My emotions began to mount. I felt as if any moment I would begin blubbering. I had no idea people like this even existed in real life. I glanced at each of the men independently, and shrugged my shoulders.

“You’re serious?” I stammered.

They both nodded their heads.

“If they gave me the job…I could…I could even buy…a uhhm… a new…a few new pairs of panties and some summer shorts,” I said.

Cade smiled, blinked his eyes a few times and wiped what looked like a tear from his cheek.

And the thought of it all quickly became too much for me.

And I began to cry.

ETHAN

The world is comprised of all different types of people. Regardless of how well you think you might know someone, from time to time they’ll say or do something that will completely take you off guard, and change the way you’ll look at them forever.

“So let me get his straight. You have some homeless chick staying in your house? Right now? Cade’s at work, and you’re at work, and some homeless bitch you met a few weeks ago is rifling through your shit, trying to decide what to pawn off for cash?” Jake said as he lowered the lift onto the floor.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. For many reasons, I had not yet shared with Jake the fact Rain had moved in. I didn’t want to listen to his opinions or theories about a homeless woman and the risks we were taking in having her in our home. Today, however, I chose to mention it; not for his approval, but more because I was pleased with her company. I wanted to share my pleasure by talking about it with someone other than Cade. In retrospect, I guess Jake was the wrong person to share my joy with.

“She’s not homeless, she’s got a place now. She lives with us,” I said flatly.

“What the fuck ever. I swear to fucking Christ. You’re the most soft-hearted fucker I’ve ever met. I’d beat that prick’s ass that’s hauling your wife around on the back of his bike, and I’d toss that homeless bitch on her ear as soon as she got done swallowing my cock. Does she suck a mean dick?” he asked as he reached over the seat and pulled the choke lever.

I tried to act like I didn’t even hear what he said about Rain sucking dicks.

Jake was in his mid-thirties, covered in tattoos, had short curly hair, and a full beard. His beard was roughly as long as his hair, and it appeared he washed each of them once a week. He and I had worked together in the shop for almost four years. He was a biker through and through, and had very little compassion for mankind as a whole. He didn’t want to know anyone who wasn’t already in his small circle of friends, which consisted primarily of other bikers. He trusted very few people, and any time something happened which exposed a person who was a liar or a thief, he acted as if the entire world was behind the event. Life, to him, was one big conspiracy. All day, every day, he drank coffee like water, and never shut up. His mouth was constantly moving, and random opinions spilled from it as the day progressed.

“She’s my ex-wife. I don’t give a fuck what she does, she’s not my concern. And yeah, Rain is at the house now, casing the place, looking for gold, silver, and diamonds to hock. When I get home, we’re going to shoot another porno movie, and I’ll sell it on the internet,” I responded sarcastically.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” he chuckled as he switched the ignition on.

“Is the inspection cover on or off that primary?” he asked as he reached for the start button.

“I put it on, it’ll be fine,” I nodded.

He held his thumb over the switch and hesitated. As he glared at me I shrugged my shoulders.

“What?” I snapped.

“You seriously have that little bitch staying in your house while you’re gone?” he asked.

I nodded my head, “Yep.”

“I’ll just say it now. I told you so. I fucking told you so,” he sighed.

I crossed my arms, closed my eyes, and inhaled a shallow breath. As I exhaled, I opened my eyes and responded, “She’s not like you think. Maybe after you meet her, you’ll agree.”

“I don’t want the little thief around me sniffing for something to steal. Fuck that shit. When you said you let her stay all night during that storm, I thought you were fucking nuts, but this is borderline insanity, brother,” he growled.

“To each his own,” I said as I reached over the bike and pressed my thumb into his, starting the bike.

As the bike exhaust began to rumble, I listened for any odd sounds from the transmission. I nodded my head at the smooth hum of the motor and hollered over the sound of the exhaust, “You want me to take it for a spin?”

“I’ll take it. If you want to pick up the tools, I guess we’ll call it a day,” he shrugged as he walked around the back of the bike.

“Good, I’d like to get out of here early,” I responded.

“Yeah, you can get home and see what the little thief is doing,” he said as he rolled the bike down the ramp.

“Actually, I was thinking of taking her shopping before she has to go back to work,” I said, knowing it would irritate him.

“Shopping? Sometimes I wonder about you, E,” he grunted.

“Feeling’s mutual,” I said as I began to pick up the tools.

After picking up the tools, and sweeping the shop, I looked at my watch. It was 3:00. Rain shouldn’t have to be back to work until roughly 5:00, leaving us enough time to potentially go shopping. Although I hadn’t mentioned it to her, I suspected she’d never ask, and actually enjoy the trip.

As Jake pulled into the parking lot beside my bike, I waited for his report on the performance of the motorcycle we’d repaired.

“Clutch sound good? No slipping?” I asked.

“Runs like a fucking top,” he said as he switched off the ignition.

“You know, I been thinking,” he said as he lifted his leg over the seat.

He crossed his arms and leaned backward, as if he was giving deep thought to a serious subject. After a moment, he tilted his head to the side and narrowed his gaze.

“There’s that patch-in party coming up at the end of summer. Hell, we’re invited you know,” he paused and nodded his head.

“And?” I asked as I stepped to the rear of the bike.

“Well, that girl, the homeless chick. You should bring her to the party,” he sighed.

I turned, smiled, and nodded my head at the thought of Rain riding to the party on the back of my bike. I suspected she’d really enjoy the freedom associated with riding on a motorcycle.

“I might just do that,” I said under my breath as I gazed toward my bike.

“Yeah, probably be a good deal for everyone. You could have that little whore sucking everyone’s cocks. Might make you a few bucks and get you a little cred with the big boys,” he chuckled.

Without warning, or much thought, I pivoted my right hip toward him, clenched my fist, and swung an uppercut at his chin. As my fist crunched into his chin, he collapsed against the building. The pain from the impact shot from my fist to my elbow like a jolt of electricity. As I shook my hand and walked to my bike, he began to blink his eyes and rub his chin.

“You motherfucker,” I hissed as I wiped my knuckles on my jeans.

It was apparent he knew he had crossed a line I wasn’t comfortable with. With wide eyes, he rubbed his chin and glared at me as I got on my bike and started it. As the engine warmed up, I stared at him for a long moment, shook my head, and pulled in the clutch lever.

And, for once in his life, Jake had nothing to say.

Best decision you’ve ever made, you insensitive prick.

RAIN

The day after their invitation to have me move in was a Saturday, and Cade spent all morning moving boxes to the basement as Ethan worked for half a day at his shop. In the afternoon, a delivery service delivered a new bed, and moved it into the room upstairs. Cade purchased a small dresser and a nightstand from an advertisement on Craigslist for $40, and after some haggling, had the items delivered by the person selling them. Although everything I owned fit in one of the dresser drawers, I felt as if I had won the lottery. In many respects, I had.