7. Bronco
7
brONCO
Present day
WTF group chat:
Me
Why did I just walk into a clubhouse full of balloons?
Harlem
Deanna is having a birthday party for Caprice, along with a baby shower for Audrina and a combined twins plus new baby party for Halo and Star
Okay, glad I asked…
Halo is Riot’s ol’ lady, she also works for Star in her P.I. office downtown.
Tag
Can’t keep up with all the fuckin’ babies around here
Manny
Someone’s a grumpy pumpy
Tag
Who let you in the group chat?
Manny
Last time I checked, y’all patched me in, remember?
Tag
You have a private chat with the women, don’t need you in this one as well
Manny
I’m special so I get to be in both chats
Bandit
That’s my boy
I roll my lips. At least that explains the balloons. Tag’s always on form, night and day.
Ryder
Why are you at the clubhouse so fuckin’ early?
Me
I’m an early riser
Nevada
Since when? We all know ain’t no snatch that got you up early
Trust Nevada to act like a clown and spout whatever comes into his pea-sized brain.
Harlem
You goin’ soft on us, brother?
Nevada
He’s got a thing for Amber but won’t admit it
Me
Thanks a lot, asshole… and I don’t have a thing
Nevada
Right, you’re ‘friends’
Me
Fuckface
Harlem
Amber’s a cool chick. You two doin’ it on the sly?
Me
Nope. Not doin’ shit. She’s just a friend. Some immature idiots in this chat can’t grasp the concept of that. Men and women can be friends
Tag
Fuck that. And stop blowin’ up my phone
Harlem
Men and women can be friends without fuckin’?
Me
Yeah. Tried and tested
Nevada
Except this time you want to fuck her, and she’s not reciprocating
Me
@Nevada That’s a big word, did your mommy help you with that?
Nevada
Don’t try and shift the subject, your balls gotta be blue by now
Manny
@Tag when are you having kids?
I’m glad for the subject change, which is typical Manny.
Tag
When hell freezes over
Harlem
@Tag Come on bud, you’re good with kids, they love you
Ryder
What planet are we all living on? Tag good with kids???
Harlem
He held Caprice as a baby, and Ade, and they turned out okay
Ryder
Great, so you’ve probably dropped my son on his head and not said anything
Tag
Fuck off
Harlem
He’s just mad bc kids love him and he’s a grump who won’t admit he secretly likes the attention
Tag
Kids are annoying little germ breeders who spit, cry and smell weird. Also Ade poked me in the eye once and almost blinded me
Manny
Aww poor baby
Cash
Every balloon is counted for, @Tag…
Tag
@Cash You think I’d pop kid’s balloons for the fun of it?
Manny
I wouldn’t put it past you, you are a bit of a beast
Ryder
A monster
Harlem
A giant
Manny
Okay, a soft, lovable, giant beast who swears a lot and never smiles, but they still love you bc deep down they know you have a heart under all that muscle
Tag
This chat is annoying
Harlem
Are we invited to the party?
Me
It’s a baby shower combined birthday/new baby party. You wanna sit around with the women while they share birthing stories and swap gifts?
Manny
I do, better than hanging out with the likes of you guys. No offense, but the girls have a way better time
Ryder
Hey, what did I do?
Manny
Nothing @Ryder and Ade is adorable
Ryder
Just like his dad
Bandit
I’m also happy to help out, what’s on the menu?
Manny
It’s so cute; we have little tiny sandwiches for the older kids, muffins, pastries, I have a recipe for bolognese that Ade can’t get enough of and I’m making Caprice a princess birthday cake… it’s gonna be epic
Cash
Fantastic, we can expect the sugar rush to hit about what time? We can make sure we’re outta there before it happens
I chuckle to myself. Sounds about right.
Manny
I only use toxic free, natural coloring and limit the sugar intake
Harlem
Samples are gonna be in order
Tag
Yeah, where the fuck are the samples?
Manny
Nope, no samples if you’re not planning on attending, rules from the boss’ ol’ lady
Cash
My baby givin’ out her orders again?
Tag
@Cash When isn’t she?
Cash
@Tag good point
Tag
What about cake for poker night?
Manny
@Tag are you really going to steal cake from little kids now, too?
Tag
Who’s talkin’ about stealing? It’s not their cake if it’s in test mode
Manny
So I’ll make you a princess cake for poker night? Anything you’d like on top? Barbies, My Little Pony, Care Bears? Extra sprinkles?
Tag
Wise ass. We never get cake. @Cash, why do we never get cake?
Bandit
@Tag I would be nice to Manny if I were you or you’re never gonna get anything ever again
Hawk
I’m with Tag, we should have cake, extra sprinkles
Manny
@Hawk nice of you to join us, Tag’s requested a princess cake for his poker night so I’m kinda all caked out for a little while… he eats a lot
Hawk
He can share
Tag
Ain’t no sharin’ here, get your own order in fucker, spent enough time on this fuckin’ chat already
Bandit
Again, I’d be nice to the resident chef if you wanna try and pull this off
Cash
Will you all shut the fuck up about cake, what’s more imporant is the ol’ ladies are happy. You know how they get over the kids havin’ a good time and shit, we don’t need any hiccups or anyone bein’ upset that some kid didn’t get what they liked, then there’s allergies to think of…
Manny
Got it covered, boss. This ain’t my first rodeo
Harlem
Which is why I’ve organized face painting, a scavenger hunt, pass the parcel, rides and a talking SpongeBob, fairies and what’s that princess’s name who all the kids love?
Bandit
Elsa
Hawk
Elsa
Manny
Elsa
Ryder
Elsa
Harlem
Okay, got it guys
Trust Harlem, the resident Daddy who has grown up kids, and can’t stop telling everyone how much he wants to knock up Indigo; much to his older kids' complete disgust. I think Stella would be okay with it. She’s almost twenty now, and as much a part of this club as anyone. Kai? Not so much. He’s sixteen and kinda likes doing his own thing. But Daddy Harlem, yeah, I can see that in his future.
Tag
In my day we had the egg n spoon race and musical fuckin’ chairs
Hawk
And pass the parcel
Ryder
@Tag In your day they didn’t have electricity
Harlem
Tag
Very funny, fuckwit
Manny
Well done @Harlem, I’m glad someone around here is taking it seriously
The party is on Friday night, the night before my non-date with Amber, so I should probably stop by to see if the girls need any help setting up. Usually the guys get all the tables arranged in Cash and Deanna’s rose garden and they have the party at the house adjacent. Some parents still take issue with having a kid’s celebration in an MC clubhouse, but there’s more room here, so it makes sense to me to have it here.
Harlem
Always happy to help
Me
I can lend a few hours tomorrow, @Manny if you need a hand bringing the food out or whatever
Manny
Appreciate it @Bronco - may need a hand guarding the cake table
Tag
There better be cake for us
Bandit
What are you gonna do, gatecrash?
Tag
If I have to
Manny
I’ll set Luna onto you @Tag and nobody wants that on their hands
Tag
Not scared of my ol’ lady
Ryder
Manny
Harlem
Yeah, right
Rock
What did I miss?
Manny
@Rock scroll back, there’s a lot to unpack
I click out, chuckling to myself as Crystal walks in the door. She’s carrying a shitload of boxes, so much so, she can’t see over the top. I jog over to relieve her of some of the load.
“Thanks, Bronc, I was trying to not make a second trip.”
“No problem. Where do you want ’em?” I fall in step beside her and she dumps her load on the pool table.
“These are the rest of the decorations, and the tables and chairs are coming later this afternoon.”
“Goin’ all out, kids won’t know what hit ’em. We were all just in the group chat. Harlem gave us the rundown on the activities,” I chuckle.
She smiles. Crystal is a cool chick, and she’s always running around doing something. Even now Ade has started pre-school, she’s here, there and everywhere, and shows no signs of slowing down.
“Oh, Daddy Harlem is a crowd favorite. He even offered to dress up as one of the kids’ favorite characters when they weren’t available. I swear that man is worth his weight in gold,” she muses.
“Daddy Harlem.” I shake my head. “He’s never gonna live that down.”
“Tell me about it.” She gives me a look. “Speaking of which, a birdie told me you have a hot date Saturday night?”
I sigh. “Good news travels fast.”
“It does.”
“It’s also not a date.”
“Huh?”
“Amber’s real date got the flu.” I try not to choke the words down. “So she had a spare ticket to the game.”
Her eyes are still on me, prompting me to say, “What?”
“Uh, okaaaay.”
I frown. “Okaaaay? Means what, exactly?”
“Nothing.”
“Crystal,” I warn. “I've known you since we were in diapers, I can tickle the information out of you if I have to.”
“You know that would be so creepy if you weren't like a brother to me.”
“Creepy? Why does your mind always go to the gutter?”
“It doesn’t! I said like a brother!”
“Which is even creepier when you think about it,” I laugh.
She swats me with her hand. “I shouldn’t be even saying this,” her voice lowers. “But…”
I put my hands on my hips impatiently. “Spit it out, woman! Growin’ old here.”
“Well, Amber was asking what she should wear to the game.”
I stare at her. She was?
“I mean, it’s a basketball game. How hard is it?”
She slaps me upside the head. “Focus, Bronc!”
“Hey, what was that for?” I rub the back of my head. She manages to always get me in the right spot, just like my mama.
“Bein’ a saggy scrote, that’s what.”
I balk. “You did not just say that.”
“I did and I’ll say it again if I have to. If she’s asking about outfits, I’m thinking she may be a little more into this than you think.”
“Okay, so what does that mean? She’s into me?”
“Are you into her?” The corner of her mouth lifts.
I shift in my stance, my hands shoved into my jeans. “I like her a lot, yeah.”
I swear, Crystal gives the death-stare like no other. “Do you hear what I’m saying?”
“I mean, most people just wear casual shit.”
“She wants to know what to wear to your non-date. ”
I grasp the words. “She’s into me, maybe? ”
“If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t ask you what she should wear.” The unsaid duh hangs in the air.
A vision of her wearing lacy underwear, her legs spread across the bar as I take in her sexy little body springs to mind, and I’ve gotta stop thinking about her like this. I don’t know why the fuck this is happening now after years of us being friends. I didn’t want this. I don’t fucking want this. But clearly, some unspoken part of my subconscious seems to want it.
“Are you tryin’ to get my hopes up?”
“Aha!” she exclaims, clicking her fingers together. “So you do like her more than a friend?” I don’t know why she has to sound so triumphant.
“I’ve thought about it,” I say honestly. “But I’ll tell you what I told my asshat friend, Nevada: I don’t wanna ruin the friendship. What we have is special.”
A look crosses her face; it kinda resembles when I held little Caprice for the first time and all the girls pawed over how cute it was. She squeezes my arm. “I have no idea why you’re so freaking sweet and still single.”
“Uh, because I wanted to be single.” Until recently.
Of course, Crystal picks up on the one word I didn’t omit out of that sentence. “ Wanted? As in past tense.”
I look around in case anybody has come in behind us, not wanting the entire world to hear what I’m about to say. “I’ve been having some… uh, well, feelings, recently, but I’m figurin’ that’s because it’s been a while since I’ve fooled around.”
“And why is that the cutest thing ever?”
“It’s not cute.”
“Yes, it is. Subconsciously you’re saving yourself for Amber,” she sings in a dramatic voice.
I rub my chin, thinking about her words. “I don’t think I’m doing that.”
She lowers her voice. “Really? Then let’s examine the evidence: how long has it been?”
I blink like a deer caught in headlights. “Since I had sex?”
She nods like I’m a five-year-old.
I think back, using my fingers to count on.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! Approximately,” she sighs. “I haven’t got all day. I’ve got a kid’s party to set up.”
“Gimme a second, jeez, woman! This shit is heavy.” I come up with the exact month. “Six months!” I declare with a grin, then it fades as fast as it appears. Why the fuck am I bragging about that?
“Six months!” She balks, a hand over her mouth. “Oh, wow, you have it bad.”
“I don’t have it bad!” I sound whiny even to myself. “I just wanna really consider the ramifications of us gettin’ together and it not workin’ out.”
“I guess you’ll never know if you don’t try.”
I blow out a breath. It’s annoying that Crystal has gotten to the crux of it pretty quickly. I only hope she doesn’t go blabbing in the group chat. I know what these women, and Manny, are like. “That’s what Nevada said, only slightly less eloquent.”
“Don’t take advice from Nevada, it’s pure luck that he scored a woman like Star, which does make me realize that miracles can happen.” She smiles softly. “You can find your happily ever after if you really want it.”
I don’t know why I’m such a sentimental fuckface at the moment. Is it possible for men to be hormonal? Maybe there’s something in the water at the moment?
Still, it’s best to blow it off. I don’t want to be the laughing stock of the Queens of the MC chat; not that I think Crystal is mean spirited or would do anything malicious, but the girls love to spread gossip among themselves and I’d be the subject of intense scrutiny and I don’t want to put Amber through that.
“Who says I want it?”
She gives me a pointed look. “You haven’t had sex in six months, and you’re a good looking guy, Bronc. You want it.”
Annoying little mind reader. “Fine, you wanna know what it really is with us?”
“I’m all ears.” She smiles sweetly, leaning back against the pool table.
“Don’t laugh at me.”
Her face drops. “I wouldn’t do that. It’s not often a man bears his soul. I might be a kickass in most things, but not this.”
I give her a soft smile, trying not to show my vulnerability. “I don’t feel good enough.”
She stares at me for a few seconds. “Really?”
There’s surprise in her tone. “Yeah, is that so hard to believe?”
“A little. I mean, you seem so confident in all you do.”
My eyebrows rise higher. “I do?”
“Yeah?” She shrugs. “I’ve always thought you took life by the horns, ya know? So to say I’m surprised you don’t think you’re good enough for her is an understatement.”
“That makes it sound like you think I’m full of myself.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She takes a breath. “You’re a good guy, you care about everyone. I’ve known that for a long time. Okay, maybe some of your past discretions leave a lot to be desired, but six months, Bronc? That means something.”
I palm the back of my head. “Yeah it means somethin’, but what?”
“I guess that’s what you’ve gotta figure out. If she feels the same way you do, or if she doesn’t, then you’ve got a problem on your hands.”
“Which is why I maintain it’s best to ignore what I’m feelin’, which, by the way, has only been a recent phenomenon.”
“Probably because she’s started dating again for real, maybe deep down you don’t want her to find Mr. Right unless it’s you.”
I frown. “That can’t be true.”
“Have you talked to her about being more?”
“It’ll backfire. I don’t know anyone who has a friend with benefits situation where it actually works.”
“Who’s talking about friends with benefits?”
“Nevada,” I sigh. “He said we could be fuck buddies basically, and then feelings wouldn’t come into play, so it’d be fine.”
She pinches the bridge of her nose. “Please tell me you’re not going to take his advice.”
“If I was, this would be just about gettin’ pussy, and it isn’t.”
“Are you sure?” She narrows her eyes. “I mean, there is temptation there, and getting what you can’t have. Some guys find that kinda thing alluring, like, the chase, ya know?”
I place my hands on my hips. “We’re not in high school, and I don’t chase, that shit is dumb.”
“It’s dumber to sit around pining for a woman you’re best friends with than to admit the truth and take a shot, that doesn’t add up in my mind.” God, she’s so accurately annoying. “And I think the reason you haven’t tried isn’t because you don’t think you’re good enough; it’s because you’re chicken shit that she could be the one. She could rock your world and your world right now is just fine, right? No commitment. No putting yourself out there. Nothing's gonna change if you don’t make a move, trust me on that.”
I bite on my lip, knowing she’s right, but not wanting to hear the truth. “I don’t know if I want to make a move.” I’m being completely raw now; we’re past the point of trying to hide how I feel. Crystal knows a lot when it comes to reading people and emotions, she gets it.
“Because you’re afraid of getting hurt?”
I didn’t know this about myself until now… and why the fuck is there a lump in my throat?
“I have unresolved issues with abandonment, but that’s my dad, not my mom. I have a very strong love for women because of my mom and how amazing she was raising me and my brother by herself after my dad left. But I saw what that did to her. She was so completely devastated.” I look down at my boots, remembering the day that he left. It took us all by surprise. We ended up moving because his family were too involved in what they thought my mom should do, even labelling her an unfit mother. It was that day, when I was seven years old, that I grew up in a lot of ways. I saw how cruel people can be, even those in your own family. Blood? It means nothing. Actions speak louder than words.
“I’m sorry, that must’ve been really hard,” Crystal says, her eyes brimming with tears. “I know how great your mom is, she’s one heck of a woman, and I’m sure she’d love to see you settle down.”
“Thanks.” I clear my throat. “That’s enough of the heavy, we’ve got a party to plan.”
She opens her mouth to say something else but closes it again. I’m not a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve for anyone, but talking it out feels good. “You’re a good guy, Bronco,” she says, eventually.
I grin. “Even with saggy scrotes?”
She snorts. “I was on a roll, and when I get on my high horse, you never know what’s gonna fly out of my mouth.”
I sling one arm around her shoulder for a hug. “As long as you don’t ask me to blow up goddamn balloons, I’m yours for the afternoon.”
“Good, you can start with helping me get the chairs off the truck when they get here.”
“Spoken like a true queen of the MC, speakin’ of which…”
“I won’t say anything,” she cuts in. “Girl scouts honor.”
I glance down at her. “Ryder is one lucky man, you know that?”
She beams up at me. “I tell him every chance I get.”