Chapter 20 - Stan #2
Change the subject, Stan. Now.
“So,” I say, clapping my free hand on my thigh, so loud that it echoes. “Who you riding with today, doc?”
Lix turns back toward us, interest piqued. Em adjusts her shoulders under my arm, looking like she’s considering this seriously, like there’s actual stakes. The garage feels too quiet now, the flickering light overhead buzzing like it’s invested in the outcome.
My pulse picks up.
Honestly, this is a big fucking deal. Way more than it probably should be. But listen…
Whoever Em picks, it’s gonna mean something. Favorites. Feelings. Maybe messy shit.
I hold my breath, waiting, hoping she says my name, already rehearsing how I’ll act all cool about it if she does. I close my eyes, imagining me holding a shiny trophy that says “doc’s favorite dick.”
Ha ha! Take that, Lix!
Opening my eyes, I watch Em looking between us, so composed that it’s driving me insane on the inside. I think I might be sweating. I don’t know. Maybe I pissed my pants a little bit. I’m not gonna check. Just glad I’m wearing black denim.
“To uphold fairness,” she finally says, “I’ll ride with one of you to the picnic location.”
My heart kicks hard.
“Then I’ll ride back home with the other,” she continues, like she’s explaining a perfectly reasonable hypothesis, and it’s doing things to my dick. “That way, no one feels excluded.”
Lix looks at her. I look at Lix.
Em lifts her glasses up. “You may determine the order by playing rock, paper, scissors.”
There’s silence. Then Lix snorts. And I burst out laughing, the tension snapping loose.
“Goddamm,” I say, squeezing her shoulder. “You’re an evil genius, Em.”
She smiles up at me, lookin’ mighty proud.
Rolling our shoulders, Lix and I square up like this is a serious event. Which, to be fair, it totally is.
“Best two outta three,” I tell him.
Lix glances at me. “Pretty sure only one’s needed, Stan.”
“I don’t do what’s needed,” I say with gusto. “I do what’s dramatic. Ever heard of suspense, babe?”
He gives me a look, but he’s smiling, so…
“One round only,” Em cuts in. “Please refrain from sabotaging the process.”
I scoff. “I would never.”
Lix raises his hand, all calm, centered, and annoyingly attractive about it.
Since I’m a professional, I stretch my fingers and shake out my arm like I’m about to throw a championship pitch instead of scissors.
My heart’s pounding way too hard for this.
“On three,” Em says.
“One,” I start early.
“Two,” Lix says, voice deep and sexy, and clearly trying to distract me.
“Three,” Em finishes.
Hands fly.
I throw scissors.
Lix throws rock.
I stare at our hands like maybe—just maybe—if I glare hard enough, reality will change its mind and let me win.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” I mutter when reality refuses to take my side.
Lix lets out a laugh, soft and surprised, then looks up at Em. He walks over to her, one hand sliding around her perfect waist, and taking her away from me.
“Guess she’s riding mine first,” he says with a smile.
So smug. He’s lucky I love him, or I’d steal her back right now.
He leans in and kisses her. Em melts into it with zero hesitation.
That’s so…unfairly hot. Pretty sure I’m rocking a boner just from staring.
I pout at them. “You both should absolutely know I’m deeply offended.”
Lix pulls back to point his smile at me. “You’ll live.”
His blue eyes spark. He’s so damn pretty. I pout about losing anyway.
Then Em looks at me over her glasses. “I’ll be riding back with you, Stan.”
That helps. A lot. But I don’t show it. I deserve to sulk a little.
So I huff a breath. “Fine. Have your moment. Rub it in. I’ll be here, mourning my pride.”
Lix guides her toward his ride, and I watch them check in with each other. Em’s worried about his recovery. He’s worried about her nausea and short breaths.
And here I am, kicking rocks ‘cause I can’t win a kids’ game.
I might have terrible luck. But, while I’m watching them, I’m smiling ‘cause these two coming into my life and choosing my stupid, sulky ass is the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me.
A couple of stolen kisses later, I fire up the Ford and she purrs like she knows she’s about to show off on the road.
I pull on my black leather gloves, glance over my shoulder, and watch Lix help Em get on his Harley. He checks her helmet strap a few times, his hands careful while they whisper to each other.
Then, when they’re both ready and sitting pretty, she wraps her arms around him, her glasses resting on his shoulder.
So unfair.
But I’m a resilient motherfucker, so I roll forward, leading us out of the garage.
In my mirror, I catch ‘em following close, engine running smooth. Helmets on both of ‘em too, which is perfect. I’m the risk-taker riding bareheaded, wind tugging at my hair. I like the feel of it too much to miss it.
Besides, I might be a fuck-up, but I don’t fuck everything up. Especially not riding my bike. I got that down to a damn science.
We hit pavement, and I open her up. The Ford surges forward, the road stretching out far ahead of us. I check my mirrors again, making sure they’re still there.
Lix is driving as fast as me, and Em’s snuggled on his back.
It doesn’t take us too long to leave the main road behind and take the turnoff. Asphalt gives way to dirt, tires kicking up dust, the smell of earth and pine flooding the air. The Ford handles it like a dream, suspension eating up the rough terrain.
In the mirror, the Harley dances like the road’s its stage.
Lix leans into the curves, confidence coming back with every mile we cross. Em holds on, trusting him completely, her helmet tucked close to his shoulder. The sight warms my heart. They look fucking perfect together.
And me being part of it too? Yeah, my luck’s been changing ever since I met them.
I ease off enough to keep us together, refusing to lose them in the bends. The road narrows as the trees thicken, sunlight breaking through the canopy in rays of light that make everything feel unreal.
This is it. Fresh air. Mild winter. Open road. My better thirds right behind me. This is the good stuff.
We climb higher, the forest thinning, the air cooler up here. The road turns rocky near the top, and I slow, guiding us the rest of the way.
I pull into the clearing near the cliff and cut the engine, some frost from the forest falling around us.
A minute later, the Harley rolls in behind me.
I glance back and grin as they stop, Lix parking the bike. He’s layered up, black hoodie under his leather jacket, zipped all the way like he’s already learned that Darkhaven winter doesn’t fuck around.
Em slides off with his help. He pulls off her helmet after taking his off, her black bob’s a mess, cheeks pink, and glasses tilted a little.
I hop out of the Ford and spread my arms. “It’s picnic time at the cliff with my babes!”
Lix kills the engine and looks around, breath leaving him a bit harsh. “It’s a great spot, Stan.”
Em steps up beside him, taking in the view, the drop beyond the trees, and the world stretching out forever.
I follow her gaze to the edge and snort. “Alright. Rule one of Picnic Club. Nobody jumps.”
Lix sighs, trying to hide his smile. “I promise not to launch myself off a cliff today.”
“Every day,” I correct, doing my best impression of Sterling’s scowl at him.
Lix slaps my back while we laugh. I fucking love it when we can joke about hard stuff like this.
Em sets down the basket and opens it, looking sexily methodical. “If you two are finished negotiating the use of gravity.”
I take the blanket from her, giving it a snap before spreading it out.
“This is so thick and cozy,” I say.
Em smooths one corner before taking a seat on it. “Elle planned for wind.”
“Good thinking,” Lix says as he kneels beside us, taking out other things from the basket, while Em sets out the bottles of water.
He grabs some packed meals and passes them to her without comment, their movements so damn in sync.
I see the thermos and twist it open. “Ooh, tomato soup. Smells good.”
Lix nods at it. “Still warm too.”
Paper plates follow. Then out comes these sandwiches in the shape of tiny triangles with barely anything in them.
After taking my gloves off, I pick one up and squint at it. “What the fuck are these?”
Em takes a look too. “They’re cucumber tea sandwiches.”
I frown. “Yeah, ‘cause nothing says cliffside sex adventure like a vegetable with no personality.”
She frowns at my frown, trying to outdo me, and y’know what, she wins. “You’re eating them, Stan. Elle prepared them for us.”
“Obviously,” I mumble. “I’m just sayin’, I want it on the record that I was a good boy who’ll eat his veggies today.”
Lix chokes on a laugh he tries to stop. He’s turning as red as the tomato soup. Em studies us like we’re escapees from the loony bin. She wouldn’t be wrong.
We get comfortable on the big picnic blanket. The view sprawls out below us, the kind that shuts your brain right off.
The breeze through the trees feels fucking amazing too.
I lean down on my palms and sigh, smiling big and loving the crisp air.
Beside me, Em tugs the puffy coat she has on tighter around herself. It’s mine. An extra one, matching the one I’m wearing. It’s a bit too snug on me, but it’s way too big on her. Swallows her whole. It does something stupid to my chest.
Lix is sitting on his heels while he feeds Em a boring triangle sandwich. She takes it, chewing all thoughtful, and covering her mouth, so she can talk about how impressed she is that a picnic date during Darkhaven winter isn’t what she expected. “It’s rather nice,” she mumbles around a mouthful.
She doesn’t even know what’s coming.
Smirking, I scoot closer to her. “Hey, Em, ya cold?”
Her eyes are owlishly big when she stares at me like she still can’t tell what I’ll do next. I like that look on her a lot.
“I got ways to warm ya up, y’know,” I whisper when I slide even closer to her, my lips landing on her hair. She smells so sweet.