Chapter 9 #2
I take them both in, standing across from me.
Fox is standing a little in front of Nitro, and I’ve noticed on a few occasions that in social situations he always does.
It makes sense, seeing as Fox is the more outgoing of the two.
The one more likely to joke around. In the few conversations I’ve had with him he’s put me at ease and made me laugh.
Nitro on the other hand, is a different story.
That man is more intense, more reserved.
He’s also the one more likely to be able to see straight into my soul.
The man in question gives me a small smile, and jiggles the SUV keys in the air.
“Um, what about Pops?”
Mira snorts loudly in my ear and I jump about a foot in the air. “Holy crap, Mira!”
“Whoops, sorry! It was just funny that you’re all worried about Pops, but I think Rose Grove PD should be more worried for themselves. First off, Pops is down there causing shenanigans.”
“But Mad Dog said-”
“I said the other detainees were looking interested. I left off the part where they are interested in getting away from Pops,” Mad Dog cuts in.
“He’s telling them sex stories,” Chewy says with a sigh.
“How the hell do you know that?” Ana asks, face screwed up.
“He’s naked,” Chewy shrugs.
“Right, well now that’s been cleared up, follow us Princess Jasmine, we’ll get you home safe and sound,” Fox says with a grin.
My feet move to follow without me thinking about it. The only thing that stops me is Juno’s little squeal, letting me know I didn’t kiss her goodbye.
“Oh, sorry sweet girl! Aunty loves you,” I smack a big loud kiss on her chubby cheek and she pats mine affectionately, her expression not changing once. Her little frown is exactly in place.
“Call me when you get home, OK?” Vi says, eyes searching mine.
“I’ll see how I go. I might just crash for the night. I have a big day tomorrow, I’ve got Fox and Nitro posing for the kids.”
A slow grin grows on Vi’s face as her eyes dart from me to the two hunky men behind me. “Oh, they don’t know what’s about to hit them.”
“Nope,” I laugh, giving her a quick hug before spinning back to Fox and Nitro.
“Sorry about that. Ready when you are.” I wave in their direction.
They wave me forward in a ladies first manner and I can’t help the wee flutter low in my belly at the chivalry.
I stomp that down with my very sensible sneaker that I’m wearing because I have no time to entertain such things.
They’re friends with my sister and her boyfriend, they’re all part of the same club and any of the club brothers would be chivalrous.
I’ve seen it on many occasions. They’re a group of good men who always put women and children first, so I’m nothing special.
“You hop in the front, babe. I’ll sit in the back,” Fox says in my ear, causing those damn flutters to rise up again.
“No way, you’re huge, you can sit in the front,” as soon as the words leave my mouth I feel the heat rise in my cheeks. “Crap, I didn’t mean it like that! I meant that-”
“You’re right, he is huge,” Nitro says with a completely straight face, although I notice the heat in his eyes as they move from me to his boyfriend.
A cough escapes me at the remark and I have to swallow down my giggles at how downright dirty that was. “Right. OK. So it’s settled.” I nod once and move to the back door of the huge DRMC SUV.
Before I can open the door I’m swept off my feet and plopped into the front by Fox.
“What the hell dude!?” His brow raises as his lips twitch, “Not cool! I can get myself in and out of things, thank you very much.”
“Oh, there she is,” Nitro murmurs, pulling his bulk into the driver’s seat. “Wondered when we would see feisty Jasmine again.”
I huff as I cross my arms over my chest, annoyed, but not as annoyed as I’m making out. My arms are securely across my chest to hide the fact that my nipples roared to life at the motion of being held in a set of very strong, warm arms.
“It’s OK, kitten, I don’t mind if you get a little pissy at me, but you look dead on your feet.” Fox says gently from behind me, almost as if he’s murmuring in my ear.
My arms drop, hands landing in my lap. “Sorry, I know you were only trying to help.” I worry my lip between my teeth.
“Hey, it’s OK. It must be draining being a teacher and all that.”
“And you’re always babysitting Moss’s twins,” Nitro adds on a growl. I can’t decide if he’s pissed at me, Moss or the Pops situation. He’s a lot harder to read than Fox.
“Yeah, well, it’s not only just that,” I mumble.
Nitro’s eyes dart to the rear view mirror. His jaw clenches slightly before focusing back on the road.
“What do you mean?” Fox asks, clearly the one tasked with chatting with me.
I let out a sigh. I could just say it’s nothing and wait until I get home to crash. Or I could take a leap and tell the two hot men I’m in the car with about my chronic condition and why I’ll be alone for the rest of my life. Well, maybe I’ll leave that last part out.
“I have lupus. It’s an autoimmune condition.” Silence envelops the car after that little nugget.
I lean my head back, watching the shops pass by my window.
“Is it painful?” Nitro asks in a soft voice, eyes on the road.
“Sometimes,” I admit. “My joints, they get really stiff and painful, sometimes they swell.” He nods at this information.
“What else does it affect?” Fox asks.
I purse my lips, trying to think of something that lupus doesn’t affect.
I’ve had it for a long while now, so I guess I don’t notice the big things that I had to give up.
The life changing things like the companionship and love of a boyfriend or husband.
It’s a well known fact that during illness men are five times more likely than women to leave a spouse.
I’ve lived through it once, I refuse to live through it again.
I’ve given up the thought of having children.
To have children I’d have to stop taking the very medication that allows me to live a full life, and I’m just not too sure I’m brave enough to take the chance.
I’ve given up alcohol and late night benders with friends.
Friends of which I don’t really have anymore because people tend to lose patience when I have to keep cancelling on them due to my body crapping out from overdoing it.
There’s a reason I hang out with my sisters and family members, and now, sometimes the MC women.
Not wanting to depress the kind, hot men in the car, I decide to answer the way I always answer when people ask about my lupus.
“It affects a lot of things, but it’s fine.
I’m used to it by now. I’ll go home, take some anti-inflammatories and pain killers, warm up a heating pad and have a nap.
I’ll be good as new in an hour or so.” I paste a bright smile on my face, but I know the bikers in the car aren’t convinced.
The car slows to a rolling stop in my driveway and I’ve never been so happy to end a conversation.
“Well, this is me! As you well know. Thank you so much for the ride, I’ll see you around, byeeee! ”
My words come out in a garbled mess as I unbuckle my seat belt and all but launch myself out of the car onto the driveway.
I ignore the jarring in my achy knee and walk as naturally as possible up to my front door, unlocking it with unsteady hands.
I’m hot, sweaty, tired and achy and I just want to lie down before a headache or nausea hits me.
“Jazz!” a rough voice calls.
My shoulders are up around my ears and I could pretend that I didn’t hear him, but my mama didn’t raise me to be rude. Risking a look over my shoulder, my eyes meet Nitro’s as he leans over the passenger side, calling my name out of the window.
“Take care of yourself. Drink plenty of fluids and rest.”
“Yeah, you have a big day tomorrow,” Fox adds.
“Wait, what’s tomorrow?” My brows pinch trying to think through the fog as to what’s happening tomorrow.
“You, me, Nitro and a class full of kids,” Fox grins.
Oh! They’re coming to model for us, it totally slipped my mind. “Yes!” I say, perking up a little at how my little class will love having them as visitors. “I’ll see you tomorrow then,” I smile.
“Wild horses couldn’t keep us away,” Fox says, giving a salute out of the back passenger window.
Nitro gives me one last look, before slowly backing out of the drive and heading back the way we came. I’ll have to call my sister later to find out how they’re getting on with Pops’ case, but until then, I have a date with some soft pants and the couch.