Cocky Biker(69)

None of them are quiet, except for maybe Jaxson. They shout things like, “Hey Jason, did it hurt you to not wear a hat, buddy?” and “Justin, you sure you want the Press seeing you do actual work here?” at which he shoots back with a grin, “I hope they capture this! Makes me look like a good guy!” Jaxson’s deep voice dryly calls out, “Then we’d better stop.”

They all lose it. And it goes on and on.

Jett looks so happy. It’s obvious he’s missed them like crazy. But from the way he keeps glancing to me, I know I’m part of the reason he’s smiling like that.

I’m beginning to understand him more, and I think if I weren’t here and hadn’t stood up for him last night, he would be having a harder time being this near to his father.

Drew is making her way through the crowd. Some people she seems to know, others, not at all. She sees me and heads my direction, shaking hands as she comes, her beautiful white dress billowing behind her as a wind picks up the train.

With a happy smile, she introduces herself, “Hi, I’m Drew Ch…Cocker. Whoa, that feels really weird to say.”

“Luna. Hi. I’m here with Jett.”

“I know. I saw. Jake told me he’s surprised.”

“…Yeah…”

I’m not the best at normal chitchat.

“I just met him the other day for the first time, when he came home with Jake after the bachelor party so he could say hello.”

Bachelor party?

On a quick glance to Jett as he stacks chairs, I instantly see him at a strip club.

He was a free man at the time.

Don’t like how that image makes me feel.

Trying to push jealousy down, I blink back to her. “Oh, you guys live together?”

She laughs like it’s hard for her to admit, “That’s how we met. We were roommates.”

My eyes widen. “Really? You didn’t know each other when you moved in?”

“Nope,” she grins, glancing to the brothers. “I was just as surprised as you are. It’s a wild story. Those Cocker boys are somethin’ else. Jake’s…he’s just wonderful.” Turning back to me, she motions to what I’m wearing. “I love your dress.”

“Nancy helped me pick it out.” I glance down to finger the pretty fabric. I’m not a dress person, but I do feel good in this. More feminine. In this thing I’m very aware I’m a woman, which is normally never on my mind. I like it, but I prefer jeans over this any day.

“Nancy did?” Drew’s happily surprised, and she asks me in a whisper, “Does that mean Jett and Michael worked things out?”

I guess she would think that, since it would imply a sort of friendship had happened. I’m not sure how Nancy feels about me now. She was polite today, but I’m sure I offended her Southern sensibilities last night. Still, I’m not sorry.

I had to stand up for Jett.

He needed me to.

“Um…no. They didn’t. But family can be a tricky thing.”

Drew rolls her eyes in agreement, and glances over to wave at an older couple who are clearly waiting for her attention. Low enough that only I can hear, she confides, “Nancy and my mom are strugglin’. Little bit of a battle for who gets to do what, at the wedding. My mom lives a couple hours away. I think she’s afraid of bein’ replaced.”

I’m sure all women who’ve lost their mother must be like me, just nodding and saying, “Mmmhmm. That’s hard.”

“It is. But they’ll work it out. I have to go. My aunt Emma wants to talk to me. That’s her over there.”

I glance to the woman who was trying to get Drew’s attention just a moment ago. She’s got a scarf over her head, the kind those who are going through chemo have to wear. I don’t ask about it, but I know from the sad look that just flickered over Drew’s face that her aunt still isn’t doing well.

“Are you stayin’ in the city, Luna?”

“We’re at Jaxson’s place.”

“Oh, I love him. He’s so…present. Has a real calm to him that I like. Jake looks up to him. Looks up to Jett, too. He talks about Jett like he’s a god.”

I can’t help but feel intense pride at that.

“He is a god.”

Drew thoughtfully stares at me, and nods. “I like you.”

A surprised grin spreads my lips. “I like you, too, Drew.”

“We’ll talk again later?” she asks, reaching out to touch my forearm.

Reflexively I put my hand over hers. “Yeah.”

She smiles and heads off. Her aunt greets her with open arms and I overhear a strong Southern drawl as she exclaims, “Drew, honey, you are just beautiful! Look at you! I’m so glad I was able to make it.”