I shake my head. “No, I mean, arrange some kind of celebration for him, a party. It would be best for it to be held back at the club, of course, but you could think about a theme or decorations or some shit like that.” Ace doesn’t have close friends, only the brothers and his family – me, her, and my ma. If he’s going to be the guest of honour, he would hate to be surrounded by strangers.
She chuckles. “Freak, I know nothing about arranging a kid’s party. Maybe you’d best do that yourself. I’ll just get him a nice present. You’ll have to tell me what he wants.”
Ace taps the horn on my truck, ending our conversation. With a final “goodbye,” I walk around to the driver’s side. As the truck pulls away, I watch her standing outside her house until we make a turn and she disappears from the rearview.
CHAPTER TWELVE
FREAK
Ace can’t stop talking about how great his aunt is as we leave Flagstaff and head home on the highway. He hardly pauses to take breath as he explains what he liked best about our short trip away. He recounts the things he’s seen and done as if I hadn’t been there to experience them with him, and interspersed between his recollections are numerous comments about how he can’t wait to see Toni again.
He doesn’t seem to need any input from me, so I just let him prattle on, engrossed in my own thoughts. I’d gotten far less from our trip than I’d expected. Whatever the logistics, I thought Toni and I would find some time to ourselves, and that I’d have spent the nights in her bed, or at the very least, have found some way to get my dick in her pussy. The phrasewhere there’s a will, there’s a wayseems to echo around my head. Sure, we’d shared some kisses, but otherwise nothing. Not even a meaningful conversation after Ace had gone up to his room. Could it be the feelings I’d thought she’d reciprocated back at the compound had cooled? Or was it simply what she’d said? That she wanted Ace kept in the dark about a relationship, which, as she pointedout, was new. Whatever, I’m driving home disappointed, and not certain where I stand. For once in my life, it’s not me pulling the strings, and I don’t much like it.
Ace finally runs out of things to say. Instead, he tunes the radio to a local rock station. I drive on automatic, and remember again the declaration I’d made before we spent that memorable night together, the one where I insisted all I could offer was a one-night stand. I recall how she didn’t attempt to persuade me otherwise. Was that really all she had wanted? She’d been fire that night. Over this weekend, she was ice. Fuck, she’s got me tied in such knots, I hardly recognise the man I see in the mirror. How have I, Freak, the Kings’ enforcer, gotten my head in such a spin about a woman?
I start searching for excuses to explain her behaviour. Perhaps my turning up and staying for the weekend, when she’d only expected Ace, had thrown her off balance. Could she simply have been annoyed with me as I’d cramped her style when she’d wanted time alone with her nephew? Apart from the lack of warmth toward me, there’s nothing else I can criticise about her. She’d given Ace a great weekend away, every activity catered to what she’d expected he’d like. And, although I was the interloper, pushing in as an unwelcome third, I’d also enjoyed the sightseeing. Does it simply come down to my hurt feelings that my cock had stayed firmly zipped in my pants?
Am I being childish, resenting her nourishing a relationship with him, when I’d hoped to use the opportunity to get closer to her as well?
Ace might have had the time of his life. Me? I’m driving home feeling unsettled. It concerns me that she didn’t jump at the chance my presence offered.
It also niggles me that she didn’t jump at the chance to be involved in the preparation for Ace’s birthday. I can’t reconcilethat with her desire to be an involved aunt. Unless it’s because I’d be there too, and it’s me she’s developed a problem with.
Or am I just being stupid? Over-analysing everything. She’s shown she puts my son first. I shouldn’t complain.
Fuck, what a wimp I’m turning into.
Fed up with being confined in a cage, I’m relieved when, at last, I park on Ma’s driveway. As Ace and I get out of the truck, Ma opens the door, holding her arms wide open for my son. Leaving me to collect his bag, he runs straight to her.
“Nana, I had an amazing time. Aunt Toni is incredible. She took us to…” His voice trails off as Ma leads him inside, leaving me to follow.
Deciding I won’t stay, I don’t need another rehash of the weekend, I drop his duffel at the bottom of the stairs, and call out, “I’m going back to the club, Ma. See you later, Ace.”
“Bye, Dad.” He shouts his response, only momentarily pausing his gushing summary of what a great time he’d had. He doesn’t bother to come and talk to me in person. I just roll my eyes. Seems like I’ve been relegated to being his chauffeur.
Ma pokes her head around the kitchen door. She mimes holding a phone to her ear and mouths the words,Call me.
Knowing after she’s heard her grandson’s side of the story, she’s going to want to hear mine, I raise my chin, giving her the confirmation that I’ll update her as soon as I can. Then I exit through the front door, wait until I hear her lock it behind me, then go to the truck and head back to the compound.
After I’ve parked, I walk around to the front of the clubhouse, detouring to rest my hand for a moment on the saddle of my Softail, wishing I’d been riding her instead of driving in a cage. Maybe I’ll take a trip up to Flagstaff on my own – if Ace isn’t there acting as a cockblock, maybe Toni will go back to being the woman who’d enjoyed being in my bed.
Not tonight, though. I’ve had enough of the open road for one day. My mind set on getting my throat wet. I walk inside.
“Hey! Look who the fuck it is,” Winchester shouts.
“The wanderer returns.” Words raises his beer to me.
“Bet your dick’s ready to fall off after all the use this weekend,” Rattler contributes.
I ball my hands into fists but hold back. He doesn’t know the true situation, and as far as I’m concerned, he’ll never know I slept on the sofa. So I settle for shoulder-checking him as I pass, saying, “You’re just fuckin’ jealous.”
“Me?” He’s completely unfazed. “I’ve enjoyed a variety of pussy, while you’ve been fuckin’ just one.” Grinning broadly, he adds, “You should have seen some of the ass that came to last night’s party. And you think I’m the loser?” He gives a disbelieving shake of his head.
Not rising to the bait, I continue walking until I reach the bar, only to find Trixie behind it. “Where are the prospects?”Fuck my life.
Grinning, she offers the explanation. “They’re cleaning the heads.” She leans in and adds confidentially, “Not that I know the ins and outs, but they’ve obviously committed some transgression.” Chuckling, she straightens, tilts her head, and examines me. “Beer and whisky chaser,” she concludes.
As she’s right, I don’t correct her.
