Page 78 of Master's Rise
A killer smile and kiss is my answer.
~*~*~
~
Seren
I’m glad my part is over. Freedom had me nervous but Cort doesn’t give a shit about anything but having fun. Some of the Brothers and ol’ ladies take this just a little too seriously.
Cort kept the bike steady and I did my surfer routine to deep throat the weenie bite. An ol’ lady from Michigan took offense to coming in second. I told her I learned on a banana and the hot dog was easy, but she wasn’t impressed. The Brothers found it funny. The slow race had the ol’ ladies holding the Brothers shoulders. I surfed through that too. A Brother from Nevada asked where I surfed. Mynever been surfinghad the Brothers laughing for that too. I didn’t talk to anyone when we won the balloon thing. Not sticking my nails through the balloon and getting soaked didn’t seem like a reason to boast. It was all fun but the competitive nature of some people was a bit much.
“He’s up, Seren!” Harmony yells from Falcon’s side. I can’t picture her with Falcon for long, she’s too easy-going and he’s scary with the competition. He’s growled at me more than anyone today. I’m staying away from him. Hade is keeping watch so Freedom is always close.
Freedom points and I look at the wood things. It’s like a balance beam of railroad ties that’s a little more than a foot off the ground. Men are crazy. They have turns to make starting at 130° and ending at 90°. Up on the wood! I turned away because the last Brother tipped in the middle of the turns up there. A medic guy pulled him back before his bike fell on him.
Cort starts his bike and rolls slowly up the ramp. Falcon yells and I step closer to Freedom but keep my eyes on Cort. I hope he’s tall enough to stand if he tips. He never speeds up. Brothers are yelling, but I’m smiling. It’s just a game to him and he’s having fun. I’m glad he’s not as slow as the slow race or we’d be here all night but he’s going pretty damn slow. Falcon is getting the Brothers going with his laughing and yelling, they’re all joining in. I move closer to Freedom and Hade gives me a nod. Hade is up next so I’m sticking to Freedom.
“Is he moving slow to piss them off?” I ask Hade when he stops talking to Jinx.
He laughs. “Maybe, he always wins. Maybe he’s giving Falcon his shot.”
I laugh. He’s cute and making a point.
He rolls down the ramp just as slow then races to the beginning slamming the brake on just before the ramp. “So that was my official time so Falcon will stop bitching and win one. This one is so my ol’ lady sees how I normally ride it.”
This time he speeds up the ramp and I hold my breath. Fucking crazy men. Everyone is cheering and giving Falcon a hard time. I don’t look anywhere but at my crazy husband. At least at the end turns he’s going a little slower. Everyone is cheering again and I breathe easy as I hear him speed up. He stops on the side and walks right to Falcon.
Uh oh, he’s pissed. “Fuck.” Hade walks closer to them and Raid shows up on the side of him.
“You fucking growl at my ol’ lady again because she or I do something you didn’t and I’ll make sure every fucking game is thrown by every fucking one just so you get your win. When you win them all, I’ll hand you a trophy right after I beat the fucking shit out of you. You got her moving to Hade and Freedom when I’m not close. This isherday. She’s never seen this shit before. She did fucking good andwashaving fun winning for her parts. She better hear that from you before we leave today.” He walks right to me taking my hand and leads me to the food tent.
Squeezing his hand, I tell him, “I could use a drink.”
He finally looks at me and slows down then lifts me up for a hug. “Sorry, Kram. I could use a drink too. When I got the bike rolling up the ramp and he started yelling, you moved closer to Freedom and Hade. You should be relaxed, not on alert in our own fucking Club, at a party in your honor no less.”
“I’m good with sticking by Freedom. It’s what we do. Victory was close too, so I was good. Go finish your games.”
He shakes his head. “What you did before, how you had to live, is not normal. Here you should feel reasonably safe with the Brothers. One of my Officers should never be the source of your discomfort. It should have registered with him, since it didn’t, I made him aware.”
I crack up. “That’s what that was.”
He puts me down by Rex, Ant Irma and two Brothers I don't know.“I heard you ran through like wildfire, Seren. Have you done these games before?” Ant Irma has me laughing.
“No. The Club chicks and Cort gave me pointers. Years of martial arts kept me balanced.”
The older Brother smiles. He must be in his forties. The younger is a Prospect. After they greet Cort the older guy looks at me. “You did good. Showed the fools yelling it’s fun and had a good time doing it. That’s what it’s all about.”
I smile at the Brother. “That’s what I heard too. It was fun. It’s been a great day all around. Rex, you should do parties. You’d make a fortune and it looks like you enjoy cooking for large crowds.”
Ant Irma laughs. Rex is nodding. “Paul was just telling me he could make a smoker with wheels. I’m trying to slow down so I don’t think I’ll take him up on it. I do like cooking for the Brothers and today is special. I got my two favorite people standing in front of me blissfully happy. You remind me of Reed and Anneli. I have something for you.”
He walks away and I look up at Cort. “I hope Anneli is your mom. I’ve never heard that name before.”
He nods then laughs guiding me out of the tent. The Prospect follows Rex. I wonder why before I scream. “For me! I get a bike too! Cort! He got me a small one!” Oh, my God! He got me a bike! I run around it then right to Rex and hug the shit out of him. “Thank you! You are the best uncle and uncle-in-law! I can’t wait to ride it!”
Cort hugs Rex around me. When he starts talking, I pull away and touch everything on the bike. It’s a pretty blue with flecks of navy in it. Cort’s is navy with flecks of lighter blue and way bigger but they’re the same kind. Is that make or model or brand?I don’t care, it’s mine! They are beautiful standing together. The Prospect is smiling as he hands me a helmet. It matches the bike!
“How cool is that! Look, Cort!” I have to try it on.
