Chapter 6 – Larson
Jensen and I arrive at the Tucker Mansion just in time to join the back of a really fucking long line.
"Great," I mumble under my breath, hoping that Brynn gets here soon.
I'll be more than happy to let her cut in line in front of me so that I can peek at her cute ass sticking out of her skirt. But I'm not even sure if that view will be enough to ease my impatience.
I fucking hate waiting in line even more than I fucking hate dressing up in ridiculous costumes. And as I look around at the other people waiting in line, I realize they're the type of pretentious fucks I hate hanging out with even more than I hate waiting in line and wearing a costume.
All the girls are blonde, plastic and look like they bought their glitzy Halloween costumes on Rodeo fucking Drive. All the men look like wimps dressed like fake cowboys or— I shit you not— one guy in line in front of me is dressed like Fred fucking Flintstone and another as a genie. I feel like I’ve gone back in time to kindergarten.
Plus, this elaborate mansion is doing its job of creeping me out. Mostly because of its over display of gaudiness. Also because being here means being stuck inside it with a bunch of crazy people.
"Calm down," Jensen tells me, knowing how I get and sensing my impatience. "Brynn will be here with Riley before we know it."
"She'd better be," I tell him. "Because I need to stare at that fine ass to make this wait in line a little more bearable."
"I didn't mean it for that reason," Jensen hurries to add, always the loyal family man. "I meant that once Brynn gets here…"
“I know what you meant, you fucker,” I tell him.
"Sorry we're late," says Riley, coming up to Jensen and smacking him on the ass.
He bends down to kiss her. Those two make me sick with their public displays of affection. Don't get me wrong— I'm happy for them and I never thought my buddy Jensen would be in such a good relationship.
I met him when we were in pararescue school together, training for the SEALs. He was always kind of a mopey guy because his father had died. I always thought he'd do all right for himself because at least he was close to his two brothers, Harlow and Ramsey. Those Bradford brothers always had at each other, at least.
But Jensen had a hard time when his copter was shot down over enemy territory and his brother Harlow nearly died in the crash. But Harlow made it through despite a long recovery process.
Jensen really took a turn for the worse when he was arrested and forced out of the military, all for trying to help his mom through some tough times. Sadly, she'd always been a piece of shit mom but all three of those Bradford boys had consistently done their best to help her. They knew how much their dad had loved her, for some crazy reason, because she'd been just as bad of a wife to him as she was a mother to them.
I'd tried to help by inviting Jensen to check out the Desert Dogs. I’d joined when Jensen was still deployed and I knew he wasn’t that into motorcycle clubs and that he didn’t see himself as a motorcycle club kind of guy. But I figured that the Desert Dogs could give him a sense of community and support. I know that being in the club has sure helped me through my hard times.
I sponsored his membership and helped him through the prospect phase. Some of the guys were a bit rough on him but, being a tough SEAL, Jensen was able to handle it. He knew that Desert Dogs was a good MC that didn’t hand out patches to just anyone and that he was expected to earn it.
Even though I knew he’d have no problem becoming a member, Jensen impressed me. He attended all the club meetings and asked for new assignments as soon as he’d completed the ones he’d been given.
He showed up early for meetings and rides, always prepared, gassed up, with the new bike he’d bought in top shape and ready to ride. The Desert Dogs want members that will be long term assets, not short term liabilities, and Jensen did everything in his power to prove that he was worthy of membership.
But even though hanging out with the Desert Dogs and riding the desert mountain roads did help Jensen clear his head to some extent, at first it wasn’t enough to clear him of the blues. Jensen was in too much of a depressive funk to even be motivated to start to come out of it. It wasn't until he met Riley that he started to improve.
My one worry was that Riley would have a problem with it. I feared he’d back out of everything due to getting tied down to someone from a completely different lifestyle, and even that my fellow members would be pissed at me for recommending a prospect who would ditch us as soon as he met a woman he was ready to settle down with.
Surprisingly, though, Riley didn’t have a problem with it. She has always seemed to understand and accept that Jensen is who he is and that he actually enjoys riding. If I had to guess, I’d say Riley enjoys it herself, much more than she thought she would— she seems to have blended right in as a biker mama. So, with Riley in his life— and on the back of his bike— Jensen seemed complete, and now he is much more content than the troubled spirit he used to be.
I’m happy for my friend, because I personally plan to ride solo for the rest of my days. Since I don’t have an old lady and don’t plan to get one, I’m glad he’s found the perfect one in Riley.
I'm glad he found someone to help him through everything. But that doesn't mean I want his cheesy happiness rubbed in my fucking face all the time. So, right now, I roll my eyes to indicate my mock disgust.
"Nice costume," Brynn says, looking me up and down.
I'm dressed like a football player. Fucking shoulder pads and all. I'd been in that damn costume store, staring at all the options and I just figured, fuck it. Brynn's a cheerleader, I'll be a football player. I might as well make my intentions obvious. Just in case she has any doubt.
Now you can laugh at me for being just as much of a douche as the guys who are in line dressed like fucking cartoon characters. Except, at least I’m doing it for some tail. These guys seem to be either pussy whipped by ladies they’re already tied down to, or completely single with no potential hook up partners in sight— and if that’s true, I’m not sure how they expect their costumes to help them out in that department.
"Yeah, I decided to go with the theme you started," I tell Brynn. "So we can match these two lunatics."
I hook my thumb towards the soap and loofa set that is Jensen and Riley tonight. Brynn laughs. As sad as I've been, I surprise myself by being happy that I've made that beautiful sound happen. Even if it took getting dressed up in this ridiculous costume.
"Well, Quarterback Larson and sidekick Soap Bar Jensen, why are you waiting in line?" she asks.
I just look at her, confused. Jensen seems to be as clueless as I am.
"Where else are we supposed to wait?" I finally ask her.
"Nowhere," she says. "You're supposed to come with me."
"Well, well, well," I mock, but I'm seriously impressed. And glad to be escaping Line Hell.
"Honey, did you forget?" Riley asks Jensen. "I told you we had VIP entrance. You must not have been listening."
She tsks her tongue at him.
"I was listening," Jensen says, mockingly defensive. "I was just telling Larson that once you and Brynn showed up, good things would happen in terms of the party. I just didn't know what exactly would happen. Because I didn't know what VIP meant. I told him you’d be here to bail us out but that was just to settle him down because he was getting antsy. I thought maybe we would get free drinks or something. Or I was hoping, anyway."
"We do," Brynn says.
"What? Woah."
Jensen shakes his head in amazement. I’ve already been doing the same.
Free drinks. Now that's what I'm fucking talking about. Guess it's a good thing I decided to give up my resistance to lame Halloween parties. Even if I’m subject to Jensen’s ridicule about getting impatient, and his lame ass attempts to pacify me.
"Brynn's got the hookup," Riley says. "How did you think we got invited to this exclusive party anyway? Tucker only invites a select few and their friends. We wouldn't even be here if it weren't for Brynn."
I shoot a quick glance at her.
What did she do? Sleep with the guy?
Not that I'd be able to judge. I've probably slept with every fucking woman in this city. And Tucker's a billionaire. The richest guy I know, he spares no expense at his lavish events and likes to show off every penny. If I were a chick, I'd probably sleep with him too— not that that’s something an alpha male like me would ever admit out loud.
"Tucker is a client of my firm's," Brynn says quickly, as if following my train of thought and wanting to disclaim it. "Halloween parties really aren't my thing, but schmoozing with the bigwig clients is part of my job as an associate."
"Don't I know it," Riley says, looking disgusted. "It's one of the things I definitely don't miss about working at my old law firm, Holt. But then again, I never would have met Jensen if I weren't required to represent people through nonprofit organizations, so I guess I shouldn't complain. I'm just glad he helped me see the light and get out of there."
"Well, I don't really have that option," Brynn quickly says, as we continue to make our way through the huge throng of people and to the front of the line.
"Oh, I know," Riley says. "I didn't mean to act like you did."
"There are things about working at my law firm that I don't particularly love," Brynn says. "I'm not a big people person. Not a schmoozer. I don't have those natural talents. I hate the long, stressful hours, the political shit between the partners, and having to be at the mercy of their whims, to name just a few more down sides to the job. But I do have a kid. And a huge student loan bill. So those two things outweigh all the other stuff."
"I understand." Riley nods her head. "And I completely sympathize."
"So, when my firm says I have to go to the Halloween party hosted by the billionaire client who lives in my city and who throws it every year, I go, no questions asked. And I bring my best friends, of course. I obviously take advantage of that one job perk."
"Thanks, Brynn," Riley says, hugging Brynn hard. But not in the same way that I want to fuck Brynn hard later, of course. "I'm so glad you brought us here."
"And I'm glad you can get us through the door quickly," I joke.
Brynn turns around and smiles at me, and I know she'll let me cram my big cock into her later, just like she's letting me into this party now. This is turning out to be one hell of a happy Halloween.