Lucky you ;) I’m lying on my bed all alone at Mom and Dad’s house. I’m staying here tonight. I’m listening to this kick ass band that has this very hot and sexy bass player ;)
I walk around our big black couch and sit in the corner smiling at my phone. The boys are so loud but I take no notice.
Me: What are you wearing in bed all alone, listening to this so called hot and sexy bass player?
I smirk and place my phone on the arm of the couch and turn my attention to the boys and the game. “Hey, add me in the game.” I step over Beck and grab a controller when I hear my phone beep.
Fuck. My phone is on the arm of the chair.
I turn just as Skeet runs his finger over the screen to unlock my phone. I try to get to him as a big ass smile appears across his face and he shouts “FUCK YEAH, BABY!” Fuck me, what did Snowflake reply with? I trip over Beck, who decides to stand right at the moment I step over him. All the boys are surrounding Skeet. Reeve looks at me and smirks. Shit, I need my phone. I scramble to my feet but Gunner pushes Skeet off the arm of the couch, snatching my phone out of his hand. Telling him to ‘shut the fuck up,’ all the boys look at me as Gunner tosses me my phone. I look down at the screen and I freeze.
Fuck. Me. Sideways.
My Snowflake is trying to kill me. Lucy didn’t send me a text, she sent me a fucking hot-as-fuck photo of herself lying in bed wearing a tight baby pink camisole with lace trim that made her tits look freaking amazing and the black skimpiest of bed shorts known to man. Her hair is pulled over her left shoulder and she is wearing a very cheeky but sexy smile.
Just for me.
On her cami right across her perfect tits is the slogan “Kiss Me.” Oh god, my dick twitches. I raise my head towards the boys and they are all laughing, Gunner looks a little pissed that they have seen Lucy like this. Well, it wasn’t my fault. Ryder is shaking his head at the boys but smiling at me. I lock my phone and slide it into the pocket of my sweats.
“What the fuck, Skeet? You know you don’t fucking touch my phone. You had no right and now you have seen my girl wearing next to nothing just for me. Dude, she is so gonna kick your ass and I’m gonna be right there beside her laughing my fucking ass off at you, crying like a little bitch on the floor.” I smirk and sit back down on the chair and pick the X-Box controller back up. “Are we gonna play or not?” While the boys take their seats, I send Snowflake a quick text back.
Me: FUCK. ME.!!! Baby you are killing me. I so wanna kiss you good night, I need to taste you again babe. I will see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams baby. X
Snowflake: Sweet dreams Rafe. Xx
While Ryder adds me to the game they were playing I add a pass code to my iPhone and slip it right into my pocket of my sweats.
“Ok fuckers, its go time.” I smile at my brothers and our friends.
**
It’s the day before we leave for Vista and Mom has sorted it out so that we have the black Phoenix Records tour bus. It has the most comfortable beds and the best seating and most room. I was so damn excited to have Lucy with me for three whole days. I was working all day today as I had no classes, and only two classes tomorrow, then I’m done. I pull up outside the garage that I work at and see Zach walking towards me. Zach is a member of ‘Hells Raiders MC’. They aren’t into anything illegal that I know of, just a bunch of guy who loves cars and motorcycles. What I do know is that they party hard, very hard. I have been to the club house a few times to party with Zach. He took me to a ‘Patching in Party,' meaning a guy that was a prospect is now a full MC member. It was fucking wild- girls everywhere, no one cared what anyone was doing. Zach disappeared half way through the night and then reappeared again with a blonde connected to his hip, but she wasn’t the only girl he hooked up with that night. I guess Zach was very much a wanted man. Since he has been dating Kenzie, though, he has been a one woman man. Thank God, because I really do believe that with Lucy, Maisey and Trinity, Kenzie would have the perfect all-girl army to cause some serious damage to Zach’s body.
He nods towards me, “Hey man.” We do that one arm hug thing and fist bump. “What’s up? Any new toys in today?” I look towards the four port garage and see all the guys working on cars and bikes.
“Naw, man. We have a repaint coming in later but that’s going to Jimmy. Hey, what time are we leaving tomorrow? I need to make sure I pick Red and Trin up before heading over to your place.” Zach started calling Kenzie ‘Red’ after she turned up the day they met with red streaks in her hair. Even though she has since changed it, the pet name stuck with her.
“I’m in class until two-thirty. I’m meeting, Lucy, Monty and Gunner at our place about three. So meet us there about the same time. I’m not looking forward to what these girls are gonna pack, man.” We both laugh and head over to the bike port and get to work.
That night I fall asleep thinking of my girl curled up against me for two nights while we are down in Vista. We talk for over an hour before I let her go so she can get some sleep. She has a big day tomorrow shopping in the morning with the girls. Lucy decided that she wanted all new clothes for the weekend, as she is now the girlfriend of the bass player of the band that’s playing. She doesn’t understand that she looks amazing in anything she wears. I did have one very special request though. I told her I wanted to see her in a white bikini. We don’t have to be at Club V until six that night to set up so we have all decided to hit the beach Saturday and have some fun in the sun.
I woke up early this morning, showered, got dressed and headed to my two classes for the day. This, by the way, dragged big time. I swear my professors knew that my Snowflake would be waiting for me when I got home. As soon as my last class is dismissed I stuff my laptop into my backpack and head for the door. I sprint to my car and I throw my bag into the back seat and start my car. I reverse and start to leave the campus parking lot when I see someone I never wanted to see again.
Dallas fucking Keaton.
What the fuck is he doing here? Is he here for Snowflake? Oh shit, what will Lucy do if she sees him? I need to get back to my place and let her know he is in town. I hope this doesn’t ruin our weekend away together. Well, when I say together I mean the whole group together but I’m telling you right this minute, I will get alone time with my Snowflake. I need to feel her against me; her skin is like pure silk, so soft. She felt amazing straddling me yesterday on campus, my hands on her thighs. Great, now I’m getting hard thinking about Lucy, her perfect skin beneath my hands.
I open my car window and turn the stereo, blasting Kings of Leon's “Sex on Fire,” hoping that the cool air and the song with take my mind of Lucy’s sexy-as-fuck-body. Oh shit, this is gonna be harder than I thought (No pun intended). I spin down the streets towards my apartment, singing to the lyrics. I wonder if I can get Lucy to sing with us this weekend? Worth asking, I guess.
As I arrive at my house, I can see all the guys there and my Snowflake's white BMW that she had in high school. She loved her white cars. I park in the driveway and climb out. I see Lucy and smile at her and head towards her. I only see her, everyone else fades away. I reach her and she gives me my Snowflake smile.
“Hey, baby, you all packed and ready to spend the weekend with your man?” I bend down and nuzzle her neck. Shit, she smells so damn good. My dick twitches yet again. Does she know what she does to me? Today she is wearing light blue jean shorts and a grey camisole with big lips with the American flag faded into them. She is also wearing red suspenders connected to the top of her shorts. The Cami is slightly shorter than most and her shorts are riding very low on her slender hips, so she is baring her midriff. She is also wearing the best invention of footwear every made. Converse. I fucking love a girl in Chucks.
She pulls away from me slightly and kisses me. “Yeah, babe, it will be a total blast. Friends, good music, very hot guys to travel with, what more can a girl a
sk for?” She winks at me and goes to pull away. Oh, I think not Snowflake.
“‘US’ time, Snowflake, that’s what will be happening. I need some alone time with my girlfriend. You ok with that? I don’t want to push you, if you know what I mean?” I look into her beautiful blue eyes praying that she wants to be with me in my bed. I know we have only been a couple for like two days if that, but it’s not like we are total strangers either.
Lucy runs her hands up my back, between my leather jacket and t-shirt. “That will be nice, Rafe. I want to spend time with my boyfriend as well.” She replies and then she looks around. “So if you see him, can you tell him that he needs to make sure we get some alone time away from everyone?” She winks again and runs towards the girls, who are now climbing the steps to the bus. The boys are packing the luggage underneath in the storage compartment. I run after her. As she hits the top of the steps of the bus, I tackle her again and we land on the plush corner sofa we have in the seating area. She starts screaming at me to stop as I tickle her. I hear a sweet but familiar voice from the side of us.
“Ewwww, get a room already guys! Not good for me to see my sister and her boyfriend suck face, even if he is like uber hot and all.” Lucy bursts out laughing. I climb off her and take a seat, pulling Lucy into my lap.
“Uber hot, I like it. Tru, I knew you always had a huge crush on me. I have a way with the Cooper ladies,” I wink at her, but unlike her sister she doesn’t blush. She has always been a tough cookie. Never had any problems talking to boys, she oozes confidence.