“Sizzle, we need some milk. Beer and chocolate don’t go together.” Her mother went back into the kitchen and everyone sprang into action. Sex Piston dumped her cake onto her father’s napkin and he dumped his there also then left the room just as her mother returned with the milk and paper cups.
Diamond wanted to go through the floor, wondering if the night could get any more embarrassing as she watched Knox when her father returned to the room, explaining to her mother he’d had to go to the restroom. Knox managed to take a couple of bites before even he couldn’t gag any more down.
“I’m not a big sweet eater,” Knox explained to her mother when she cast him a questioning glance.
“I’m not, either, but I know they enjoy it when I make something sweet to finish off dinner.”
“It was a delicious meal as always, Sizzle,” her father lied.
Diamond had, with that, had enough. She wanted to escape before she had to have any more time in her father’s company.
“Mom, what did you want to tell us? Knox can leave, go in the other room while we talk—”
“There’s no need, Diamond; it’s not bad news. I just wanted to ask you two girls if you’d be my bridesmaids. Your father and I have finally decided to tie the knot.” Sex Piston whooped, getting up to hug both parents. Her mother’s smiling face turned toward her as Diamond rose carefully from the table.
“I’ll talk to you later, Mom. I need to leave. I don’t want to hold Knox up any longer than necessary. I was worried you may be sick again. I’m glad it’s good news.” Diamond put her chair back under the table. Not waiting for Knox, she practically ran for the door.
“Diamond, what on earth? Wait a minute. The wedding is going to be at the Destructors’ clubhouse. We’re going to have a caterer and everything.” Diamond could hear the tears in her mother’s voice, but didn’t stop.
“I can’t, Mom. I just can’t,” Diamond answered, pulling open the door and going for Knox’s bike.
“Damn it, stop, Diamond,” her father yelled.
Diamond stopped; her back to her family, sensing Knox stopping by her side.
“What’s your fucking problem?” Sex Piston yelled. “Why are you being a bitch to Mom? They’ve been together for years. You should be happy.”
Diamond swung around facing her family.
“Why should I be happy to see her marry a man who has fucked around on her for years? Now that he’s an old man and not president of a motorcycle club the pussy probably doesn’t come as easy as it used to, does it, Pops?” Years of hurt along with feelings of betrayal welled and found their target. The stunned look on her father’s face had her wanting to inflict more hurt. “You haven’t deserved Mom for years, so no, I’m not going to watch you get married to my mom when you damn sure don’t deserve her now.”
“You bitch!” Sex Piston yelled at her sister.
“You’re calling me a bitch? You’re the bitch; always in heat for some man. You’re just like him, chasing anything with a dick—you and Ace both. The only difference is you didn’t get knocked up like that woman he’s got now.”
Diamond saw the look of pain on her mother’s face, and with a sob, went to Knox’s bike, getting on and putting on his helmet. He paused, but then hopped on to the bike, starting it and pulling out. Diamond cried all the way back to Treepoint. Angry at her parents for springing the news on her and even angrier at her mother for putting up with her father’s shit for all the years they had been together.
She was also embarrassed that she had let loose in front of Knox. She should just have left, but she had lost control when she had faced her father. All the admiration she’d had for him as a little girl when she would have at one time been overjoyed for her parents to get married were washed away by the memory of him with that other woman at the Destructors’ clubhouse.
The hardest thing to admit was that she could finally understand her mother after all these years; the attraction of wanting someone you knew was incapable of being faithful and being the man you wanted him to be. The torture of a body in need versus a mind that said it was a heartache in waiting. Knox was like the wind rushing passed them, uncontrollable and free. He would never be the man she needed to make her happy.
Chapter Thirteen
As Knox pulled up in front of Diamond’s apartment, she barely managed to wait for him to stop to jump off.
“Thanks for the ride.” Handing him the helmet, she took off for her door. When she was there, she realized too late she had left her purse in Knox’s saddlebag. As she turned to go back, she bumped into Knox.
“Diamond, what’s wrong with you? Don’t fucking jump off my bike like that again,” Knox growled, handing her purse to her.
Diamond ran her hand through her flattened hair. “I made a fool of myself. I didn’t mean to drag that crap out in front of you. I’m sorry.” Digging in her purse, she found her keys and then opened the door. She started to tell Knox goodnight, only to find herself propelled forward into her apartment.