Page 54 of Holley Jolly Biker

I had to pull the phone away from my ear when suddenly laughter exploded in my ear drum.

Ophelia

“New guy walked into the clubhouse today,” Saint said as he stabbed a piece of pork chop and put it into his mouth.

I nodded, “Yeah?”

He nodded, “Yeah, thinking about stepping down from being the Icer, cause this man, Jesus Christ, baby. He’s one cold son of a bitch. Been through shit. You can see it in his eyes, you know.”

I nodded.

I knew that what he did was weighing down on him.

And he wanted to be here for all of Soraya’s first.

At times, it almost felt like he was always trying to make up for never being there in her first six years of life. Even though he’s not her biological father.

And knowing that with this man, I can say anything that comes to mind and won’t be judged for it. I won’t be looked down upon because of it.

Therefore, I said, “Honey, I don’t want you to step down because you're worried about not being here for all the rest of Soraya’s firsts.”

He shook his head, “Ain’t that. Well, it kind of is. Cause I want to be here when she goes on her first date. I want to sit on our front porch and threaten the little punk-ass to within an inch of his life if one hair on her pretty little head is out of place. I want to say no when some motherfucker asks for her hand and hope that he marries her anyway because he isn’t afraid of me. He’s only afraid of not being everything she needs him to be.”

I knew he had more to say, which was why I was quiet and patient.

He took a breath, then took a sip of his sweet tea, and said, “The kind of work I do, always a chance for shit to be found out. But it’s more than that. You were put on this earth to be clean. And every night when I lay beside you, I’m touching you with blood-stained hands.”

I shook my head, “I don’t see it like that, Saint.”

He shook his head while a slow smile formed on his face, “Only you. Okay, then, how do you see it?”

“I see it as being so damn proud of being the woman who has the honor of being in your bed at night. Of it being my body, your blood-stained hands touch. Because I sleep like a baby knowing you're next to me. It’s when you're not next to me that I can’t sleep.”

Placing my hand atop his, I thumbed his gunmetal grey wedding band, “You chase away all my demons. You’re the love of my life. If you want to continue doing what you’re doing, then okay. I’ll support you through whatever comes our way. And if you do want to step down, then okay. Just means we have more naked cuddle time.” I said as I winked.

He busted out laughing, all the while shaking his head.

Soraya

I knew it wasn’t smart to listen in on when my parent’s voices were lowered when they talked.

Over the years, I saw things.

Yes, they both tried to shield me from things. That was what my parents did.

Well, good parents.

And I had the best parents in the world.

Ever since I was six, when I closed my eyes at night, I thanked the man above for that fateful day in the store when we met my dad.

And tonight, when I closed my eyes, I knew that I would fall asleep while doing the very same thing.

But at this moment, I made a vow.

A vow to find a man just like my dad. Because he was the best.

The absolute best.