Page 10 of Brick

Five

A few days later…

Brick droveinto the diner’s almost deserted lot. Most people were at church for Wednesday night services. The waning sunlight glinted off the windows as he strode up to the doors. His face was blank, but his thoughts ran on an endless hamster wheel. Isaac, or what was left of him, had been buried today with only a few Dragon Runners present.

After the shooting, the club was in an uproar. Jesse wanted to cancel all the runs and do an honor ride for Isaac. Blackjack wanted to stay low and keep the runs. They argued bitterly, shouting and filling the air with curses until Walrus jumped in. He tore off his cut and flung it to the floor between the two shouting men. “I didn’t sign up for this shit. This ain’t who we are. This is supposed to be a brotherhood of men, having each other’s backs, ridin’ free. Too many Runners are getting their guts smeared across the highway, and you two assholes cain’t do nothing but fight over fuck knows what. Someone’s been tipping off the cops and now killin’ our people. You two need to get your shit together and fix this. I’m outta here.”

The rotund man had walked out, but he made an appearance at the graveside service. So far, he hadn’t been back to the clubhouse. Brick agreed with Walrus. Too much infighting was happening, which was making him second-guess everything about the club and why he was a part of it.

“Hey, Brick. You wanna sit at the counter or a booth?” Just hearing her voice calmed his spinning head.

“Booth.”

“Anyone else with you?”

“No, just me.”

She led him to an isolated booth and plunked a menu down as he slid into the seat. “I'm guessing your regular cheeseburger and fries order?”

As much as he loved Moses’s burgers, the thought of food turned his stomach. “I ain’t real sure what I want right now.”

“How ’bout a big chocolate shake?”

“Yeah, that’d be good.”

She smiled at him and caught her lower lip between her teeth before she moved behind the counter. He watched her generous behind sway as she walked away. Beautiful. The more he talked with her, the more he liked her and wanted to be with her. She still lived with her parents, and Brick knew she was still giving all her money to her drunk father. It was rare he saw her in anything other than her pink waitress uniform, but the few times he had, her clothes looked like castoffs from the rag bin. The memory of her handing over her money and getting slapped for her trouble flashed through his brain. She shouldn’t have to do that. She shouldn’t have to struggle for crumbs. She should have the world handed to her just for being alive.

The jukebox was droning an old tune in the corner. Brick found the sound grating to his ears. The diner became stuffy, hot, enclosed. The air tightened in his chest and he couldn’t breathe. He got up and went out to the parking lot, inhaling large gulps of the clean night air. Fuck, he was tired. His hands trembled as he pulled out his cigarettes and tried to light one.

“I have your shake ready. You want to stay out here? I can bring it to you.”

Betsey had followed him outside. She smelled of Ivory soap, and the clean scent teased his nostrils.

“I’m good, baby. ’S been a long day. I just needed some air.”

She placed her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. “I’m really sorry to hear about your brother.”

Her soft tone was all it took. With a growl he lifted her chin and crushed her lips to his. She opened immediately and let him in.

This, he thought. This is what the Dragon Runners ought to be. Taking care of your woman. Taking care of your family. Putting kids in her belly and watching them grow. Protecting. Providing. Making it so your family never wants for nothin’. All the family. All the brothers, their women and kids. Havin’ their backs and buildin’ the trust so they have yours. Jesse talks about ridin’ free, but how free can your ride when you’re spending your life looking over your shoulder or waitin’ for the bullet with your name on it to find you?

Betsey settled into him, her tongue meeting his and giving him back what he gave her. She seemed to want this as much as he did. Maybe he was raw from the funeral. Maybe it was all the years of dreaming of her. Maybe the stars in the heavens were aligned right. Whatever it was, he fell. Solidly, completely, utterly fell in love with the woman in his arms. There was no question in his mind that she was meant to be his. She was the other half of his existence, pure and simple. He allowed his hand to drift down the front of her uniform over the soft mound of her breast. She jumped at his bold move and then arched into his cupping palm. Even through the thick layers of her bra and uniform, he felt her nipple harden, and he brushed his thumb over the tight nub. Virgin. Brick forced back the raging hard-on that rose against his jeans zipper. Slow down. She ain’t no bunny. She’s the real deal.

He ended the kiss but kept her close. “This ain’t done, Betsey. I got a lot goin’ on, and there’s more to come. My club’s got a shit-ton of unfinished business, and I have to see it through. I ain’t got no right to say this, but I’m goin’ to anyway. I want you to wait for me. I know I ain't being fair, but I want you to promise me you’ll wait. I’m asking this ’cause with every cell in my body, I love you. I want you to be on the back of my bike for the rest of forever. I know your life is hard, and I ain’t got much to offer you now, but if you stick with me, I’ll build you a kingdom and a castle and make you a queen.”

Betsey’s lips trembled. He could feel them quivering under his. “I don’t need no castle. I just want a home and a good man who loves me and I can love back. You promise me that, and I can wait forever.”

Brick leaned in and lightly kissed her again, sealing his vow. “I promise you everything I have in me and then some. I don’t want to, but I gotta go. You keep strong for me, ’cause you’re mine now. You’re mine and I’m yours. We’re gonna make this work.”

“Okay, Brick. I believe you.”

* * *

Betsey walked home laterthat night, her heart dancing as her shoes picked up another layer of mud to clean off. Her tips were light, so she didn’t dare take more than a dollar to put in her stash. Her family would have been at the church tonight, so her dad had to stay sober until after services. It was a crapshoot if he was still up or passed out drunk. Betsey hoped for the latter but prepared for the former.

This time her mother met her at the door.

“Got your money, sweetheart? Your daddy said to give it to me and he’ll get it in the mornin'.”

The woman looked paler than normal in the dim lamplight. Too thin, she sounded defeated by life and was no more than a functioning body that only lived because her lungs still worked. A vivid bruise stood out on her cheek, and Betsey cringed at the sight. Her father was getting sloppy with hiding his abuse, and she wondered when someone would notice.

She didn’t say a word but handed over the few bills and coins she had. Her mother nodded and painfully shuffled her way upstairs. Betsey watched her go, wishing she could talk to her mom about Brick, about what her body was feeling, about the promise he’d made, and that she had an official boyfriend, but the woman had ceased being a parent years ago.

Betsey stopped her giddy thoughts. It didn’t really sound right to call Brick her boyfriend. He was much more than that. Man-friend? No. Betsey stretched out on the sofa and smiled as the perfect name for Brick came to her.

He’smine.

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