FOURTEEN
Lisa
The first sign that their girls’ afternoon would not go as usual was Monroe’s refusal of dessert.
All the bikers’ wives and Lisa were sitting in Scarlett’s conservatory that day. Lisa had brought a selection of pastries, and Scarlett rustled up alcohol-free mocktails.
The only ones who couldn’t make it were Lottie, who was on shift at the hospital, and Joelle, whose kid wasn’t feeling well. Aurora wasn’t up to going out that day, so the ladies had her on video chat through the iPad. And Kylie, who owned a funeral home, rushed in an hour late.
“Sorry. There was a huge car pile-up on the interstate last night, and I had four people to take care of.”
Ugh. And Lisa thought her days were harsh if she had to translate three different languages. No way could she do Kylie’s job.
“Park your sweet ass, girl.” Nina told her, “I’ll get you a drink.”
“That’s why you’re my favorite.” She grinned.
“Don’t believe her; she says that to us all, fickle bitch.” Accused Casey.
“Monroe, there’s a last éclair; are you sure you don’t want it?”
“Someone else grab it. I’m not hungry right now.”
“Who’s gonna start?” Asked Scarlett, sitting comfortably.
“I’ve got something to share,” Monroe said, looking a little pale. “I, um, I don’t want anyone to panic, especially you, Scar, but I’m almost sure I’m having labor pains.”
It was quite comical how all seven women jumped to their feet, Aurora included.
“How sure are you?” Asked Casey.
“I started having tingly pains last night, but I just thought the baby was kicking an organ. I didn’t think it was labor. We even had sex!”
“Monster dicks will surely bring on labor,” Casey added.
“And you still came out today? Lady, you’re crazy.” Nina said.
“I need Chains.”
“Good idea, let’s get your hubby here. You need the hospital; those pains are coming in faster now.”
“Tell him to bring the hospital bag and pillow. And my music! Tell him not to come here if he forgets my music.” Huffed Monroe, half-leaning over the back of the couch, swaying from side to side while Lisa rubbed the base of her back. “Babe, press harder, like you hate me,” Monroe instructed.
Seeing her friend suffer would reinforce Lisa’s decision not to have children. She said nothing about how awful it looked and kept rubbing her friend’s back.
Monroe’s husband came through the door, not even ten minutes later, like an avenging demon. His mouth and forehead were tight with lines as he headed for Monroe like a missile with her name on it. He crouched by the chair and cupped her cheek.
“How’s my Lucky? I called your doctor and told her everything Nina passed on to me. She wants you to go in right away.”
“But... I wanted to have a shower first, Jon, and change into my cute sweatpants and hoodie.” Monroe was close to crying.
“There is an ensuite in the labor room, and one of your girls can drop by our place and bring you the sweatpants you want, okay?” Chains soothed as he pulled his wife in and whispered words in her ear, to which Monroe nodded.
Everything happened quickly after that, and the parents-to-be got moving.
Lisa and Nina carpooled with Kylie. The others piled into another car and followed their friend to the hospital. It was a lot of waiting after that.
“I love that girl, but are we gonna wait here until the baby comes? What if it’s days? I need clean underwear.” Nina queried, making Kelly chuckle. “You’re actually wearing some?”
“Today I am. I didn’t know we’d be rushing here with no notice.”
“Birth can happen any time, or it could take forever. It took over sixteen hours for the twins to be born.” Casey shared.
Just then, they all heard the same stomping on the tiled floor, and not twenty seconds later, a formation of hot-as-hell bikers came through the double doors.
The tall biker, who carried the aura of a leader with his shoulder-length hair and stubbled face, headed right for Scarlett.
Lisa had only ever seen Axel from afar when he dropped off or picked up Scarlett, but it was more than obvious to anyone there that the man adored his little wife when he pulled her right into his lap.
“Axel, I think I’ve changed my mind.”
“About what?”
“Doing this.” She patted her distended belly, then her pretty eyes filled up, and Lisa watched Scarlett’s bottom lip quiver as she gripped the ends of her man’s hair. “Monroe was in so much pain. I don’t think I can do it. Let’s change our minds, okay?”
“Okay, wildcat.” Axel smiled, appeasing his woman. He cupped her cheek and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Oof, Scar’s husband is...” Lisa murmured; she couldn’t find the words for so gorgeous.
“Oh, yeah.” Agreed, laughed Nina. “The sight of him hits right in the ovaries.”
Of course, Lisa had seen Ryan stroll into the waiting area with Axel, alongside a few baby bikers. She tried her best to avoid looking his way.
Not everyone stayed; they had kids to get home to. Ryan inquired if they needed anything over the next couple of hours. Lisa politely refused, though she noticed him leaning his colossal frame against the wall. Watching her.
“I have a question, Lisa,” Nina nudged.
“Hmm?” She looked up from her phone. “What’s that?”
“Is there a reason Splice hasn’t taken his eyes off you the whole time he’s been here?”
Oh, dear Jesus, save me from this conversation. Jesus was probably on another call because no help came.
“And a follow-up question. Is his staring anything to do with how you’re avoiding looking up from your phone, and your face is red?”
She shot a hand to her warm cheek. “Maybe it’s too hot in here.”
“Hospitals are temperature-controlled,” her know-it-all friend said.
“Then it’s perimenopause.”
“Okay, I’ll ask Splice.”
Lisa’s hand shot out; it pinned Nina’s thigh in place. With her head turned, she whispered. “You dare move your skinny butt, and I’ll break all your toes off.”
Nina burst out laughing. “Thanks for saying my ass is skinny. Well?”
Okay, fine. Lisa had planned to tell Nina about knowing Ryan in a different setting over wine. She never expected to confess with him there, a menacing figure with intense eyes holding her captive.
She’d already covertly texted him to stop staring at her, and he came back with “Nope.”
That deviant.
“We’re friends.”
“That’s it?” probed Nina.
“Well... we are friends now. But.”
“You’re stalling more than I do when I’m trying to avoid telling Tomb how much I spent this month on . Spill your guts. Are you guys hooking up?”
“Oh my God, no.”
“So why are his eyes claiming you?”
“Shh, he’ll hear you.” Lisa elbowed her, dipping her head down further, lowering her voice so only mice three towns over would hear her. “He’s the fling.” She confessed, burning up from the inside.
“What? I can’t hear you.”
Oh my God, Lisa was about to throw her best friend out of a window. It definitely wasn’t perimenopause symptoms that were lighting up Lisa’s cheeks like Christmas tree lights. It was sheer embarrassment.
“The younger fling guy, from years ago. It’s Ryan.”
Lisa was completely unprepared for how fast her closest friend would jump up, eyes as wide as teacups, and in her excitement, she couldn’t stay quiet. “The fling!”
All eyes turned to Lisa, and she wished the earth would open up and swallow her.
“Jesus, Nina, sit your butt down.” She tugged her wrist until she sat again.
“All those things you told me about the young stud. That was Splice? Are you lying?”
“Does this face say I’m lying?” Lisa was sure satellites in deep space could see her red cheeks. She risked a look at Ryan, and he raised an eyebrow inquiringly about the secret huddle.
Nina rose, yanked Lisa up by her forearm, dragging her along. “Excuse us, we have to pee,” she declared, and Lisa groaned but went along with it anyway to get out of there. In the bathroom, Nina checked all the stalls were empty.
“You had a torrid fling with a younger Splice, and you didn’t think to mention it?”
“How could I? I didn’t know my Ryan, I mean, Ryan from then, was the Splice you talked about.”
“I introduced you guys at my renewal!” Nina exclaimed, leaning her butt against the row of sinks.
“Yeah, and it was as awkward as you can imagine.”
“Splice was the fling.” Repeated Nina in a soft tone, and then she smiled, and the smile grew until she was chuckling. “This is unbelievable.”
“I was trying to find a segue into telling you.”
“I fucked Tomb’s buddy a handful of years ago. That’s how you do it.” Nina helped. That’s when she exhaled and planted her butt right next to Nina.
“Is Splice chasing you?”
“Noooo,” Lisa said. “We’re only friends now.”
“I’m going to say this really slowly, Lise, but the way Splice was staring at you, you might not know it yet, but that man is chasing you; like, that man has locked in.”
Because Lisa wasn’t one hundred percent in what she’d claimed, she didn’t reply to Nina.
“Let’s head back; they’ll think we’re doing more than peeing,” she said. At the door leading to the waiting area, she stopped Nina. “Don’t mention anything to him right now, okay?”
“Splice’s eyes are doing enough talking, anyway. I’m gonna enjoy the show.” Lisa gave her another nudge. “You’re so not funny.”
“It’s hilarious. Now I’ve gotta think about all those details you told me and associate them with Splice. Hoo, boy.” She wheezed, and Lisa jabbed her laughing friend again.
As soon as they walked in, she clocked Ryan’s eyes coming her way. Blush City, here she comes.
“Any news?” She asked Scarlett, who shook her head.
Sometime later, the biker-in-training came back carrying holders of takeout coffee. Ryan fished out two and prowled over.
Lisa held her breath as he handed one to Nina, and then, bold as you like, the brat sat next to Lisa. Thigh to thigh, holding out the coffee cup to her.
“It’s extra sweet.” He rasped.
At her other side, she heard Nina tittering. Lisa was absolutely going to throw her out of a fifth-floor window.
“Thank you,” she told him. Their fingers brushed, and electricity shot up Lisa’s arms. Had to be static, she surmised. It couldn’t be the good-smelling man almost sitting in her lap as he man-spread his legs in front of him.
“Are you hungry? I can send Dillion out for food.”
Another titter from Nina and Lisa gave her a slight nudge from her leg to hush her teasing mouth.
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t ask me if I’m hungry.” Chimed Nina.
“You’re too outspoken to keep quiet when you’re feeling hungry. You and the old ladies haven’t corrupted your friend enough yet to be as mouthy.” Answered a smirking Ryan, and when Lisa turned her head, he winked at her.
That’s how they stayed for the next, however long.
Lisa’s behind was numb by the time Chains came out and let them know he had a daughter, Josephine Shaye, a healthy eight pounds. He stayed long enough to catch bro hugs from his buddies, then got back to Monroe.
After a quick visit, the crowd dispersed.
“I’m going to the club to meet Tomb. Do you want to come along, babe? Then we’ll drop you at home?”
“I can get a cab,” Lisa told Nina.
“I’ve got the truck outside; I’ll take you home,” commented Ryan, coming up behind Lisa, far too close; she could feel his body heat. Before Lisa could reject that terrible idea, he took her forearm. “Let’s head out; I’m starving.”
Lisa’s eyes switched to Nina, as if asking for help. But her friend only smiled and told Splice not to speed.
When they got to her house, Lisa was pretty worn out from waiting and was about to thank Ryan, but he’d already gotten out and walked around to open the truck door.
“Invite me in, sweetheart.”
Invite him in?
To her house? Like he was a vampire!
Her mind quickly itemized what state she’d left the house in this morning. Okay, it was presentable for guests, so she shrugged and walked off ahead of him.
“You can come in but be quiet. I’m so tired. Who knew sitting for hours would be exhausting?”
“Mm,” he chuckled, too close to her back as she unlocked the door. “I had a great time. Let’s get in, sweetheart. I’ll cook.”
He’ll cook. Those were some magic words to Lisa’s ears.
So, she opened the door, turned off the house alarm, and told Ryan to come in.
It felt like a full-circle moment, knowing he was in her home again, more than a decade later.