by Long, Marie
Bianca shoves her forward playfully. “Stop staring, chica, and go get him.”
Trinity squeals, and I grab her as she stumbles in her pumps. Her soft, curvy body presses into mine as I steady her on her feet. I smile awkwardly at her. She looks back at me, mortified, then turns to her friends, who are snickering. “Oh my God, Bianca! I almost fell!”
“Right into his arms,” Bianca says, grinning devilishly, and the other girls laugh.
I scratch the back of my head. This is such an awkward moment.
Alexis pokes me in the bicep. “Hey, Dominick. Can you get us some drinks?”
I frown a little. I don’t want to give these girls the wrong idea, but the fact that they’re Denise’s friends means they’ll most likely be talking to her about me at some point. And I’d rather not be labelled the biggest asshole they’ve ever met. I guess I have some time to spare before I split. “Okay,” I say, nodding. “What do you guys want?”
“Tequila Sunrise for me,” Cherie says.
“Me too,” Bianca says.
“I’ll do a Malibu,” Alexis says.
“Long Island iced tea,” Trinity says.
I smile at Trinity, remembering that it’s also what Denise likes.
Damn it!
I head to the bar, wave down a bartender, and order the drinks. As I wait, I turn and people-watch again. Denise’s friends are still huddled in their little group, occasionally stealing glances in my direction. I wave at them. They seem like a good bunch of girls, but the more I stay around them, the more I think about Denise.
I suddenly smell pears. She’s here! My eyes dart left and right, searching eagerly. Then I spot the couple walking toward the group of girls. They must’ve walked right past me while I was daydreaming.
The drinks all prepared, I skillfully carry the four glasses back to the waiting group. I slow my steps as I near Denise, eyeing her from behind. She’s wearing an oversized blue plaid top over black leggings, which shows off every bit of those great legs, all the way up to the bottom of her beautifully round ass. I reluctantly look from her to William, who has his arm draped around her shoulders.
Frowning, I brush past them and deliver the drinks to the other girls. “Here you go, ladies,” I say, trying to focus on them. But Denise’s pear smell is too distracting.
The girls all fawn over me as they take their drinks.
“Thanks, Dominick. You’re a really good guy.” Cherie says.
“No problem,” I say.
Denise gasps behind me. “Dominick? What are you doing here?”
Just hearing her call my name makes me smile. I turn to her. “I should be asking you that,” I say with a bit of a laugh.
William rubs her shoulders, and I frown. “Taking my advice, I see, Dom.” He smirks.
I shoot him a glare. I just want one moment with him to break those fingers that are touching her shoulders. “What advice? I came here to see my brother.”
William raises his eyebrows. “Your brother?”
Trinity beams. “Can you believe it? Dominick is DJ Kevitron’s brother!”
“No shit? Well, your brother is pretty damn good on those ones and twos,” William says.
I stare coldly. “He’s all right.” My gaze drifts back to Denise. Her face is slightly taut with concern, as if something is on her mind. Damn, I wish I could talk to her.
William kisses her on the cheek. “Want something to drink, baby?”
Denise smiles slightly. “Sure. The usual.”
“Okay. Be back in a sec.”
I watch him make his way to the bar, and I turn back to Denise, who’s fixed on the rest of her friends. My mind is crawling with so many questions. I don’t even know where to begin.
“So how’s it going with you and William?” Alexis asks.
I keep quiet and listen.
Denise looks nervously at her girlfriends. There doesn’t seem to be a spark of happiness in her eyes. “We’re all right.” She hesitates, glances to me, then looks to her friends again. “Can we not talk about that here?”
I arch an eyebrow slightly. Is something going on with them? There’s so much I want to ask her, but it’s probably none of my business.
“Sorry. I was just curious, you know?” Alexis says. “After he surprised you the other night. It’s been what? Five years?”
Denise shakes her head firmly. “Please.”
I lick my lips. Something’s definitely going on. And I’m standing so close to her, I’m about to go crazy that I can’t touch her. I look over my shoulder and notice William returning with drinks. Sighing, I turn back to the girls. “I think I’m gonna head out.”
Trinity gasps. “What? Already?” She grabs my arm, pulls me into her. “We didn’t even dance.”
I stumble forward and look back at Denise guiltily. William arrives with her Long Island iced tea.
I gently pull my arm away from Trinity. “No, sorry. I can’t. I’ve, uh, got a big electromagnetics test to study for next week.” I add with a smile, “But I’m sure Kevin—er, Kevitron—would love to meet you all.”
Trinity’s eyes light up. She glances toward the stage, then back to me. “Can I see your phone for a minute, Dominick?”
I blink at the question. “Uh, sure.” I dig the phone out of my back pocket and fumble it in my sweaty hands.
She plucks it from me, swipes the screen, types something, and then hands it back. “Call me, okay?”
My eyes wide, I take the phone and stare at the screen. Her name and number is saved in my contacts.
Bianca and Cherie tease and make catcalls at her.
“Aw, c’mon, guys.” Looking embarrassed, Trinity turns away from me and nurses her drink.
I shouldn’t have gotten her number like that, especially with Denise standing right there as it happened. Stuffing the phone back into my pocket, I look sideways at Denise, who doesn’t seem at all offended. In fact, I don’t think she even cares.
I’ll be a dick if don’t call Trinity.
I can at least give Trinity a chance, right? Denise keeps good company. They all seem like good girls who like to have fun.
“Hey.” William slaps me on the back of the shoulder, interrupting my thoughts. “See you at work tomorrow.”
I freeze. He touched me. That bastard touched me. It takes everything I have not to grab that hand and break it in several places. Shrugging him off, I spin around and give him one of my poker-face looks. “Yup.”
Denise blinks. “What? You two work together?” She looks to William for confirmation.
William grins at her. “Yeah, just started at Frank’s Garage today, baby.”
Her mouth opens like she’s about to say something more, but then closes, and she nods thoughtfully.
I wish she’d smile again. Something is on her mind. Something not good. But I can’t let anyone know this shit’s getting to me. I finally break away from the group and, after casting a quick wave to Kevin, head home, deciding to make it a point to call him sometime tomorrow. My mind continuously wanders to Denise and that look I saw on her face.
I know that look all too well.
It’s the look of regret.
Chapter 12
Tuesday’s digital systems class lets out promptly at 9:10, and I have thirty-five minutes to spare before circuits lab starts. I hustle to the sociology building where Denise will be going to her nine-thirty class. I can’t get my mind off how troubled she looked last night.
Perched on a handrail of the wheelchair ramp next to the stairs leading into the building, I watch students go by, paying no attention to their conversations. Then Denise approaches. Her beautiful dancer legs are covered with flared jeans, but she walks just as gracefully. She wears a yellow sweater over a white, scoop-neck shirt, and the light winks off the silver fleur de lis necklace lying at her throat.
I catch myself before falling backward off the handrail. Thankfully, no one notices my near-spill. “Denise!” I call as she begins walking up the steps. “Over here.”
“Hey,” she says. The corner of an issue of Street Throttle Racer magazine peeks out from under her bag’s front flap.
“Did you see some of the decked-out sport bikes featured in this month’s Street Throttle Racer?” I ask, pointing.
Blushing, she hastily tucks the magazine deeper into her bag. “Not yet. I just picked it up.”
“You’ll be amazed.” My face gets hot. Okay, focus, Dom. You know why you’re here. Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I slide off the handrail and stand before her. “So, I thought we could talk for a bit.”
Her smile slowly falls.
“You looked a little distant last night,” I say, watching her face. “Is everything okay?”
She nods. “Everything’s fine, Dominick.” She avoids my eyes and fidgets with the strap of her bag again.
Bullshit. Why do I have this sudden feeling of déjà vu? “All right. Well, I was wondering if you were still up for doing something with me tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. William is … ” She pauses, like she’s backtracking on something she was about to say.
“Yes?”
She bites her bottom lip. “I … I’m busy tomorrow, sorry.”
I frown. “Okay, maybe next time, then.”
She turns. “I have to get to class now. See ya, Dominick.”
I sigh as I watch her leave. I know she’s intentionally avoiding me, but her hesitation has me more concerned. At this rate, I’m not going to get much out of her, but I know someone who might.
I retrieve my phone and scroll through my contacts to Trinity’s name. I stare at the name with sadness and regret, but a little bit of hope.
No. I can’t use her to get to Denise.
I head across campus toward the engineering building, keeping my eyes focused on the phone screen. If I’m gonna do this, it’s gotta be all or nothing.
Denise is never going to talk to me. This is a lost cause. With that, I manage to convince myself enough to guide my thumb to the “dial” button.
Trinity answers on the second ring.
“Hey, Trinity. It’s Dominick.”
“Dominick! You called!” She sounds so grateful and happy. She’s probably been burned by guys in the past who never called her.
“Yeah,” I say, a little half-heartedly. “You wanna come over and watch movies with me tonight?”
* * *
Work goes by quickly for a change. I’m even able to ignore William’s shit. Having something to look forward to, like tonight’s M/C club meeting, takes the sting out of William’s little jabs. Charles, who’s hosting this time, lives on the far western side of Montlake, near the Bay. Getting there from work around this time is usually fast and easy. It’s also a beautiful ride.
The driveway is already filled with parked sport bikes and cruisers when I get there, so I squeeze into a small space along the curb. The front door opens as I head up the long, shady cobblestone walkway, and Charles appears in the doorway, wearing a black T-shirt with the club’s logo and name—Phantom Saints—printed over his heart.
“’Ey, Genius!” Charles greets me with a crooked grin.
“’Sup, Ghost,” I say, as we do our special handshake and he steps aside.
Inside, I’m greeted by the smell of beer, sweat, and cigarettes. The drab white walls of the living room are covered with flags, pennants, tapestries, posters, and plaques, mostly awards won from past motorcycle shows and community events. Most of this stuff belongs to all of us, but Charles is the only one with a house big enough to hold it all.
The overhead fan’s light illuminates the large room in a hazy, yellow glow. The rest of my club brothers lounge around on chairs and couches, and some are sprawled out on the floor, drinking, smoking, and shooting the shit. Charles’s girlfriend, Xiang, had gone out with her friends like she always does whenever Charles hosts, so we have the house to ourselves. All eyes turn to me as I find my usual seat on one of the couch’s armrests.
“’Sup, Genius?” Randy, the club’s sergeant-at-arms, says with a small salute.
I salute back. “Tracer.”
Alonzo tosses me a beer. As I pop open the can and take a swig, I scan the rest of my brothers. All of us are college students except for our president, Troy, a.k.a. “Lone Wolf,” Alonzo, Charles, and Randy. These guys are like a second family to me. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for each other.
I spot a picture of Charles and Xiang sitting on the kitchen counter. She’s a beautiful thirty-five-year-old Chinese woman who looks like she’s twenty. Next to the picture sits a cute little heart-printed tote bag and a stray bottle of pear body spray. A female has certainly made her mark here.
I stare at the bottle. Pears …
My mind isn’t all there even after Troy calls the meeting to order. While he goes down the list of news, upcoming rides, and events, my thoughts are on Denise.
Why the hell did I invite over the best friend of a girl I like?
“Genius!”
I blink back to reality. The meeting is over, and everyone’s just hanging out, talking. Is it almost eight already? I look over to Shane.
“You’re coming to the Xi Rho Nu party next Friday, right?” he asks.
“Party?” I blink. “Oh, damn. I forgot.”
“How the hell can you forget about that? It’s Andrew’s twenty-first birthday! You know how we do things.”
I’d only met Andrew once through Shane. He’s a pretty cool guy—outspoken and loves to have a good time, much like Shane.
Matt, who’s reclined next to me on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table, tilts his head back and exhales a long stream of white cigarette smoke. He scratches the blonde stubble on his chin. “I thought you said you have to have a date for that party?”
“You do,” Shane says, nodding, then he cuts his eyes to me. “Wait, don’t tell me you’re still single, Genius!”
I feel all eyes bearing down on me. “Naw, man. I’m just … it’s complicated right now.”
Jason, sitting on the floor across from me, lets loose with a loud belch. “I call bullshit.” He crushes the empty beer can in his fist.
Troy laughs. “Gettin’ a bit rusty, Genius?”
I scowl. “Naw! I’m just taking it easy right now.” I glance back at Shane. “I’ll let you know, all right?”
Shane crosses his arms, giving me a skeptical look.
“Of course he’s going. He’d be a pussy otherwise,” Lonz says.
Randy, Shane, and Darryl break out in laughter.
I fail in fighting back a smile, so I flip them all off. “Yeah, fuck all you guys.”
Randy shakes his head as he lights up a cigarette. “I don’t know how the hell you’re going to survive your last two years of college, not enjoying some of those beautiful twentysomething honeys.”
I grimace. “They wouldn’t give you the time of day, old man.”
Everyone laughs, including Randy.
“Yeah? I don’t see you doing any better. How long has it been? A year? Five years? High school?”
The guys whoop, and I fall silent, unable to think up a good comeback.
“So,” Shane says, “I’ll be manning the door at the party. You better come, or I’ll embarrass your punk ass all over campus.” He smirks.
Giving Shane the stinkeye, I chug the rest of my beer and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
Marco’s phone suddenly goes off, and he pops up from one of the couches. “Shit! Gotta go, guys.”
Charles whistles. “Booty call!”
We all laugh, and Marco’s face reddens. He flips us all off as he makes his way to the front door. Thank God the attention’s no longer on me.
The sound of Marco’s sport bike rumbles outside and then fades away.
Gregg takes a pack of cigarettes from inside his vest and slaps it in his pal
m a few times. “Time for me to split, too.” He pulls one out with his teeth and heads to the door.
“Right behind you,” I say, sliding off the armrest. “See you punks later.”
Outside, I spot Gregg mounted on his bike, having his smoke. He tips his head in my direction.
As I reach for my jacket, Lonz comes out the door and approaches me. Rolling my eyes, I heave a heavy sigh. I’m not in the mood for a damn lecture.
Lonz eyes me sternly and folds his arms across his chest.
“C’mon, man, I gotta—”
“You weren’t all there at the meeting,” Lonz says. “We talked about this at Loriano’s didn’t we? I thought you were gonna have that shit under control?”
God, I hope Trinity’s not waiting on me. “I do have it under control, Lonz. I found someone else, and I got a date with her tonight.”
He arches an eyebrow. “You don’t sound too happy about it.”
I grit my teeth. Damn these old guys and their innate ability to spot bullshit. “I just met her, all right? I don’t know how it’s gonna go down. Why are you so concerned about it anyway?”
“It’s you I’m concerned about. You think I don’t notice the way you drag your ass around? Keeping your head in the clouds and not paying attention to tonight’s meeting?”
“I was paying attention.”
“Then when and where’s our next poker run?”
Shit. Did they mention a poker run?
“Exactly, Genius,” Lonz says when I take too long to respond. “You got till next month’s meeting to get it together, or else I’ll see that you’re demoted back to “Prospect.” And believe me, I will. That’s a promise.”
Glaring, I slam the helmet over my head. “Noted.” Without another word, I crank the engine and zoom off.
Chapter 13
To my relief, Trinity’s not waiting outside when I return home. Hopping off the bike, I rush through the back door into the kitchen. As I toss off my gear, I hear the TV in the living room and Chris cursing. Entering the living room, I spot Trinity curled up on one end of the couch. She watches Chris, who sits on the other end, playing his football videogame. She doesn’t look the least bit entertained.