Loving Me, Trusting You(7)

“We'll stay at the same place as last time. Finances are all screwed up right now, so let's make it two a room, just for now.” There aren't many complaints at that. Most folks end up shackin' up together anyhow. “Don't talk to anybody else, don't f*ck anything up, got it?” A chorus of shouts and cheers ring through the mic, weak at first, but getting better. Losing Kent was like cutting off a diseased limb. It ain't so pretty at first, but in the long run, it'll make everything better. With Austin at the helm, we can't go wrong. “Beck, Gaine, Kimmi, Mireya, meet me in the bar after everything's settled and we'll talk.”

“You got it, boss,” Beck says, laughing maniacally, like there's something actually funny about that.

We roll into the little town like a dark curse, idling up next to silver SUVs and mud covered trucks. We don't fit in here, that much is obvious. And now that the festival's over, we might not be welcome. I don't tell any of this to Austin though as we park best we can in the remaining spaces in the garage. There's no cordoned off section for us this time, no welcome mat. I can only imagine the look on the faces of the folks behind the counter when we march inside, chains rattling, tattoos bright under the fluorescent lights, and ask for twenty-five odd rooms.

Mireya slides off the bike like I'm offensive to her somehow and tosses her borrowed helmet to me, swinging her ebony hair over her shoulder and combing it out with her long, bronze fingers. I watch her through my visor and try to wait her out. Wouldn't help if I waltzed inside with a massive hard-on cloggin' up my jeans. If she notices, she doesn't let on and turns away, watching Amy with narrowed eyes as Austin takes her face between his hands and kisses her hard and fierce, like he'll never get enough. And I know he won't. She's his soul mate, that girl. I hope he gets the balls and realizes it soon. I can't tell my girl how I feel, so he better damn well take advantage of the fact that he can.

As soon as Mireya's attention is diverted, I take my helmet off and climb off my bike, giving the girl a gentle pat to tell her how proud I am. I swear, my little baby has a soul. Ain't nobody gonna tell me otherwise.

With a smile, I turn to Beck and watch him ruffling up his red hair, grinning like the * I know he is. Fucker's got a pair on him, too. Bravest dumb ass this side of the Mason-Dixon.

“Room with me?” I ask him as he brushes dust off his pants and winks at Kimmi's girlfriend, drawing a smile from the girl even as Kimmi flips him off.

“Nah, brother. Tonight, I'm performing a public service and making sure the ex Mrs. Diamond doesn't get herself into no trouble.” Beck stands up straight and leans in close to me. “We're hittin' the bar tonight and then after, well, if she needs some comforting, I'll be right there at her bedside with my entire body at her service.” I roll my eyes and curse under my breath.

“You're such a dumb shit. You'll never learn your lesson, will you? That woman is trouble.” Beck grins, big and wide and sloppy. The tanned skin on his face pulls back tight and his lower lip cracks.

“Yeah, but she's my trouble now. With Kent gone, you never know what might happen.” Without waiting for another insult from me, Beck whistles and swings his key ring around his finger, moving off towards the glass doors that frame a set of stairs up to the main lobby. By the time he rolls out of there, I'm all alone. With a sigh and a string of unspoken curse words, I move after him, arriving just in time to see Austin passing out room keys.

Mireya gives me a look when I walk in.

“Awfully warm welcome, don't you think?” I ask as I pause next to her and tuck my hands in the front pockets of my jeans. She lets her eyes slide off of me to trail around the weary-eyed group in front of us, our brothers and sisters in leather and ink. These are the folks that society cast out, but who weren't right to drift down to the underbelly neither. These are the people that don't fit in, but can't be left out. Good people, for the most part. If Kent had picked a different crowd, maybe things would've gone his way, but you can only push people like us so far before we fight back.

“Kid behind the counter scored some weed off Diamond when we first got here. He had to be gently reminded of that fact.” Mireya sounds bored, but her eyes are anything but. They're full and whirling, spinning a million miles an hour to nowhere. “Stupid shit actually thinks we're gonna call the cops on him if he doesn't comply.” Mireya gives me a wan smile which I don't return.

“Who are you rooming with?” I ask tentatively, and she shrugs.

“You, I guess, since there's nobody else,” she says, taking a plastic key from Amy's outstretched hand, turning towards the bank of elevators on the right that are already filled to capacity with a bunch of Triple M'ers and a pair of old folks in Hawaiian shirts who, admittedly, look a little terrified.

“And what if I don't want to room with you?” I call after her, feeling a little stir in my belly. Want isn't strong enough of a word when it comes to Mireya. I don't just want to room with her, I'm practically desperate for it. Already, I can feel my dick rising to the challenge, chasing after her tight ass as she sashays over to the metal doors, pauses, and then turns left towards the stairs. I start to move after her when she pauses again, fingers clutching the handle.

I know that everyone's starin' at me, thinking I'm a damn a fool, a stupid ass who can't seem to get the fact that his love ain't mutual. But I can't help myself. I am head over heels and way too far gone to see straight anymore.