here, but he wore them well. Filling out his white t-shirt with wide shoulders and his jeans running down muscular thighs. He looked a lot the same, though the tattoos running up each forearm made his adulthood clear. I couldn't get a good look, but I think one was a quote that read, ' the scene of vanquished enemies '.
Though we wouldn't be able to talk further that evening...
Abruptly, Anton cut in. “Business has arrived. Want him out back?”
“The dealer from out west?” Boyd responded. “Take him to the meeting room and I'll follow.”
Anton hurriedly cut through the bustle of the crowd and disappeared.
Boyd pulled me in closer. “Princess, I've got some business. Stay right here. I'll be back soon. Look after her, Blanche?”
“Sure. She'll be fine with me,” she, like a big older sister, replied.
Then I noticed. The big patch on his jacked that said president.
“Wait... You're president?” I tugged at his leather jacket bringing the patch close. “I can't believe it! Boyd - not only a biker, but now the president? Wow. I'm impressed.” I lightly punched his chest like I used to when we were kids.
“Yeah... Long story. Too fucking long ...” He spoke with the experience and wisdom of years. “Now stay here pretty. I won't be long.”
Then, as soon as he'd appeared, he disappeared into the shadow of the party.
“Yeah!” An excited biker roared next to me while holding up the battered prospect. “Get the kid another drink! He's got four more girls yet!”
Struggling to cheer along the prospect raised a fist. The energy expended was enough to have him nearly tumbling over.
Now I could see exactly what Blanche meant.
By the time I glanced back to where Boyd stood there was no trace of him. If you told me it was a dream, I would have believed you. It was hard to believe the tall, muscular man who just left me was the same boy I grew up with so long ago. His appearance left me reeling. Almost as if my past and present became one.
Blanche pulled me in close clearly curious by our relationship. “You haven't seen each other in years?”
“No. Not for... well forever .”
She quickly spoke, “Your guy. He a member of one of the MC's out west?”
“What?” Her question took me aback, tossing me out of my head. “Oh... Oh no. Not at all.”
“Good. Boyd couldn't make a move if he was...”
“What do---”
But she cut me off, “I do have gypsy blood, you know? I can foretell these things...”
I didn't buy it. Boyd and me? No way. We were like brother and sister back then. He might have complimented me, but that's only him being nice. I took a swig of beer and noticed that all everyone in the place no longer even casually glanced at me, let alone eyefucked like they were doing. From the second I walked in here every passing guy gave me the once over, but, almost like a switch had been flipped, the roaming eyes stopped.
“...All I say is your guy better me tough. Boyd usually gets what he wants.”
“Actually he's probably with him right now.”
Her expression changed to surprise. “I should have guessed. We don't get many brothers round these parts. So you're with the dealer coming in from San Fran? Take it as a compliment, I would never have guessed.”
“Thanks.”
Blanche started again. “To tell you the truth, sugar, it's going to make the guys here a lot of money. Everyone a lot of money.”
“My man hasn't told me the details.” Actually, he rarely tells me anything.
She patted me on the shoulder in that older sister way of hers, “Best you don't think about it then. Come on, let's get you another drink. We can't have you drinking beer.”
We propped up at the bar and I tried to pry out everything I could about Boyd. The usual stuff. Where he's been. How he ended up back here. What kind of man he is now. Blanche answered all my questions her Southern charm, but I could sense a guarding of what she would be willing to say. It didn't take a genius to understand