Page 20 of The Biker and the Baker
"Oh, I know." I step around him. "That's why I drove straight to the candy shop once I realized there weren't any."
Together, we fill the bowls then place large smiley face lollipops and candy packs into the take-home party bags.
As we’re wrapping up, I glance over my shoulder to where I left Onyx. He’s still there, but not alone. One of the mothers is all up in his space, poking her long-nailed finger at his bicep as she makes bang-me eyes at him. And it's not even one of the ‘meh’ moms, it’s one of the hot moms.
Ugh. I left him foronesecond.
In his black leather jacket, black jeans and biker boots, he stands out like a green Skittle in a bowl of chocolate M&M’s, so of course, he'll attract attention. He looks like the hot, sexy, badass villain that Spiderman and Thor would have to join forces to take down.
"Do you think everything is good? Everything is perfect?" Akhil asks, reclaiming my attention. He drums his fingers anxiously across his bottom lip.
"It’s ridiculous how afraid you are of your wife," I say, laughing at him. "Everything is fine. Look around"—I gesture to the thirty-some heads darting about the yard like rambunctious puppies, having the time of their lives—"do any of these kids look like they give two cents about the crap that Preeti cares about? Feed them, give them entertainment and sugar, and they’re happy."
"You are right." He nods, but he doesn't look convinced. Preeti can be miserable and loud and Akhil usually gets the worse of it. He’s one of those sweet, caring beta husbands who has no business being married to a bullheaded boss-around like Preeti.
When I turn around again, Onyx is no longer where I left him. Nope. He's over by the barbecue grill where all the adults are hanging out and sipping from red party cups. And no, it's not “fruit punch” that’s in those cups.
I watch as Hot Mom hands him a red cup. He smiles at her as he takes it, flirt in his smirk.
From my periphery, I spot Preeti, Mira, and my mom emerging through the back doors and I know once they spot this stranger in their midst, it’s going to be full-on grilling, judging, and stereotyping. My mother and older sister are low-key assholes.
Nope.Not happening.I begin making my way across the yard, dodging one frolicking kid after another as I go.
“…one of the kids' parents?”
I get there in time to catch the tail end of one of Preeti’s questions.
“No, actually. I’m—”
“My boyfriend,” I blurt out, stepping up to Onyx’s side and looping my arm around his.
As expected, eyebrows shoot to the sky. Including Onyx’s. But he recovers quickly, one corner of his mouth twitching.
“Onyx is on babysitting duty today with his friend’s kids, so I invited them to the party.”
Hot Mom’s mouth forms into a tiny O. She glances between Onyx and me, eyes narrowing as if she doesn’t buy it.
Mira smirks into her red cup, her eyes laughing at me; she already knows the truth.
Dad scans him from head to toe, sizing him up.
Preeti, of course, frowns. “I had no idea you were seeing anyone besides that rich, pompous one who’s always in a suit.”
“Cal and I were never together, Preeti.”
“Are you sure?” she asks, irritating as usual. “Because he certainly behaves like you are his property.”
At that, I feel Onyx’s hand snake around my waist, as if trying to send a message.We’re allies now.
“I’mno one’sproperty,” I state, trying not to glower. “And don’t you think it’s awfully rude to be talking about Cal in front of my boyfriend?”
Not that I expect anything different from her. This is why Mira and I are close and her and I aren’t. She’s judgmental, condescending, and impossible to get along with.
With a subtle eye roll, she starts in the most insincere tone, “Forgive me, Onyx—that’s your name, right? I’m not used to my sister using the term ‘boyfriend’, so I’m just a little caught off guard. Pia has never been the settle-down type. She can be a little, um, flighty.”
“Yeah, I go by Onyx. But if you wanna get personal, it’s Owen,” Onyx replies easily, unruffled. “I get you, but there’s a first time for everything, right? Just happy I’m the one who was able to lock her down.” He looks down at me and gives me a wink accompanied by a wicked grin. “Sweet P is some kinda special.”
“‘Sweet P’,aww,” someone swoons.
