A cute grin makes the dimples peep out at the corners of her mouth.“Something tells me that there’s a big ‘but’ coming.”
We laugh.It’s real cozy chuckling together in the clubhouse.Makes my imagination run wild thinking about us being happy together forever.
“Yep.Luna runs a tight ship.She would suss out we were banging on the side and kick us to the curb.What does she call it?‘Not very family friendly.’”
Picking up a peanut shell from the ashtray, Aila begins shredding it with her fingers.
“That’s a pity.I’ve always fantasized about having one of those vacations with benefits, you know.But the movies always get it wrong.”
You couldn’t drag me to a fucking movie theater with a rope and a tractor.As appealing as it would be for me to sit in the dark with a room full of strangers, the fake world of entertainment holds zero attraction for real monsters.
“Tell me how the movies get it wrong, Aila.”
She glances up to check that I am not being sarcastic before continuing.
“You know how it goes.The female is either a broken-hearted cutie or career-obsessed boss girl.The guy is either the hometown hottie or he’s going head-to-head with the female lead character in the boardroom.They end up going to a remote location together, fighting, fucking, and eventually falling in love.Come on, Theron.You can’t tell me that you’ve never heard of this cliché.”
A smirk tilts my mouth, but it’s an amused one.
“Are we a cliché?Because we haven’t done the other two things yet.”
Aila blushes, flicking a reprimanding look at me.
“I’m not here to fight or fall in love!That’s what the movies never deal with.The women who just want to sleep with someone for a few glorious nights and then go back to living a normal life.Don’t those kinds of women come here?”
Yes, they do.As spigots for the MC Riders to feed on.
“If you work as a maid at the inn for the summer, Aila, that will leave the evenings free for us to…”
I leave the rest of my statement hanging.
Shredding the last peanut shell into fragments, Aila nods.
“Okay.But it’s going to be a lot of work, because my mom will get Ben to sponsor her the moment he asks her to move in with him.Which means I’ll be the only one left to clean.”
If the mom is such a fast mover, how come Aila is so reluctant to form a relationship?
“It’s only been a couple of days, darlin’.I’m sure Ben will want to keep things on the DL for a week or two.”
Sighing, Aila throws the peanut shell on the ground where it joins all the other smashed-up shells.The peanuts, empty beer bottles, and ashtrays are all fake props.They are there to hide the dark truth.No one ever seems to notice that none of the Midnight Sons ever smokes or snacks.
That is why we call them Myops: those who can’t see anything unless it’s shoved right underneath their noses.
“If you think that, Theron, then you don’t know my mom.”
“Stick it out for a month.If you still want to go back up to Winnipeg, I’ll take you there myself.Heck, I’ll even pay for the ferry.How does that sound?”
A sharp nod.Aila jerks her head up and down.“Sure.Whatever.But this is strictly one day at a time, ‘kay?You want to show me the room so I can transfer my stuff over?”
“Sure, but don’t duck out tonight, if you can help it, darlin’.Landslide is way too small for anyone to hold a grudge.Keep it light.Keep it sweet.”Pivoting the barstool, I stroke her cheek with my finger.“Say bye to your mom and wish her good luck with no hard feelings.”
Mirroring my action, Aila turns her barstool to face me.
“You’re right.Was I coming off like a pita?I’m sorry.”
“Pita?”
“Pain in the ass.”She giggles.“Everything’s an acronym now, Theron, don’t you know?”
