Lexi

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Despite the sometimes-uncomfortable conversation topics, I enjoyed eating dinner with Bubbles. However, I was looking forward to being back on the bike, where he couldn’t look at me. It felt like he looked inside me when he wanted.

We got sheets and blankets at Big Lots first, and then we went to a few small furniture stores. He didn’t like much of anything we looked at, but we went to a big box electronics place and bought a bracket so he could hang his huge-assed television. It was on the floor of his bedroom, leaned against the wall.

“I’ll buy another TV for the den later,” he told me. “It’s good you’re here, making me get my ass in gear and figure some of this shit out.”

I’d been dying to ask why he was called Bubbles, but I kept losing my nerve. Now, it just came out, as if the question sprang out while I wasn’t paying attention. “Why Bubbles?”

He didn’t appear to understand what I was asking, so I tried again. “It’s a nickname, right?”

His grin lit his face. “I don’t give that information out to just anyone.”

I wasn’t sure what to do with that. All I could come up with was, “Seriously?”

He shrugged and handed me my helmet.

“I can know why you went to prison, but not why you were nicknamed Bubbles? What, did you fart in the pool or something?”

A bigger laugh. “I like you, Half-pint.”

I was familiar with the order of him getting on his bike and adjusted, and waiting for the go-ahead to get on behind him, so we handled that part without needing to talk this time.

Bubbles watched his television, still on the floor of his room, when we returned, and I watched some Netflix shows on my Chromebook in my room. If I’d been home, every stray sound would’ve terrified me, but I wasn’t the least bit afraid at Bubbles’ house.

I also researched places to shop for good furniture, since money apparently wasn’t an important factor in whatever he bought. My dreams were filled with Bubbles holding me, keeping me safe from danger, and driving me on his kick-ass motorcycle.

I awoke at nine and didn’t hear activity. I dressed in leggings, shorts, and a t-shirt, stepped out onto the back deck, and went through all my standing yoga poses. I’d been working out perhaps twenty minutes when I went into triangle pose, tilted my head down, and saw Bubbles in the kitchen, sitting with a beer, watching me.

Mortified, I stood and put my face in my hands, took a breath, and dropped them. So he’d seen me working out. Big whoop. I opened the sliding glass door and stepped into the kitchen.

“Sorry. I hope I didn’t wake you. I love the woods behind your house. This is a beautiful spot, and it felt good to re-center and breathe in the morning energy.” Later, I’d learn some kind of silent alarm had let him know of an intruder when I opened the door onto the deck.

I went to the refrigerator, retrieved one of my bottles of coffee, and sat at the table with him. “What time do you want to get started shopping?”

“As soon as we eat and can get ready. We have a meet set with Marlin at four. I talked to him late last night — he wants a face-to-face with you.”

I shrank back into the chair, terrified, and he leaned forward and cupped my cheek in his hand. “Bash and Brain are going for sure, and probably a few more of my brothers. No one will hurt you.” He gave me a roguish grin. “It’s possible I gave the idea you’re mine, as in, well, mine. You okay with that?”

Fuck yeah, I was okay with that. Or, at least the irrational girl inside me was. The young woman realized it might not be the best idea on the planet, but I was still all over the idea of belonging to Bubbles. I didn’t say any of that out loud though.

“If it helps resolve this, I’m good with it, but it’d be good if we didn’t tell my sister.”

I loved the sound of his deep, deep chuckle. “You’re probably right about that. She’s kind of a fierce big sister. I’m glad the two of you have each other.”

“I assume we’re doing bacon and eggs? Or eggs and sausage? How do you like your eggs?”

“How long will it take you to get ready?”

I considered. I didn’t need to wash my hair, so it wouldn’t take too long. “Maybe thirty minutes?”

“Go. I’ll have breakfast ready when you’re done, and then you can clean up while I shower.”

I stood, hesitated, and finally said, “Thanks again for inviting me into your home. I wasn’t even a tiny bit scared last night. I got a good night’s sleep. I’d have woke up every five or ten minutes if I’d been home. Every noise.”

His face softened, and his eyes looked almost sad. “You’re welcome. Thanks for telling me, and thank you for trusting me to keep you safe.”

I stood and he stayed seated, and our heads were nearly the same height. I have no idea what possessed me to lean in and kiss his forehead, but I did — and then I practically ran from the room, into mine to grab my bag, and into the hall bathroom. I closed the door, locked it, and leaned against it with my eyes closed and my heart trying to escape my chest.

Fuck. I needed to get myself under control.

I showered and took special care shaving. Nothing was going to happen, but still — just in case.

I tried to be casual when I stepped into the kitchen, but then our gazes met and I didn’t know what to do, so I looked at my feet.

He pulled the pan off the stove and the bacon stopped sizzling as loud. I watched his feet walk towards me, saw his hand come to my face, but I didn’t lift my gaze to look at him until his palm cupped my cheek and directed it up.

“You’re a sweet little thing, Half-pint. I’m behaving, but much more of that and I might not.”

It wasn’t a threat, or even a warning. It was Bubbles letting me know where he was. He was being honest.

I couldn’t find any words, so I nodded — and then thought I might melt into a gooey puddle on the floor when he leaned down to kiss my forehead.

“Breakfast’s almost ready. Eggs and biscuits are on the table. I have honey in the cabinet, but no jelly. Sorry.”

“Honey’s good. Thanks.”

“Have you mapped out where we’re goin’?”

I nodded. “I’m taking you at your word that money’s no object.”

He sighed. “It’s a little bit of an object — no more than eight-and-a-half grand before taxes at any single store, and don’t let the stores know we’re spreading the wealth around. I’ll take fifty large with us today.”

Which meant even though his day job was legal, he still did enough illegal shit to have money he hadn’t laundered.

“You know what I want,” he continued, “so I’ll let you talk to the salespeople. If you head towards the wrong style or color or whatever, I’ll either speak up, or will put my hand on your shoulder and squeeze. I scare people just by walkin’ in the door, and having someone else speak helps put strangers at ease. No need in checking in with me — if I don’t correct you, you’re on the right track. I won’t speak up until time to negotiate dollars.”

“Okay, but what if we have a greenlight signal, just to help with my confidence? Maybe just touch my back or something if you want the piece we’re talking about?”

“If I’m close, sure, but I may hang back if I think I’m making the help uncomfortable.”

Something pissed him off and his eyes went hard. I had to look down to keep from showing my own fear. I took a bite, reminded myself Bubbles had me under his protection, and looked back up. I had to understand his reaction — and mine. “You were angry. Why?”

His eyes were still hard. Cold. He focused on his plate and it almost felt as if the way he cut his damned steak was a threat. He’d fixed me bacon, eggs, and biscuits, but he had two steaks as well.

But he didn’t scare me. I was under his protection. He was pissed at something, but I was safe.

When he looked up again — I saw pain behind the new frostiness.

I sighed. “I’m sorry I probed, and I’m sorry I was afraid for a split second. I don’t know why you’re still trying to scare me, but you told me I’m safe here, and I believe you.”

He put the bite in his mouth, and watched me while he chewed — like he was a wolf and I was a little squirrel, and he was deciding the easiest way to catch me and add me to his meal.

I sat up straighter and met his gaze. He told me I was safe, and Etta trusted me with him. I didn’t know what game he was playing, but I wasn’t up for it.

He swallowed his bite and lost the attitude. “Okay, Half-pint.” He looked out the sliding glass door, and I followed his gaze. A preschool-aged little girl stepped out of the woods and was walking through the backyard.

“Sit still.” He left without looking back.

Bubbles stood in his yard with his hands on his hips looking as threatening as possible, and the little girl grinned and giggled at him. He finally shook his head, picked her up, and walked her into the house. He grabbed his phone and made a call.

“Emmy’s at my house. She tells me they’re playing hide-and-go-seek in the woods.”

He looked at the not-at-all-recalcitrant little girl while he listened, and then hung up without saying goodbye.

“Gonzo says my house is out-of-bounds, and you’re cheating by hiding in my kitchen.”

She put her little fists on her hips. “Not cheating. You carried me here. I didn’t walk!”

He chuckled and put a piece of bacon from his plate into her hand. “Well, you can walk yourself back into the woods. I’m sure your playmates will be interested in hearing how you got around the rules.”

She turned and looked at me. “Who are you?”

“I’m Lexi.”

She eyed Bubbles and looked back to me. “Are you Bubbles’ girlfriend?” She spoke surprisingly well for such a little thing.

“No more questions, Emmy. Back into the woods. They’ve paused the clock until you’re back in bounds.” He’d stepped to the door while he talked, and he opened it for her.

The cute little thing stomped out and down the steps, and ran back into the woods with her long hair flying behind her.

“She’s too young to be in the forest by herself.”

“They have adults stationed to keep the kids from heading too deep into the woods. It’s fine.”

“She lives close by?”

“No, but she visits a lot. She probably spent the night with Gonzo’s daughter.”

He finished eating without saying anything else, and left. I heard the shower turn on a few minutes later, and I finished eating and started cleaning.