Page 38 of Hot Rucking Canadian

“Not tonight.”

“Yet, I’m here.”

He cocked his head.

“Well, am I not one of the girlfriends?” I used air quotes.

He considered. “Some of them went to the bar down the road to share cosmos. Did you want to join them?”

“They all drink cosmos?”

“No, some enjoy beer. You get what I’m saying.” He sighed. “You think we’re being sexist.”

I shook my head. “I just figured you’d all want to celebrate with the game.”

“Tonight’s special.”

“Huh?”

“Jason’s getting married next month.”

In early December. I remembered. A rugby-themed wedding because Sonya was as nuts about the game as he was. And she was also tolerant of the salty-mouthed parrot, Wally.

“So this is the bachelor party—only he doesn’t know it. Just like Sonya’s at the bachelorette party. A bunch of her girlfriends are joining, and—” He was cut off by the arrival of two massively huge guys.

Jason rose. “What are you doing here?”

“You think I was going to miss my baby brother’s bachelor party?” The bigger of the brutes pulled Jason into a hug.

Jason was a big guy. His brother easily had an extra three inches and thirty pounds on him.

“Surprise!” The entire table broke into cheers and cries.

Fortunately, none of the other patrons appeared perturbed by our raucousness. Likely why they chose this bar.And Johnnie’s missing this. That caused a pang because he really loved spending time with his crew.

Jason’s brother and best friend from high school pulled up chairs, and the festivities began.

I had one beer—as did Isaiah.

He was driving us home tonight.

I’d made noises about getting a bigger bike so we could ride together.

He called it a death machine and asked me to consider getting an SUV. He said he’d even pay for the extra parking spot in his building.

That kind of warmed my heart. In all these years, no one cared that I rode a motorcycle. Well, Dodge teased me about being an organ donor. At first I hadn’t understood because, of course, I had a card saying I would be one. He’d meant that riders of motorcycles tended to die more frequently, on a per capita basis, and so we were more likely to be organ donors. He’d laughed.

I’d had to think some more about that.

Jason thoroughly enjoyed himself. No doubt in my mind as he laughed, put up with the ribbing, demanded to know where the strippers were, then pretended mock offense when none showed up.

Isaiah assured me that had never been in the cards. Frankly, too much respect for women to objectify them.

That’d surprised and pleased me. I had enough of that shit at work. If I heard one more story about atitty club, I was going to lose my shit. Always said in front of Annabelle, of course. Sometimes I wondered if she might be bi or lesbian or something, but I never asked. Never would. Her business and hers alone.

The car ride home from the pub was quick, and soon we were brushing our teeth and heading to bed.

Isaiah raised an eyebrow as I crawled into bed.

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