3. Fox
FOX
There’s nothing like a hot shower after a long fucking day working in the cold. I lean against the tiled wall, letting out a contented sigh as I allow myself to just be for a moment. No work deadlines or club obligations looming over me.
But then comes Bruce’s frantic barking. His high-pitched yaps pierce through my sanctuary, sharp and insistent enough to shatter any semblance of relaxation I've built up in those precious minutes under hot water. “What in hell are you barking at?” I cut off the shower mid-lather with soap still clinging stubbornly to my shoulder and hop out with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity. The tile underneath my feet is slick, and I stumble slightly before regaining my balance, the damp warmth of the bathroom still clinging to my skin “God dammit,” I mutter to myself. I shoot an irritated glance at the closed door. “Bruce!” I call out, wiping excess water from my face with the back of my hand. The dog’s barks grow even more frantic, echoing with urgency in the small space. “Alright, alright!”
Skipping the jeans and T-shirt, I hastily wrap a towel around my waist, ignoring Bruce's urgent barking that echoes down the hallway. With damp hair clinging to my forehead, I swing open the bathroom door and stride into the corridor.
“What's got you all worked up, buddy?” I crouch down to meet Bruce’s excited gaze. He dances in place, his tail wagging so hard it seems like he might lift off the ground at any moment. Following his line of sight toward the front door, I squint through the dim light of the house.
A sharp knock interrupts my thoughts. My heart skips a beat. Unannounced visitors usually mean trouble in our world. I stride across the floor, each step echoing softly as Bruce zooms ahead of me to greet whoever is waiting.
I swing open the door, half-expecting to see Asher or one of our club brothers. Instead, I’m met with a familiar face—Eden fucking Anderson.
Her rainbow hair shimmers in the fading light, a cascade of colors that makes her look like she just popped out of a comic book. She stands there, beaming.
“If that’s how you answer the door for every surprise guest, color me impressed.”
“What are you doing here?” I manage to ask.
“Straight to business,” she laughs, patting her hand to my cheek. “Shouldn’t you invite me inside first?”
I hesitate momentarily. Az will have my ass for pissing off his future wife’s best friend, but on the other hand, whatever she wants is bad enough for her to ambush me at my own fucking house. Neither option bodes well for me, but letting her in at least saves me an ass kicking later in front of the club.
“Yeah, alright,” I say finally, stepping aside. “Come on in.”
She slips past me with a theatrical flourish, her energy filling the space like a vibrant explosion. Bruce bounds around her feet, barking with excitement, and she bends down to scoop him into her arms, showering him with affection.
“Well, aren’t you just the cutest little thing,” she coos, the sight of her with my dog softening the edges of my irritation. I close the door behind us and lean against it, arms crossed, trying to maintain a facade of indifference. “I have to admit, I would have pegged you for more of a macho man kind of dog. Not a pocket variety.”
“Hey, Bruce may be small, but he’s still fierce,” I shoot back.
Eden stands up, cradling Bruce against her chest like a cherished trophy, and beams at me. “Oh, I don’t doubt it. But let’s not pretend this isn’t a little out of character for you, Mr. Tough Guy.”
I roll my eyes. “What do you want, Eden? You didn’t come all the way here just to pick on my choice of pet.”
“Fair point.” She sets Bruce down, who immediately lunges for his favorite toy by the couch. Eden starts to take off her coat, and that’s when I notice her swollen belly.
“You better not be here to tell me that baby is mine, Eden. I can do math. I fucked you well over nine months ago.”
“Relax, Foxy. That’s not why I am here,” she laughs. “Though, I do wish I could have gotten a photo of your face just now. Hallie thought you’d faint straight away.”
I raise an eyebrow, the tension in my chest unwinding just a touch as curiosity piques. “Hallie knows you’re here? What kind of twisted game are you playing?”
Eden blows a strand of her rainbow hair from her face, that mischievous glint in her eye is unmistakable. “Only a little twisted, I promise. I need your help. Hallie’s told you about my recent success with my new release, right?”
“Yeah,” I murmur, shaking my head, trying to connect the dots. “You mean the one for that...what was it called? ‘Riding Wild’?”
“Bingo!” she beams, “Well, I might have told my publisher a bit of a little white lie that it was somewhat based on a true story.”
“And that’s my problem, how?”
“You didn’t read it, did you?”
“Do I look like a guy who reads for fun, Eden?”
“Valid point, but the thing is…,” she trails off still playing with a piece of her rainbow hair. “My publisher wants me to bring my ‘biker boyfriend’ to the Motorcycles, Mobsters, and Mayhem signing to create buzz about my book tour later this summer.”
I cock an eyebrow as she beams at me. “Want to go to Texas in March?”
Fuck. She’s talking about me.
“You can’t mean me.”
“Who else would I trust enough to ask?”
“Anyone, but me. Jesus, Eden. I am not some rent a biker service. Absolutely fucking not.”
“You didn’t even let me try to convince you. My publisher is willing to make it worth it. All expenses paid for, travel, hotel, and food.”
“In exchange for posing as your fake boyfriend, and from what I am seeing, fake baby daddy. No thanks.”
“C’mon, Fox! What’s life without a little fun?” she pleads. “You’re practically getting a free vacation out of it.”
“And what do I get in return? An embarrassing weekend spent pretending to be Mr. Anderson? That’s a hard pass.”
She steps closer, invading my personal space. “You know you’d love it. Imagine all those fans swooning over you because you’re ‘the guy’ in the book. You can even bring Bruce along! He’d be the star of the show.”
Bruce, now settled on the floor chewing on his squeaky toy, looks up at me expectantly as if he knows this debate is somehow about him too. I groan internally.
“It’s not like you’re tied down to anyone, right?”
I hadn’t talked to Eden in over a year. The only way Eden would know my dating status is if Hallie or Az had told her. Fucking traitors.
“Do you know how many people would kill for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of bikers?” Eden declares.
“Allowing outsider into our lifestyle is kind of the point, Eden. The last thing I or my club needs is our logo plastered all over social media.” Considering that just a few days earlier I had given a guy a concrete nap, this isn’t a good idea no matter how she wants to spin it.
“I can fix that,” she answers confidently.
“How would you do that exactly?”
“First off, no real names. You can use the one I gave your character, Ares. Obviously, no colors for the Bastard Boilers. I had a cut made with my fictional club’s logo and rockers on it. My PR team has agreed that the readers can take photos with me but that you are off limits. Your identity will be protected. After MMM, you’ll slip back into obscurity, and I’ll announce our break-up at the right time.”
“Ares?” I quirk an eyebrow.
“Just think about it. A fun weekend, good food, and countless stories to tell.”
“Yeah, but how many of those stories end with me explaining to Az why I was playing pretend with you instead of doing something more...productive?”
“Az may have already given me his blessing to steal you away. Plus… Hallie is also signing there, and you know Az won’t let her out of his sight.”
“So, you asked my club president about this fucking charade before asking me?”
“To be fair, I have been trying to call you.”
“Say I agree to do this. What about that?” I declare, pointing to her pregnant belly. “Is the father of your child okay with another man masquerading as your boyfriend?”
“Considering his contribution to this pregnancy came from a tube in a clinic, I think you’re safe from any baby daddy drama.”
I blink at her. “Wait—what? You… you did that?”
“Yeah,” she shrugs, rolling her eyes as if it’s nothing. “Don’t act so shocked. It’s 2025. Women can make choices for themselves. I want a baby, and I’m doing it without a man.”
“Fair enough.”
“Look, I know this is an unconventional ask, but I need you. This book’s success is just the start for me and my baby.” She rubs her bump again, layering in guilt.
“Damn it, Eden,” I mutter, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Her grin transforms into a radiant smile, and I can see the relief washing over her. “So, you’ll do it?”
“Alright,” I finally concede. “But I want full disclosure about what we’re doing. No surprises.”
“I promise,” Eden sweetly smiles.
“Why do I feel like that is a lie?”
Eden grabs her coat from my couch, slipping it back onto her shoulders. “It’ll be great. I’ll send you the details in a few weeks once my publisher finalizes them.” She stalks towards the door before stopping and pivoting to look back at me. “Make sure you answer your phone, Foxy.” She blows a kiss at me and to Bruce. “See you soon,” she coos before opening the door and exiting out of my place like she didn’t just guilt trip me to play her fake boyfriend.
“What the fuck did I just agree to?” I ask Bruce.