Page 21 of A Taste of Whiskey
That reality had hit harder since Ezra had become a father. There were so many levels of helplessness as a parent. He couldn’t save Gus from his mother’s unreliability any better than he could keep him from skinning his knees or going through his eventual first heartbreak. He hurt when Gus hurt, and he was sure as a parent he wasn’t alone in that. When he was a kid, he’d felt like his father had been able to separate himself from Ezra’s pain. He’d learned enough about human emotions and trauma to know better, even if his father wouldn’t talk about it.
He was also fully aware that those situations paled in comparison to the helplessness parents of terminally ill children must feel. He didn’t want to imagine that inescapable pain and focused on Tiny talking about the Reindeer Ride.
“We’ll be decorating our bikes, and we’re asking everyone to dress festively. Wynnie and I will be dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus.”
“You’ve got the gut for it, old man,” Doc called out, causing a rumble of laughter.
Tiny leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach. “This took years of hard work to develop. If you’re lucky, one day you’ll be worthy of a Santa suit, too.”
“Doc would have to rig his dating schedule so he’s not between women, or he’ll be the first single Santa,” Rebel shouted, causing more laughter.
“A’right, boys, settle down. We’ve got more to cover,” Tiny said, and the din quieted. “If you need suggestions for bike decorations or what to wear, talk to Wynnie or Alice. They’ve got some good ideas. Wynnie’s going to try to get Sasha and Birdie to dress as elves…”
Ezra’s mind took off running with that tidbit, picturing Sasha in a sexy little green-and-red elf outfit, and that’s where his mind remained for the rest of the meeting.
As everyone got up to stretch their legs, grab drinks, and play pool or darts, Ezra checked in with Sasha. He never worried about Gus when he was with her. Not even when Gus had been a baby and Tina had been having one of heroffmornings, leaving Ezra to take Gus to work with him. On those trying days, when Ezra had clients to meet with, everyone offered to help, and Sasha was at the front of that line every chance she got. So why was he checking in with her when he’d been gone only a couple of hours? Because he’d spent the last twenty minutes fantasizing about her in a skimpy elf outfit after wondering if she was texting with Flame, and while he couldn’t claim her as his own sexy elf, he could sure as hell make sure he remained on her mind.
Ezra:How are things going?
Sasha:Great! We threw back a few beers, and now we’re heading over to Billie’s racetrack to nail a few jumps.
He chuckled to himself. It was almost nine, and Gus was more likely sleeping or half-asleep, snuggled up with her as she read him stories. The latter was an image Ezra lingered on before responding.
Ezra:Awesome. Make sure he doesn’t wear a pesky helmet.
Sasha:No worries. I gave him a spiky mohawk, and we dyed it red. A helmet won’t fit over it anyway. Are you going out to a strip joint after the meeting?
Ezra:Don’t I always?He added a devil emoji.
If he could have gotten into strip clubs when he was seventeen, he probably would have lived at them, but as an adult that had never been his thing. He did enjoy having a beer now and then at the Roadhouse with the guys, but tonight he wanted nothing more than to get home and spend time with Sasha. He pushed to his feet and pocketed his phone.
“Hey, man. Are you coming to the Roadhouse with us?” Flame asked.
“Not tonight. Sasha’s at my place with Gus. I want to get back to her.”
“Cool. Tell her to head over to the Roadhouse afterward.”
“I will, but I wouldn’t count on it. We usually hang out for a while.” The bonds of brotherhood were unbreakable, but that didn’t mean when jealousy reared its ugly head, he couldn’t be an arrogant ass.
“Lucky you,” Flame said as Dare, Doc, and Cowboy joined them.
“You getting lucky tonight, Ezra?” Dare asked.
“If he is, it’s with your sister,” Flame said, and walked away laughing.
Dick.“Don’t pay attention to him.”
“I never do. We’re thinking about heading out to Rocky Point on Sunday’s ride. You in?” Doc asked.
They did a club ride every weekend, and Ezra joined them when he could. “Yeah, as long as Tina doesn’t flake again. What about you, Cowboy?” Cowboy had missed several of the last rides and always claimed to be too busy with Sully to get away. “Or is Sunday now officially Sexy Sully Day?”
Cowboy snickered. “Every day is Sexy Sully Day.”
Doc clapped him on the back. “Then get that ten seconds in early. I’m sick of you missing Sunday rides.”
Everyone laughed.
“Have fun tonight. I’m going to catch up with my old man before I take off.” Ezra headed across the room to where his father was talking with Otto, an affable guy whose wife, Colleen, was a fellow therapist at the ranch. “Hey, Pep. Otto.” He hadn’t called his fatherDadsince he went away to college, and the truth was, mentally putting his father into a less connected role had helped him expect less from him.
