Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
ZERO
We stopped by the house first to get a change of clothes for Isla and for me.
Jasper did the same thing he always did, toting his little sister to his room where he’d no doubt ignore his homework in favor of playing with her.
I didn’t want to get in the way of their connection, but after the confrontation with the hot teacher, I knew I couldn’t let him ignore his homework forever.
What the hell did I even say to him, though?
I hated homework when I was a kid. I’d feed it to the neighbor’s dog and feign innocence when my parents demanded an explanation.
I’d be a hypocrite getting on Jasper’s case for shit I refused to do.
Maybe the teacher could help with that.
I thought about the hot-as-sin teacher while changing my clothes and cleaning off my cut.
When I thought of teachers, I imagined old ladies with greying hair, biting tones, and cruel eyes, a ruler always in hand to snap someone’s knuckles when they misbehaved.
Simone Brooks was the opposite of that. She looked late twenties, early thirties, with long curly brown hair and flawless chocolate brown skin.
Even in her conservative teacher outfit, she was gorgeous and curvy, and if we’d met at the bar, I would’ve done a hell of a lot to get her attention.
Not even her no-nonsense expression could detract from those plush lips and deep brown eyes.
On the surface, she was every man’s fantasy, easy.
But it was more than that. She offered to tutor Jasper for free, which was a relief because the salary that normally kept me comfortable was now stretched a little thin, taking care of two kids.
She didn’t force him to stay in school to get the help and potentially embarrass himself around his peers, and she was patient despite his causing trouble and getting into fights.
If it’d been me, I probably would’ve been expelled, no matter the circumstances.
That she was willing to give Jasper another chance showed just how good a person she was.
The kind of person I wanted to get to know better, if given half the chance.
“What’s for dinner?”
Jasper’s voice broke me out of my thoughts of the hot teacher and shoved me back into reality.
Swinging around, I found Jasper glaring at me from my open doorway, his sister propped on his hip with that look on her face that said she was going to start screeching soon if she didn’t get food.
I winced. That little girl could rattle windows with those screams.
“We’re going to meet some of the guys and their families for dinner at Prez’s place. I was just getting changed. We can head over there now.”
Jasper rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I don’t need a playdate.”
Geez, this kid was combative. Who said no to free food?
“Never said you did,” I hedged. “But if Prez is cooking, it’s guaranteed to be better than anything I could whip up. Let’s just go and get some food. If you hate it, I’ll bring you back after.”
That seemed to be enough for him, and he relented with a scowl, stomping down the stairs with his sister still in his arms. If it were any other kid, I’d be worried about the wiggly worm in his arms while he walked down the steep flight of stairs, but Jasper moved like he was used to it, not even stumbling when she tried to wriggle free.
He just readjusted her and snagged a toy out of the playpen when he got downstairs, handing it to her and giving me an annoyed look.
“Well?”
Putting my hands up, I grabbed the keys to the SUV, holding the door open for him so he could get Isla out before locking up behind him.
While he put her in the car seat, I sent a text to Prez letting him know we were on our way, and slid into the driver’s seat.
When Jasper climbed into the back, I considered him through the rearview mirror.
“You know… I think you’re old enough to sit in front, if you want. ”
I had no clue if there was some kind of age limit or something, but thirteen was old enough to sit in the front seat, right?
His gaze flicked to his sister, then hardened as he turned to stare out the window. “I’m good.”
Biting back a sigh, I checked my mirrors before pulling out of the driveway.
I wasn’t used to driving a cage, and I found myself being overly cautious driving the thing.
It was enormous compared to my bike, and I didn’t love it.
If I could take the kids around on my bike, I would. Cages weren’t my thing.
My attempts to get Jasper to open up were starting to feel like a waste of time. He still glared at me like he couldn’t stand me, and it’d been over a week already. I didn’t know how to connect with kids, especially not teenagers. What the hell did I even say?
I hoped the guys had some advice, and when I pulled into the driveway of Prez’s two story victorian, I let out a breath of relief seeing the cars already parked out front. It looked like we were the last to arrive.
Jasper was eyeing the place with a scowl, and when I got out and pulled Isla out of her car seat, he immediately took her from me, glaring at me as he held her close.
I didn’t comment, tossing the still overflowing diaper bag over my shoulder and leading the way into the house.
I seriously needed to remember to add spare outfits later.
I didn’t want another blowout situation with no backup.
Maybe I needed to keep a change of clothes for me in the trunk, too, just in case.
Instead of going through the front door, I followed the path around the back and through the back gate.
The backyard was loud and chaotic, the kids running around playing with each other.
Babies and toddlers were on a blanket with a few adults sitting nearby talking amongst themselves while the older kids played on the swingset setup that Prez must have put up since the last time I was here.
He didn’t use his house for gatherings often, he preferred the clubhouse since there was more room, so I didn't always see all the upgrades he’d done to the place.
“Zero! Come settle a bet for me!” Vegas called from where he was lounging on a porch swing, his kid asleep on his chest. He looked completely at ease with the situation, despite having been surprised by his old lady’s pregnancy when she was already seven months along.
He took to parenting like he was meant for it, and I was a little jealous at how easy he made it look.
I couldn’t even get Isla to eat the stupid baby food without her flinging it everywhere.
I tried to lead Jasper over toward the group with a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged me off, glare still firmly in place, and only followed me when I took the lead and left him the hell alone.
I tried not to grimace as I noticed a few of the guys watching us.
How much judgment would I get if they figured out I’d made no progress in getting through to either of the kids?
“What’s up, man?” I asked as I climbed the stairs to the porch, leaning to give the First Lady a kiss on her cheek when she came out of the house with a tray of what looked like lemonade.
We all did it, she deserved the recognition for being our first lady, and she smiled brightly at me before continuing down the stairs to the picnic table that was already laden with food and drinks.
Whenever Maggie was in charge of feeding people, she always made enough for an army.
She had to, feeding a crew of fifteen guys, plus all the kids who ate almost as much as the crew members did.
“What’s worse? Gas light turning on while on an open road, or engine light turning on before you leave the house?”
“Gas light,” I answered without thinking.
Butch made a face. He was sitting in a camping chair nearby, Ellie in his lap painting his nails like it was no big deal. It probably wasn’t. Butch didn’t give a shit as long as his kids were happy.
“Engine light means you can’t drive at all,” he argued. “At least I hope none of you dumbasses are driving around with an engine light on.”
I shook my head. “No, but think of it like this. You’re out there, nothing but the road and wind and the bike beneath you.
Nothing is better than that feeling, right?
Then the gas light flicks on and boom. The joy is gone and you’re stressed about how far the next station is and whether or not you’ll make it. It ruins the whole vibe.”
Vegas jabbed a finger at me triumphantly. “That! That’s what I’m saying. An engine light might ruin your morning, but the gas light would ruin the entire day.”
“Okay, so what’s worse?” Sierra called from where she was sitting by Melissa and Skylar with the babies. “Gas light, engine light, or flashing lights.”
We all winced simultaneously. “Flashing lights. Definitely.”
“No contest,” Vegas grumbled. “Those pigs are out to get us.”
The conversation helped me relax a little, but I kept an eye on Jasper and Isla out of the corner of my eye.
Jasper reluctantly put Isla down to play with the other babies when Skylar beckoned him over, but immediately withdrew once she was settled, retreating until his back was against the house and there was a distance between him and everyone else.
I felt my face twitch watching him pull out his phone and ignore the world.
What was it going to take to get that kid to open up?
The back door opened and Xander wandered out, a smirk on his face as he held up a bright pink phone triumphantly. “Found it. You left it in the car again.”
Melissa cheered, laughing as he jogged down the stairs to hand over her phone. “You’re my favorite person, Xanny.”
“You need to put that thing on a lanyard or something, Mel-Mel,” he teased. “How do you not lose it at work?”
She lifted a shoulder, taking the teasing in stride. “Scrubs have deeper pockets than women’s pants. It’s an injustice just how little room we have in our pockets.”
Xander rolled his eyes, but the smirk on his face said he wasn’t actually bothered by the conversation. He was so different from Jasper, so relaxed and happy. When he wandered closer to join his brother and Prez at the grill, I leaned over the railing of the porch and beckoned him closer.
“Hey, Little Wraith. Come here a sec.”
His expression was curious as he came back up the porch and leaned against the railing next to me. “What’s up?”
I tipped my head subtly toward where Jasper was glowering at the entire yard. “You two are the same age. Think you can help me figure out how to crack him? I think he’d rather murder me than open up.”
Xander snorted, patting my shoulder. “I’m sure it’s not that bad. But sure. I think he’s in my class. I can say hi, at least.”
Thank god for Little Wraith. He didn’t have an easy go of life before he arrived here, but once he came out and felt safe around us, he became part of the crew.
I was pretty sure he was the reason Wraith came out of his shell.
The dude actually said full sentences now instead of just grunting all the time.
I moved closer to the other side of the porch as subtly as I could to listen in, hoping beyond all hope Xander could make the headway I hadn’t been able to yet.