“Tell her tomorrow.”
“Why tomorrow?”
“Because by that time, I would have already told her,” he replied with a shrug.
Did he feel like Eri needed to know whenever a woman flirted with him? No, not really. Would he tell her anyway? Yes, because Elias knew that if the shoe was on the other foot, even if he didn’t need to know because the person was insignificant, like every woman who wasn’t her that flirted with him, he might feel some sort of way if he found out from someone other than her. He alsodidn’t want it to seem like he considered it if she found out, and he wasn’t the one who told her.
“I just love it when we women have you men whipped,” she responded with a teasing smile, then turned her attention to Javier, who’d come in a few minutes ago. “And don’t say anything smart.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, baby,” Javier responded.
Elias finished sanitizing his station and set up for his next client.
“I’m not surprised,” Eri said, shaking her head as she settled on his chest several hours later. “I can’t be upset with her for shooting her shot. Too bad for her, she missed.”
“Complete air ball,” Elias responded, drawing a laugh from her. He wrapped his arm around her. “There’s a ride up to Jemez that a club hosts in a couple of weeks. It happens twice a year. A bunch of motorcyclists meet up, and it’s like a street carnival. You want to go with me?”
“Sure, baby. It’s on a Saturday?”
“It is. Things are usually in full swing by noon. We can stay at the hot spring and come back Sunday afternoon.”
“Do you go every time?”
“Nah. I went once last year, and I didn’t go at all the year before that,” he replied.
“You said it’s like a street carnival. What all goes on?”
Elias spent the next twenty minutes telling her about the different games, people selling their crafts, amateur performers, and anything else he remembered being in attendance over the years he’d gone. It wasn’t until he looked down that he realized she’d fallen asleep. He refrained from chuckling at the habit she’d gotten into of getting him to talk about something, anything, and falling asleep to the sound of his voice. He glanced at his phone and found that it was after eleven.
Elias turned the lamp off, pulled her closer, and settled in to sleep.
27
Elias maneuvered his bike into a parking spot. The event was already in full swing. They’d opted to check in at the hot springs resort before arriving. He helped Eri off the bike before getting off himself and securing both helmets. He took her hand and led her to the festivities. He knew his cousin and Avian were already there, and they would run into them eventually.
They’d barely stepped into the center area, where there were a few booths, when Rhys, the president of the motorcycle club hosting the event, stopped them.
“Didn’t think we’d see you this year with all the work you’ve been getting,” Rhys said.
“I make time when I need to,” Elias responded.
Rhys’ eyes slid to Eri. “I see you and Marco both brought pretty little backpacks this year.”
“Backpacks?” Eri asked.
“It’s nothing,” Elias responded. “Rhys, this is my girlfriend, Eri. Rhys is the president of the club hosting the gathering.”
“Nice to meet you,” Eri said.
“You too. Head in, check everything out. Have fun,” Rhys said, stepping aside.
“Backpack because I ride behind you?” Eri asked when they were a few feet in.
“Yeah, because you hold on, cling like a backpack.”
Eri pursed her lips. “I guess it’s cute.”
“What do you want to do first, Amate?”
