Page 16 of Bloom: Part 2

The group of people camped out in front of my gate put that plan to rest fast. Sven stopped a few feet away from a shiny black-and-red Harley.

“Wow, you having a party?” he asked.

“I don’t think so.” But his observation was valid. Several motorcycles lined the street side. Men dressed in leather and younger guys in revealing outfits lounged around on the pavement, their chatter and laughter ringing into the night.

Heads swung in our direction.

“Damn, I can’t believe your life has gotten way more interesting than mine,” he muttered.

I chuckled. “That’s not necessarily a good thing. Thanks for everything tonight, Sven.”

“No, thankyoufor getting me that really hot cop’s number, Dr. Collier.”

“Call me Logan.”

I’d always been formal with my colleagues but after tonight, it was no longer necessary between us. Besides we were no longer co-workers.

James detangled himself from a group of boys and hurried toward the car, dressed in a pleated red-and-white skirt and a top. His knee-high socks and trainers completed the look of a cheerleader.

“Drive home safely.” I got out of the car and gave a tiny wave as Sven drove away. He honked his horn and sped off into the night.

“Dr. Collier, was that Sven?” James asked. “What was he doing taking you home?”

“You answered your own question.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I think a better question is, what the hell is all this?”

He grinned. “Now don’t be mad, but today Bloom and I got around to thinking.”

I groaned. “About what?”

“He thought something was wrong with you today, so he asked me to check up on you.”

“And you thought that meant throwing a party at my house?”

“Come on, Dr. Collier. We’re all here already. All the boys came to show you support for being one of us now.”

I glanced back to where five other young men around the same age as James stood. They were dressed similarly, and the bikers hanging around them seemed to lap it all up.

I couldn’t be any more different.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure we can find a skirt that fits you and some heels in your size.”

I scowled at a grinning James. “Over my dead body.”

“Loosen up. I’m joking. We won’t be long, I promise. We just want to cheer you up a little. Having Bloom in the hospital so shortly after you became an item must be pretty rough, so what do you say? Can we keep you company for an hour or two?”

Saying no wasn’t an option, and he knew it. These bikers were Bloom’s family and by extension mine. “Fine. But you’re liable if they break anything.”

“You’re on.” He ran over to his friends to tell them they could go in. I punched in the code, and the gates swung open, revealing a meticulously cared-for lawn. I managed a smile and motioned them in. Their gesture was actually sweet, and it would be a distraction from all I’d lost tonight.

They entered the house, gasping and whispering about how beautiful my home was.

“No wonder Bloom picked him,” the freckle-faced, redhead boy said. “He’s loaded.”

I leaned close and whispered to him, “I should hope it’s more than just that.”

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