Chapter 33
33
HANK
T he last few weeks of summer rolled past like the horse drawn carriages that roll down Calhoun Street each day. Bailey and I fell into a rhythm over the last month where we would see one another at the gym, text throughout the day, and then every few nights she would come and stay at my place. She hadn’t said anything about my ‘I’m falling in love with you’ comment that I’d let slip as we exited the janitor’s closet at the benefit. Part of me wanted to ask her if she felt the same way but we were in a good place and I didn’t want to jeopardize that. My phone buzzed on the top of my desk, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Dungeons and Dickheads: 1 New Message
Malcolm:
There’s an event at the bar today and there’s going to be leftovers. You shitheads want some? I can bring them to campaign night.
Kolbi:
I’ll never turn down free food.
Conrad:
You better not be late again Malcolm.
Malcolm:
Conrad, pull the stick out of your ass, I was late once and that was literally back in June. It’s September. Let it go.
Malcolm:
Everyone gets food except for Connie.
Conrad:
Fuck you Malcolm *middle finger emoji*
I’m always in for food I don’t have to pay for.
Kolbi:
Hank, you bringing Bailey tonight?
If that’s okay with everyone, she asked me this morning at the gym if she could come.
Malcolm:
Fine with me. I never say no to having a beautiful woman around *smirk emoji*
Kolbi:
Fine with me brother.
Conrad?
I watched my screen, waiting for his reply to come in. When he hadn’t answered my text after a few minutes, I texted him again.
Conrad? Hello?
Conrad:
Fine. If everyone else is fine with it I’m fine with it.
Malcolm:
That response definitely makes it seem like you’re fine with it.
Conrad:
Fuck you, Malcolm. I said I was fine with it so I’m fine with it.
Kolbi:
Okay, you’re fine with it brother. We’re all fine if she comes, Hank.
I chewed on the inside of my lip, trying to dispel the irritation building in my gut. I couldn’t understand why Conrad was so bent out of shape about her coming to campaign night. All she ever did was sit in the other room, read, and occasionally get herself something to drink. My fingers hovered over the keyboard on my phone before replying.
Okay then Bailey and I will both be there. On time.
I added on the last part to make a dig at Malcolm and hoped Conrad would see it as a peace offering. My phone buzzed once more.
Malcolm:
Okay now Hank also doesn’t get any food either. Kolbi, tonight we feast.
I pulled up to the curb outside Bailey’s building twenty minutes before we had to be at Kolbi’s. Her living around the corner from him had proven convenient because on the campaign nights she didn’t attend, I would stop by her place afterwards if she was still up to steal a kiss or two under the streetlights. While we could have walked, she was coming back to my place afterwards so I offered to pick her up.
When I kicked down the kickstand of my bike and lifted the helmet from my head, I looked up to see her running towards me. My core warmed as she got closer and I took in her signature smile. She was wearing a pair of light washed denim jeans that hugged her ass in a way that should be criminal and a bright yellow top that complimented her short golden hair. She had half of it pulled back and when she waved at her doorman, I noticed a pale pink ribbon tied in it. Once she was close enough to me, the scent of vanilla and honey flooded my nose.
“Hey there,” she grinned, resting her hand on my leg as I still sat on my bike. I hadn’t even had enough time to stand up to say hello to her before she had reached me. Her bottom lip was tucked over her teeth as smiled at me.
“Hey there, you look beautiful tonight.” Her cheeks flushed the slightest bit and I pulled her in to kiss one.
“Thank you,” she mused as she scrunched her nose at me.
“Do you have everything?”
“Yep!” She flashed me the small bag she was carrying that had been tucked behind her hip.
“What book are you reading now?” I raised my eyebrows at her as I asked the question.
“A spicy one about a soldier,” she winked at me before tucking her purse into the saddlebag on my bike. I chuckled at her and stood up. Reaching into the other saddlebag on my bike, I pulled out her riding jacket that I always kept there. She had ridden with me a few times now and knew that I wouldn’t take us anywhere until she had her jacket and her helmet on. I held up the jacket for her as she slipped both her arms inside. Spinning her around to face me, I reached for the zipper and pulled it all the way up until it reached under her chin. Then, I unlatched her helmet from the backseat and turned towards her again. She was waiting on me with a cheeky expression.
“What?” I questioned looking down at her.
“Nothing…” she paused for a beat, “I just appreciate how you take care of me.” My heart squeezed at her words.
“I’ll always take care of you, hermosa? 1 . You’re everything to me and I will always do anything I can to show you how much I mean that. I want you to know that you’re safe with me.”
“I know. I’m just very thankful for it. For you.” Her words came out with a twang and I smiled to myself. Careful of her hair, I shimmied the helmet down on her head and took in her eyes whose color rivaled that of the deepest parts of the sea. I reached my finger in and tapped her nose before pulling her now protected head towards my lips so I could press them to the forehead part of her helmet. She giggled underneath it and I winked at her as I flipped the face shield down for her.
Once I had taken my seat, she placed herself behind me and wrapped her arms around my chest. I gave her a pat on her thigh, my signal to her that I was about to pull away, and revved the accelerator. We pulled away from the curb at last and headed off towards Kolbi’s.
Hours had passed and the guys and I had finally made it past the Golem (a massive rock creature that was conjured up by our seemingly spiteful dungeon master). As we played, Bailey sat on the couch in the other room and read her book, only coming in when she was grabbing a drink or asking us if we needed anything. I could tell Kolbi and Malcolm liked her by the way they spoke to her, but Conrad was still distant. It took him time to warm up to new people so I chalked his behavior up to that.
Before leaving, she gave each of my friends a friendly hug and thanked them for allowing her to join us tonight. Kolbi gave her a peck on the cheek and told her she was always welcome. Malcolm held her close a second longer than what I was comfortable with and Conrad held his body stiff as a board as if she was a carrier for the plague. She then looped her hand into mine and we both waved to everyone before heading out the front door.
As we rode across the bridge on my bike, the night sky was dark and the moon reflected off of the water. She kept her arms wrapped tightly around my torso as we sped down the highway towards my apartment. I felt her turn her head and lean against my back. I grabbed her hand for a moment and held it in mine, relishing in the feelings doing so brought me. When we passed by another person on a motorcycle, we both gave them a low wave. After pulling into the parking lot of my complex, she slid herself off the seat and I followed closely behind her, standing from my bike and helping her remove her helmet. Once her jacket was tucked away and I pulled the cover over my bike, we headed towards my apartment.
Our hands were intertwined and she had her arm looped around mine as we walked in silence. This was something I loved about her; she didn’t need to say anything at all and you could still feel her presence around you.
“It sounded like a good night tonight,” she started, looking up at me as we climbed the stairs to my place.
“Yeah it was. Kolbi is insane with what his brain comes up with,” I laughed thinking about how Conrad and Malcolm had become fused together by a wizard after he wouldn’t take their bribe.
“I always love listening to you guys play—” Her words were cut off by another voice. One that cut me to my core and made my heart stop all at the same time. One I hadn’t heard since I left this city with nothing but a backpack and a fresh set of fatigues.
“Hey, Son.”
1 ? beautiful