Page 2 of Archer
Unlike Rose.
My mind wandered back to the flour-covered girl as I hung a left turn. Her face was so clear and white, like a canvas that was blank aside from three vibrant splashes: two blue splashes on top and a red one below. I loved making her blush, her rosy cheeks glowing without any makeup on her to cover them. She definitely wore some makeup around her eyes and on her lips, but her complexion appeared clear without any of the paint girls liked to cake on.
For over a year now, I’d been visiting the bakery. In all honesty, I really did enjoy their bread. I hated that store-bought stuff. I never understood why people wasted good money at the superstore when there was perfectly good fresh bread a block away. Rose, however, was definitely the cherry on the top of the cupcakes she made herself.
When I pulled up next to the other bikes outside of the Ironhead Tavern and went inside, I was greeted with the smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke. A strange combination to enjoy, but to me, it smelled like home. At our usual table sat Wrench, Crow, Rooster, and Ripper with our president, Tank, at the head of the table. Beside him was Evelyn, chatting to Crow with one hand on the hip of her black tank top as the other waved a dish towel in the air. She talked with her hands, so she was too distracted to see me enter.
I slipped behind Evelyn with the bag of baked goods in my hand. I pulled out a cinnamon bun which Rose had neatly packaged in a box. “Cinnamon bun for everyone’s favorite lady?”
Evelyn’s eyes lit up with glee. “Oh, Archer! How do you always know how to brighten my day?”
“Figured you’d be here,” I said with a bright smile.
“Maybe you should give some tips to Tank,” she said playfully, and Tank grunted.
“Hey,” he said. “Don’t get too close, Archer. Or I’ll make sure you’re really crippled.”
I laughed at Tank. “Relax, relax. If you ever need any tips on the ladies, don’t worry, I’ll give you a discount.”
All the guys started laughing and Tank gave them all a dark look before they shut their mouths. “You’re lucky I know you’re only buying my old lady gifts to finally ask that baker out.”
“Hey, I ask her out all the time,” I said defensively. “Today, even. But that’s only half the battle, getting her to say yes is the challenge.”
“Aw, look at Archer,” Evelyn said. “Courting a woman.”
“Why are you still trying if you know she’s never going to say yes?” Wrench asked me, and I scowled at him.
“Because some of us find the hottest woman they’ve ever seen in bakeries and not veterinarian clinics,” I said matter-of-factly, “But no, I’m not sure what it is about that girl.”
“It’s because she doesn’t want you,” Evelyn said, and I knew she was right. I was determined to win her over, even if just for a night. Though, for a woman as sexy as her, I’d try to keep her around for a few weeks.
“I think it’s got something to do with her ass, too,” I said, making Evelyn swat my arm. “What? It’s incredible.”
“Maybe if you tried getting to know her instead of staring at her butt, you’d have a chance.”
“I have, trust me. I’ve seen her way more in the past year just from buying bread than any other girl I’ve talked to,” I said. “There’s something about her, though. No matter how hard I try, I get nowhere.”
“Guess you’re losing your touch,” Ripper said. “Happens to the best of us.”
“Ripper, I don’t think you’ve ever had ‘the touch’ to begin with,” I retorted.
“Enough of this Cupid horseshit,” Crow growled. “I didn’t come here to listen to you all girl-talk.”
“Thank you, Crow.” Tank said, shaking his head with disapproval. “He’s right. We’ve got business to discuss.”
“My cue to leave,” Evelyn said as a new customer walked inside. “Good luck, Archer. Remember, look into her eyes, not her ass.”
“That’ll be the day,” I said despite already spending my brief time with her more hypnotized by her eyes than any body part. Turning to our president, I clapped my hands together to show my eager attentiveness. “All right, Tank. Lay it on us.”
He gave me a sideways glance before muttering something under his breath and addressing the rest of the attended club. “I’ve got wind of the Freeway Fucks causing some mishap over on the west side.”
“Good,” Crow said. “They can keep it over on their side.”
“What are they doing?” Maverick asked.
“I’m not positive, yet. I was told a couple of people have gone missing after getting involved with them,” Tank said. “Good, innocent people.”
“Why would innocent people be getting involved with the Freeways in the first place?” Wrench asked and Tank frowned with uncertainty.
