Page 95 of Spike

“No you haven’t.”

“Why do you saythat?”

“Baby, when I metyou, you were in a room full of, for lack of a better term, teenage hoodlums,and you smiled and laughed, and welcomed us all without a fake anything aboutyou. Then, when I ran into you on the street, you walked into that tattoo shopand spoke to everyone in there like they were your equal. Then, despite thefact you’ve been raised to believe the gays are gonna bring the world down, youtreat your brother and his partner like they are the most amazing people onearth.”

“Because theyare,” I rasped.

“Yeah, but youcould easily allow the teachings of the Bible or the church or whatever tocloud your judgment and you fight that, baby. You fight it every day.” He slidhis arms around my waist and kissed me gently. “I’m so fuckin’ proud of you.I’m proud to know you, proud to have you on my arm, and unbelievably humbledthat you would even think that I’m worthy of your love.”

“Spike,” Iwhispered, blinking back yet more tears. “I’m the one that’s humbled. You’re somuch smarter than me and you love with your whole being. I’ve never knownanyone whose love as unconditional as yours. You teach me so much about myselfand others every day and I can’t wait to find out more as we grow oldtogether.” I stroked his cheek. “I’m so sorry I ever doubted you.”

Suddenly whatsounded like two grizzly bears fighting in the wild erupted from the next room.

“Whatisthat?” I asked.

“I believe thatwould be the sound of Minus discussing how the Edison situation was handled byClutch.”

“We better get outthere and make sure they don’t break anything.”

Kissing me, hegave me another squeeze before hissing out in pain again. “Fuck.”

“Oh, honey,” Ibreathed out. “We need to get you looked at.”

He nodded, and weheaded out of my office.

Walking out to mygreat room to find a bevy of bikers sitting on my sofa eating food and drinkingbeer that I did not have in my kitchen previously, it looked as though Minusand Clutch had worked out whatever they needed to work out, so I relaxed alittle bit.

Gina headed ourway immediately. “Clutch said you might have some broken bones in your hands.”

Spike nodded,reaching his hands out so she could examine him. I shuddered with every grimaceand painful hiss Spike let out, continuing to resist Gemma’s attempt to pull meaway from him as Gina poked and prodded him.

“Come and get somewine, love,” Gemma insisted, but when Spike nodded his agreement, I finally lether lead me away.

About twentyminutes or so later, Gina and Spike joined me in the kitchen where she set abackpack on my island. “Spike’s got a couple of broken knuckles on his righthand. The left is more bruised than anything, so I’m going to show you how totape him up because there really isn’t any other way for him to heal, otherthan to keep him immobilized, sound good?”

I nodded, feelingthe blood drain from my face.

She smiled. “Don’tworry, honey, it’s really easy, and I’m always around if you need anything. I’malso going to prescribe him some painkillers.”

“Okay, Gina,thanks.”

Before she walkedme through how to wrap his hands, Spike needed to stand at the island with icepacks covering his knuckles for a few minutes and he did so, laughing with hisbrothers, despite his pain.

I took thisreprieve to take a look around me and be in the moment. Forget (just for amoment) that the love of my life was beat to crap because of something myfather did, and feel the love surrounding us.

I was suddenlypart of something. A family, if you will. One that I could never have expectedwould be so amazing. You have Minus and Cricket, the patriarch and matriarch ofthe family, who as soon as they knew there might be something wrong with me,came running to fix what was broken.

And then there wascrazy Uncle Clutch and saintly Auntie Eldie, followed closely by thehigh-achieving ‘cousins’ Sweet Pea and Callie who were not only both attorneys,but looked like they should be on the cover of a fitness magazine.

And most of all,Ropes and Devlin who had become more than just close friends and employers,they were like another older brother and sister to me, and I know Spike feltthe same.

Spike met my eyesand smiled.

“You okay?” hemouthed, and I nodded, closing the distance between us.

“Areyouokay?” I asked, peeling off one of the icepacks and leaning in to look at hisknuckles. They were bright red and starting to purple. “Ooh, that lookspainful, honey.”

“The beer’shelping.”

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