8. Chapter Eight
R hodes eventually knocks on my door, startling me from my unpacking and gives me an hour's warning before we leave to go to Pinks’.
I jump in and give myself a quick shower and wash my hair. This bathroom is nearly as big as my entire room back in Australia. It's obvious that no expense was spared when building the house. I’m grateful but it's absolutely unnecessary. Although that’s not going to stop me from absolutely spoiling myself to a little pamper session.
With no idea what kind of dress code Pinks’ Lounge has, I opt for a pair of light wash Mum jeans, a long sleeve crop top and a pair of converse. Simple but as I look in the mirror I smile, happy with how cute I feel.
I give my hair a quick curl and decide to do a full face of makeup. I’ve never been able to successfully master the effortlessness that is a swish of mascara and lip gloss. Props to the girls that can. But me? It's a full face of makeup or nothing at all.
I meet Rhodes in the garage. He’s standing beside a Harley with two helmets in his hands. The sight of the bike makes me miss my own even more. Would it be too far if I asked Noah for photos of my bike? Like some kind of fucked up divorced parent situation. Rhodes hands me a helmet and I chuck it on quickly and jump on behind him.
God only knows how he rides so I make sure to hold onto him tight. Last time I made the mistake of not holding on properly, I sailed off the end of my mate Locky’s bike. Something I don’t want to relive any time soon. I don’t feel like adding more scars to my collection.
How appropriate, Scar who is covered in scars. Punny.
As we ride through the streets, I try to take note of where everything is. Thank God the little community is small, but I would at least prefer to not look like an absolute wanker and get lost.
I hear a rumble coming our way and look down the street. Five bikes drive in formation and I take them all in.
Two, of whom I assume are guys, are driving Harleys like Rhodes’ bike. The third guy is riding an all-black Ducati Panigale with the fourth riding a Ducati Xdiavel.
Holy. Fucking. Drool.
But what really gets my attention is a brand-new Kawasaki KX450. The green of the bike stands out amongst the other blacked out bikes. My jaw drops. I’m sure a little bit of that previous drool would be swinging behind me in the breeze if it wasn’t for my helmet. I’ve had my eye on that bike for such a long time and to finally see it in the flesh thrills me.
I try to take in as much as I can of the five guys riding the bikes, but the visors don’t give anything away.
Shit, for all I know they could be wrinkly old dudes under those helmets. Normally, those three types of bikes would never ride along together. I don’t know why, but I assume it's some kind of bike culture bullshit. But these guys are and, fuck me, it suits them.
As we pass each other, all the guys give Rhodes a nod of respect in which he returns. I swear I can feel their eyes burning into my skin as they try to work out who is on the back of his bike. My own visor hides my identity, only my clothes and hair blowing out under the helmet give away anything about me. I kind of like holding onto the anonymous illusion. At least for as long as I can.
My mind stays back on the five mysterious men on the bikes even as we pull up to Pinks’ Lounge. I have to physically shake myself out of my daydream, like I’m still lost in the mystery of who they were. Rhodes gives me a funny look as we get off his bike and take off the helmets.
He laughs a little as I try to fix my hair that’s now all over the place.
I give him a death stare watching as all it takes to sort his helmet hair is a little shake of his head and a comb through with his fingers.
Fucking men.
“Come on Scar, let’s head in. Shelly will just be dying to see you.”
We head into the club and I’m instantly overwhelmed. Being told that Pinks’ is a gentlemen’s club, I instantly thought of just a normal strip club like the ones back home. While there is nothing at all wrong with them and their vibe, Pinks’ is completely different.
The lingerie the ladies are wearing is classy. Yes, it is essentially underwear but there’s just something extra that gives it a level of elegance and pure sex appeal. Goddamn, these women are making me want to bend a little which is saying something considering dick is all it has ever been for me.
The mood lighting is set dim. There is a large stage at the back of the room. Band equipment is set up towards the side of the back of the stage, not to interfere too much with the runway that leads to a lone pole sitting in the middle of the room. A red head with the most beautiful curly hair is currently spinning around on the pole while Pour it Up plays in the background.
There are booths around the stage with small tables for drinks. Even though it is early afternoon, a few men occupy the seats throwing money at the girl. There are a few booths around the rest of the room with lounges surrounding small platforms with poles in the middle. A couple of them are occupied with a couple of younger guys and a stunning brunette who is currently shaking her ass in a guy’s face. Poor lad looks like he is going to bust where he’s sitting.
It takes everything in me to hold in a chuckle.
Rhodes directs me towards the bar that sits off to the right of the stage.
“Oh my god! My babies are back!” A voice yells out causing a few of the patrons to glance over at us with curious glances. It's obvious they all know who Rhodes is with the nods they give him, but their eyes stay locked onto me, curiosity filling their gaze. The newbie. Great.
I startle as I’m pulled into one of the tightest hugs I’ve ever had as the wailing lady embraces the both of us. It seems like she holds us there forever as she rubs my back non-stop repeating ‘My babies are home’. I stiffen, not quite sure on what to do or how to react.
Eventually she pulls back, her gaze stays locked on mine.
“Oh my sweet Scarlett. I couldn’t believe it when your father told me that you were alive. It broke my heart all of those years ago. Your Mum was one of my best friends.” She rushes out but waves a hand in front of her face, like she shoos away the thought. She dabs at a few tears that leak down her cheek. “But enough of that. That’s a story for another day,” She says, grabbing my shoulders and holding me directly in front of her.
“God, you are just as beautiful as your mother. Look at that beautiful blonde hair. Oh my lord Jesus and those eyes. Just like your Dad and your brother.”
Tears begin to well in her eyes again as her hands move to my cheeks. I feel like they are about to be squeezed but I don’t care. I don't know what it is but I instantly love this woman. There is just something about her that makes me feel at home. Like she could be a second Mum to me. By the way she is acting, it seems like that may have almost been the case back before everything happened.
“Dakes is going to be so relieved when I can finally tell him you are home. He has been so lost all of these years without you, my girl. He should be back soon.”
Dakes?
It occurs to me that no one has mentioned any of my previous friends I used to have. This ‘Dakes’ was obviously one of them. It makes me question just why none of them have ever been mentioned.
Who are they? How did they cope with my accident? Will they still want to be friends now that I’m back? The thought is pushed aside as Rhodes jumps in, swinging his arm around my shoulder.
“Jesus Shell, I’m sure feeling the love here.”
“Oh, shut up you. ”
The woman in front of me says as she smacks Rhodes in the stomach causing the wind to knock out of him. For such a short lady she seems like she would be a pocket rocket.
“Come on you two, let’s get a drink. Rules are a little bit more relaxed here. The whole twenty one drinking age thing doesn’t apply. All you young kids are running around here doing much worse shit than drinking alcohol. What’s your poison, my girl?” She asks me as she directs us over to the bar and calls over one of the bartenders.
“I’ll just go, a Bundy and coke.”
The dumbfounded look she gives me makes me question myself.
“Sweet girl, we aren’t in Kansas anymore. What in the fuck is a Bundy?
“Ahh, like Bundaberg Rum?”
“Oh, my darling. We don’t have that here. I’ll order it in for you.”
Shelly taps my hand in a motherly gesture.
“I’ll just get you a Captain Morgan and coke.”
I nod my head as she tells the bartender our orders. Soon three Jack and Cokes are sitting in front of us.
I can’t help but let the feeling of displacement trickle through me. I never would have thought that something as simple as asking for a Bundy and coke would make me feel that way.
For the first time since we touched down, I feel homesick.
As I take in my surroundings, it really starts to set in that this is my reality. There's no Ashton Kutcher about to jump out and tell me I'm being Punk’d; this is all real.
I start to feel nervous. What if I’m not made out for this life? What if I can’t live up to the expectations that have been set for me?
As the doubt filters in, so does the overwhelming feeling of knowing that I can in fact do this. That I can live up to the expectations I have set before me. That I can exceed in fulfilling them. There are people that will be counting on me. Lives that need to be saved.
I know deep within my soul that I was born to do this. That while I may have moments of nervousness and moments where I will inevitably doubt myself, I know I can do this. That I will make a change. One for the better.
I take a deep breath and try to push the feeling away. I give Shelly a smile as she looks between Rhodes and I.
“Now Rhodes, while I absolutely adore you my boy, I’m going to steal your sister here and take her to introduce all the ladies out the back. Dakes mentioned they would be in soon.”
Rhodes gives me a cautionary look. It’s obvious he isn’t too keen on leaving me alone. I give a small nod of my head to reassure him that I will be fine. He looks at me a little bit longer and eventually backs down not wanting to argue. He pulls me into a hug and whispers into my ear.
“I’ll be over in one of the booths. I’m here if you need me.”
He gives me an extra little squeeze.
“Go on, I’ll be okay,” I say as I watch him walk away after a slight hesitation in his step.
“The six of them were all so lost when we thought you were dead, my girl.”
Shelly says as I turn to her. I notice not for the first time that she seems to have a nickname for me. It makes me wonder if it was what she used to call me… before everything.
“You were all thick as thieves. You did everything together. If there was one of you, the others wouldn’t be too far behind,” she sighs as we begin walking through the club. “The news hit us all hard. But your poor brother and my boy were destroyed. Over the years your brother learnt how to cope. But it's been a bit harder for my boy. I normally wouldn’t tell others all his business but because it's you and I know how much he still loves you; I know I can trust you in this.”
I give her a small nod. A strange sadness filling me over this person I cannot remember but clearly, I mean the world too.
“Dakes suffers from severe anxiety and depression. Even after all this time he still wakes up with horrific nightmares. He was right there with you when everything went down.”
A few tears start to roll down her face. I struggle to hold mine back, swallowing a lump in my throat. Now isn't the time to cry.
A strange urgency to find this Dakes and make things right for him again overcomes me though. I’ve always been a bit of an empath but it's like I’m suddenly in overdrive. The thought of someone I used to care about hurting brings an ache to my chest that I can’t ignore.
Shelly snaps out of the sombre thoughts and quickly wipes away her tears. “Enough of that, my girl. We can all cry later. Right now, I need to introduce you to the other girls. We also need to organise your induction. Unfortunately, there’s no way around it. The rules are there for a reason. But don’t worry, we will have you all trained up and dressed in whatever you feel most comfortable in.”
My gut drops a little bit.
Fuck.
I almost forgot. Induction. The strip dance.
Rest in peace, Scarlett.