Simon couldn’t look away.
Both were staring into each other’s eyes. Their connection clear. They breathed as one and were together. At that moment, he missed Tabby.
She would be his one.
Whatever was happening between Dick and Martha, they were a team and could handle anything that was thrown at them, together.
“Right, I better, go.”
He didn’t want to keep watching what he couldn’t have, at least not yet. He hadn’t heard from Tabitha that day, and he was already missing her.
Heading inside, he couldn’t see his mom. Ripper was playing pool with Snake.
“Hey, guys, you seen my mom?”
“She’s outside,” Ripper said. “Judi’s with her.”
He nodded and headed out back to see Judi already helping with some of the costumes. A couple of the kids were in shorts and a vest.
After he dropped the bag, Lexie came at him with a hug. “You’re a star.”
“That’s what I am. I’m hanging with some friends tonight.”
Lexie reached into her jeans pocket, handing him some cash. “Don’t forget to eat, and don’t be too late. Your dad will be pissed.”
He took the cash, kissed his mother, waved goodbye to the rest of the guys, and headed back to his bike. Martha and Dick were still doing some kind of breathing and totally digging each other.
Sending a quick text to his boys to meet him outside of the library, he took off and didn’t stop until he was right there, going through the main street of the town, seeing it was still pretty busy, before riding around the back.
After turning off his ignition, he climbed off, leaned against the wall, and saw on his cell phone that Eddie and Dean were having some kind of family crises and would be there as soon as they could. He was bored.
Pulling up Tabby’s name, he dialed.
“Well, this is rather late of you,” Tabby said.
“It’s been a busy day.” He told her about what happened in school with Amber, then the outfits for Halloween. “You talked to Anthony yet?”
“Yep, I did after we stopped talking yesterday. Daisy and I are going shopping tomorrow.”
“That’s cutting it a bit late, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but it’s fine. I’m just pleased I’ll get to get Daisy’s ass into a costume. She’s in her pissy mood. We’ll see what happens.” She sighed. “So, tell me more about this Amber chick.”
“You’re not jealous, are you?”
“No, but you don’t think I don’t know girls like her. I do and believe me, I don’t like them. I don’t like her being near you.”
He couldn’t help but smile at that. “I won’t ever stray.”
“Simon, I know you won’t, and I can hear you smiling.”
“I can’t help but smile. You care.”
“I’d be careful if I was you. It sounds like this Amber is a bad person and I’d hate for you to be on the firing line.”
“All of the guys were there. Nothing will come of it.”
“Don’t be alone with her.”
“I won’t. Maybe you can come and meet me one day when you guys are visiting?”
Tabitha laughed. “You think she can take me?”
“I think you’ll be the one being pulled off her,” Simon said.
“What are you doing now?”
“Waiting for a couple of the guys.”
“These the preppy boys?”
“One and the same.”
“Why are you friends with them?” Tabby asked.
“They’re good guys and besides, all of my friends are over there.”
“We miss you,” Tabby said.
“I know. I miss you as well.” He sighed. “Wish you were here.”
“I wish I was there as well. I’d show you how to have a good time.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, and our clothes would stay on,” she said.
“There you go spoiling it. Hey, Tabby, can I ask you a question?”
“Simon, this is what we do.”
“I know, but, never mind.”
“Talk to me,” she said.
“Okay. It’s stupid.”
“It’s only stupid that you’re not telling me. Stop being a dick and just tell me.”
He laughed. “Love you too.”
“Simon.”
“Fine, does your mom have pictures of her pregnant with you?” he asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“Are there any with my mom?”
“Not that I know of. I’d have to go and check, why?”
“I asked my parents about it and they each gave me a different answer,” Simon said.
“What do you mean?”
He told her the two different stories.
“Simon, it was so long ago, I imagine they’ve forgotten.”
“Would they, though?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m their first kid. Removing that memory, it’s got to suck, right? You’d remember losing something so close to you.”
“I guess. It could be that the memory of losing stuff is too hard. Shoot, Dad’s home and he’s been pissed. I’ve got to go. Don’t overthink this, Simon. There’s probably some kind of explanation that puts it all into perspective.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“I’ll talk to you later?”
“Yep.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.” He hung up just as Eddie and Dean arrived in a car. They didn’t own bikes and as they climbed out, Simon couldn’t help but laugh. They had some dress pants, a crisp pink shirt, and a vest over the top.
“Come on, man, don’t laugh.”
“I can’t help it. You both look like nice boys.”
“You’re a dick,” Eddie said.
“We hanging out or what?” Simon held up the cash. “My treat.”
“I need pizza,” Dean said.
“You start and I’ll follow.” He climbed back onto his bike and followed them just out of Piston County to one of the best pizza places in town. It wasn’t as good as Mia’s, but he couldn’t expect her to cook for him whenever he wanted it.
There were a couple of cars he recognized.
“Really, you want to come here where the jocks and their groupies hang out?”
“They’ve got the best pizza. Come on, man, it won’t be too bad,” Eddie said, slapping him on the chest.
Simon walked inside with his boys, and there was a spare booth. He clocked the jocks, including Amber. Giving them a wide berth, he took a seat, and the waitress was already there, ready to serve.
They ordered a couple of large pizzas, garlic bread, extra fries, and he was starving, so he had a couple of additional toppings on the side.
“Amber’s watching you again,” Eddie said.
“Yeah, she can watch all she wants, but she can’t have.” He ignored her.
“Simon, I want to ask you something,” Dean said.
“Ask away.”
“To get into your club, what do you have to do?”
Simon looked up, a little taken aback. “What?”