5. Nicky
Chapter five
Nicky
I feel a pang of regret as I watch the gorgeous man sleeping in my bed. And it’s not just because I didn’t get a chance to come on his dimples.
Last night was the surface of the sun's levels of hotness, but it was also fun. I’ve never laughed that much during sex before.
I want more.
My phone buzzes, reminding me that I have somewhere to be. I can’t be late meeting Kenny. It’s ridiculous to think a one-night stand is going to want to start something up, anyway.
With one last look at his peacefully sleeping form, I quietly close the motel door behind me and head to my bike. Time to go.
The town I’m meeting Kenny in is a town over from where he actually lives. He says he wants to talk to me without being surrounded by nosy townsfolk. I hope that is the case and not that he’s planning on keeping me a secret from his family.
The thirty-minute drive goes smoothly, and before I know it, I’m pulling into the diner parking lot and into a space next to another bike. It’s a Harley Cruiser. Absolutely beautiful. I look around and don’t see any other bikes, so I guess it must be Kenny’s. He has great taste.
I head into the diner and spot him in a booth, looking straight at me. He looks about ten years older than the photo on the Fallen Gargoyles website would suggest. He also looks as nervous as I feel. That makes me feel a bit better.
I take a deep breath and make my way towards him.
“Kenny?”
He stands up and immediately pulls me into a hug. My eyes absolutely do not water.
I hug him back briefly before he pulls away.
“Kid, looking at you, I know the DNA test wasn’t needed. You look like the double of my pops,” he says, smiling happily. He sits back in the booth, and I follow, sitting opposite. “Shall we order and then get down to talking?”
“That sounds great,” I smile. I really am ravenous from last night’s workout. Maybe I should stop for snacks with my next hook up. However, it’s going to be hard for anyone to match dimples.
Who I absolutely do not need to be thinking about right now.
A server comes over and takes our order, and pours us two coffees. Fucking hell. Did I really forget to drink caffeine this morning?
“So you ride?” Kenny says, nodding out the window to my bike.
“I do. I’ve loved bikes since I was little. As soon as I left home at 19, I bought a bike.” I run my hand through my hair, feeling nervous. Sure, I ride and love my bike, but he is the president of a whole fucking motorcycle club.
“She’s a beauty,” he says with a smile. “The guys at the club are going to be all over her. I mean, they might. If you decide you want to come, stay. Or visit. Fuck.” He looks down at the table.
“That sounds really cool.”
“Yeah? Great,” he says, slapping the table in excitement, making me jump. “Sorry, bad habit. Why did you leave home at 19? You said you didn’t go to college?”
“No. Well, I did some community college classes for a year after high school,” I look at him, and I know that’s not what he’s asking. “I stayed until then for Max.”
“Is he your brother or a boyfriend?” There’s no look of judgment clouding his face.
“He’s my best friend. He’s like a brother to me. We both had parents who treated us as if we weren’t there, so we became each other's family. As soon as Max went off to college, I moved out.”
Kenny clenches his jaw. “Fuck, I’m so sorry you had to grow up like that. I wish I knew you existed. I could have taken you away. You and Max. Where is he in college?”
I have to blink back tears. His reaction means everything to me.
“He goes to Lakehaven U in Idaho. He plays hockey and has a boyfriend who thinks the sun shines out his ass.”
Kenny nods with a smile. Before he gets the chance to say anything else, the server brings our food over; two enormous stacks of pancakes, each with bacon, maple syrup, and coffee refills.
We thank them, and I start to dig in.
“You know, the minute I learned you existed, you became family,” Kenny says after a few minutes of silence. “That goes for Max too. Doesn’t matter how this meeting goes or what happens from here on out. I-we have your back. My entire club.”
That stupid burning feeling you get in the back of your skull when you’re trying not to cry happens. So inconvenient.
I just nod and go back to finishing my food. Kenny gives me the time to get myself together, which I’m grateful for.
My mothercunting parents.
I could have had this man in my life for the last twenty years if appearances hadn’t meant more to them than me. This man has known about my existence for two weeks, and he’s already shown me more love and care than they ever have.
“Can you tell me about you and your family?” I ask when I don’t think my eyeballs are going to betray me and leak. I want to know all about the family I so desperately want to be a part of.
“There’s Stella, my wife. We’ve been married for four years but together for seventeen. We didn’t feel like we needed to get married until I was in a minor accident, and a snooty nurse wouldn’t let her in to see me. We got married in the courthouse the following week.” His face lights up talking about his wife. “She can’t wait to meet you. Not in an overwhelming way,” he pauses for a moment. “Well, she has made you a family Christmas stocking.”
“It’s August.”
“That means nothing to Stella. She shows love with her Cricut machine and Pinterest boards.”
Okay, I’m low-key obsessed with watching Tiktoks of people making Disney themed tumblers with their Cricut machines. It’s art.
“I look forward to seeing it.” I really fucking do. My hopes are well and truly up that I’d get to spend Christmas with these people.
His face lights up. “Yeah, okay, that’s brilliant. You are going to love Booker and Reed. Booker is Stella’s son from a previous relationship. He’s twenty-nine and a tattoo artist. Reed is mine and Stella’s kid. They are fifteen, and he uses he/they pronouns. Booker, Stella, and I are all cis.” He scowls for a second. “Shit, I didn’t ask you yours.”
“I use he/him,” I say with a smile. My parents never acknowledged my sexuality. My coming out was met with an eye roll.
Kenny is my dad.
I get a do-over.
“I’m gay,” I blurt out. He leans forward and grabs my hand, looking at me seriously.
“Thank you for telling me that, Nicky. I’m proud of you.”
This time I don’t hold back the tear that escapes my eye.
“I needed that,” I say honestly. His face clouds for a moment before it’s gone, and he lets go of my hand with a pet.
“You’re in great company. I’m bi, Booker is gay, Reed is pan, Stella prefers not to label herself. My club is full of queer people as well.”
“I can’t wait to meet them all.” I really can’t. I have brothers. Max is going to love it as soon as I reassure him he’s my favorite.
“Come stay with us,” Kenny says, eyes wide with hope. “We have the clubhouse where a bunch of the single guys live if you don't want to stay in our guest bedroom. It used to be a hotel, so all the rooms have bathrooms. We have a fuck ton of rooms, and even a few are soundproof, so if you need quiet for your web designing. Or I could rent you an apartment. There’s-”
“Kenny, I’ll come stay,” I cut him off. “You don’t need to sell it to me. I want to get to know you more and meet your family.”
“It’s our family.”
“Our family,” I repeat. “I have to go to Portland for a few days, but after that, I’m free to work from wherever. I can be back Monday?”
“That’s great, fucking perfect.”
I didn’t expect any of this. I tried my best not to get my hopes up, imagining what this meeting would be like. I think even if I had given in to them, Kenny still would have surpassed them.
Today has gone perfectly. My only regret is not waking up dimples for one last shared orgasm.