Cocky Biker(63)

“Oh fuck,” I snarl. “You are such a fuckin’ hypocrite. Yes, I used the word again right there…twice!! What was it you said to me when you saw this?!!” I point at my Ciphers jacket. “You said — and I quote — Get out of my FUCKIN’ HOUSE!”

“I never said that word.”

“YES YOU DID!”

“NO, I DID NOT!” He gets in my face, the same height as I am. “But I will say it again, the way I said it the first time. GET OUT OF MY HOUSE.”

“FUCKIN’ HOUSE.”

“JERALD!”

“It’s JETT! MY NAME IS JETT!”

I feel feminine hands pull at me. It’s a good thing Mom came in before I was about to punch him. I love the bastard, but I hate him. It would have been a bad day if we’d come to blows. I don’t know how I would have recovered.

But it’s not Mom.

It’s Luna’s voice I hear behind me. “Mr. Cocker, I’m sorry to have to say this after you’ve been so nice to me, but Jett is the best man I’ve ever met in my life, so you’re being a fucking asshole right now.”

Dad’s eyes go really wide and Mom makes a small gasp off to my right. I turn to see Sunshine staring at my Dad with defiance and pride. Her beautiful brown eyes snap to me and she says, “Let’s go, baby.”

Since Jaxson has always had his head firmly on his shoulders, he remembers to ask Mom, “Does she have any of her things we need to take with us?”

“Yes. I’ll be right back.”

Sunshine offers, “I’ll go with you, Mrs. Cocker.”

“No, thank you. I’ll be right back.” Mom looks stunned as she heads for the stairs. I could tell she liked Luna before…but she doesn’t know what to think now.

I’m sure she’s torn by the disrespect that was just shown to her husband, who she loves very much and always will, to the loyalty just shown to her son.

I grab Luna’s hand and turn to take her out of there, throwing a glowering look at my father.

From the staircase, Mom stops me. “Jett!”

Over my shoulder, I meet her eyes. “Yeah, Ma?”

“Please come to the wedding.”

“He’s no longer invited!”

“YES, HE IS,” she shouts to Dad. “He is coming to Jake’s wedding. He’s his brother. He’s your son. This is just awful!” Bursting into tears, Mom rushes upstairs, wishing our family was a better one.

Jaxson waits inside while I take Luna out to the front lawn. My fingers are strangling hers and I’m staring at the freshly cut grass. Looking over I meet her steady gaze and she touches my face. I nod once and close my eyes as she presses her warm palm into my skin.

Pulling her to me I hug her and kiss the top of her head. We separate as Jaxson comes out. Heading for his jeep, he says, “You can ride with me, Luna, since you’re in a dress.”

“Fuck that,” she mutters, low enough that her voice doesn’t travel.

Jaxson nods and hauls a small suitcase into the back, hanging up a garment bag on a hook inside by the backseat. “You guys staying with me?”

“That okay?” I ask him.

“Of course. I want you to be there.” He holds my eyes to let me know he’s my brother and wants me around. Right now, that hits home in a way I can’t describe. Thankfully, he’d never need me to try.

I climb on the Harley and exhale as Luna wraps her hand around my arm to help her rise up and throw her leg over. She hikes up her dress and presses up against my backside, tucking the fabric so that it stays modest. I clamp a hand on her bare knee before I start the engine.

I hear Mom call out, “Wait!”

She runs over with Luna’s boots. “You left these in the bathroom. You can’t ride a motorcycle in bare feet.”

Jaxson helps put them on so we can leave as quickly as possible, while Mom stands by, staring at me like she’s just crushed by all of this. Her arms are crossed and she’s nervously fingering the pendant on her gold necklace.

Sunshine tells her, “Mrs. Cocker, thank you for being so wonderful to me.”

“Just be wonderful to my son,” my mom croaks.

We take off.





Jett





“Thanks, Jax,” I tell my brother as he brings Luna’s things into his home.

“No problem.”

“C’mon, Sunshine.” Taking her hand I lead her out into the three-hundred-and-forty acres of farmland my brother bought when he got the loan right out of college.

She’s silent. I’m the same, just looking forward to guide us to the trees up ahead. “Watch out for that,” I mutter, stepping around a cow pie I almost didn’t see because it’s so dark out here now.