CHAPTER Twenty-Nine
Ryan
“Since you’re renewing your vows, do we get to throw you a bachelor party? You didn’t have one last time,” Reid says, rubbing his hands together, reminding me of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons.
“If I get a buck’s night, that means Taiya gets a hen’s night,” I cringe at the idea of some stripper waving his penis around my woman’s face.
Reid laughs. “You should see your face. Live a little, baby brother.”
“Is Summer going to have a hen’s party?” I ask, looking at him expectantly.
He shrugs. “She will probably want one. It’s a rite of passage.”
I sigh, scrubbing my hand over my face. “I’ll talk to Taiya and see what she thinks.”
“All right. Ask her for your balls back while you’re at it.”
“Coming from you, that’s hilarious.”
“I need to start planning. This buck’s night is going to be insane,” he says, mostly to himself.
“I haven’t said yes.”
“You haven’t said no either.”
We give each other identical shit-eating grins.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Taiya says, as she walks into the room with Summer by her side. They spent the day at the spa, having a girls’ day. “What do you think, Summer? Think you can organise something wild?”
“Hell, yeah I can,” Summer replies, her brown eyes twinkling. I can just imagine what she’s going to plan.
I grit my teeth, throwing Reid a ‘see what I told you a*shole’ look. Reid smiles, not looking apologetic in the least. “I don’t know…” I start, looking back at Taiya. I rub the back of my neck. I don’t exactly relish the idea of her going ‘wild.’
“It will be fun,” Taiya says, walking towards me, sitting down and wrapping her arms around me. I bury my face in her hair, her scent making me dizzy.
“Okay,” I say, finding myself unable to say no to her. “How about we separate for an hour or two then meet up and all go out together to celebrate.”
Reid starts laughing, like I said something hilarious. Taiya agrees, saying that that’s a good idea. Crisis averted. Nothing like a good old compromise.
“I can’t remember the last time I went to a strip club,” Reid says, leaning back in his chair. “Oh, now I remember. It was that time…” he trails off when he sees the look on Summer’s face.
“It was that time what?” Summer asks him in a fake sweet tone.
Reid clears his throat. “It was before you.”
“I’d hope so,” she says instantly, her voice as dry as it can get. “Well, at least now you have an excuse to go to one.”
“Don’t worry, Summer. I’m sure you can find us a good male strip club,” Taiya says, adding in her two cents. More like her not wanting to see Summer get upset.
Summer smiles and nods. “This is true. When are we doing this?”
“How about next weekend?” Taiya says. I don’t like the fact she’s obviously excited about this.
“Sounds good. When are you two renewing your vows?”
“Next month,” I tell Summer. And I can’t f*cking wait. Taiya runs her hand on my thigh, applying pressure gently. She can’t wait too.
“Shall we get going?” Reid asks, standing up. We’re all going to Jack’s house for dinner. I’m looking forward to seeing River. Mia said we could pick him up on the way. Taiya’s mum will be there too, and it’s the first time we will all be together. I’m really looking forward to it. The girls go do whatever they have to do, and then we go to spend the evening with our extended family.
*****
“You’re wearing that? To a male strip club?” I ask, my mouth practically hanging open. The week passed with a blur, and sooner than I knew it, the night of the hen’s/buck’s was upon us. I don’t know where Taiya, Summer, Isis and Jade are going, and they don’t know where Reid, Xander, Dash, Tag and I are going. Hell, I don’t even know where we’re going. Only Reid does, and the rest of us are being surprised. I’m wearing my usual jeans and a black shirt, but Taiya has decided to go all out. The girls have apparently decided to dress up tonight, with a shared theme. Schoolgirls. My wife is dressed up like a slutty schoolgirl in a white shirt, tied around her waist, the top buttons undone to show off her red lacy bra. She is wearing a thin black tie around her neck, a red tartan looking mini skirt, white knee high socks and black high heels. Her normally unruly curls have been straightened and are worn in two pigtails. I adjust myself and scowl at her. I think my jeans just got about two sizes too tight.
“Yeah, I’m wearing this. I think it’s cute, and we’re all going to be dressed like this,” she says, adding more bright red lipstick. Unable to take my eyes off her, I stare at the few inches of her bare stomach, and then move lower to the short skirt, hugging her round shapely behind. F*ck me.
“I don’t like this,” I breathe, rubbing my hands over my mouth. “Not one f*cking bit.”
Taiya frowns. “Don’t ruin my night, Ryan.”
F*ck. F*ck. F*ck. “Okay, you’re right. But if you have any trouble, please call me immediately, and keep that outfit on because I’m f*cking you with it on at the end of the night.”
Her eyes widen at my demand. “Yes, Mr. Knox,” she replies in a sweet tone which goes straight to my cock.
“You better be wearing panties with that skirt.”
She grins and lifts up her skirt, showing me barely there red lace. Great, just f*cking great. I’m contemplating cancelling this whole night when the doorbell rings. I stare at my wife longingly for a second before I go and answer the door.
“Why do you look like someone ran over your puppy? It’s your f*cking buck’s night!” Reid says, walking in carrying two bottles of alcohol. Summer walks in behind him, dressed in the same sort of outfit as Taiya, but a less slutty version.
“Hey Ry,” she says, kissing me on the cheek.
“Hey Sum, you look pretty,” I tell her. I turn to see Taiya standing there, giving me a strange look. She couldn’t be mad about Summer, could she? Summer is like family to me. She has no need to be jealous. I remind myself to have a talk with her about it when we’re alone. Taiya and Summer start chatting and Reid pours me a drink. About an hour later, the girls’ limo pulls up, and Summer and Taiya head out. They are picking up the rest of the girls on the way, except for Sephie because she said she had to work.
Reid and I walk the girls out, and I open the door for them, but pull Taiya aside just as she’s about to get into the limo.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, my eyes searching hers.
She nods. “Yeah, I’ll see you later tonight.”
I lower my head to give her a possessive kiss, reminding her who she belongs to.
“Message received,” she mumbles before she gets in.
I elbow Reid who is making out with Summer, but he ignores me and keeps kissing her. She finally pulls away, and she slides in after Taiya. I close the door, and watch as the limo drives away.
“Let the fun begin!” Reid says, ringing up a taxi to come get us. I sigh, and stare at the limo until it’s out of sight.
*****
“You sure you don’t want another drink?” Tag asks me as we leave the second bar. Bar hopping. I can’t remember the last time I did this. We closed Knox Tavern for the night, because everyone was going out. I really need to hire at least one new employee that isn’t one of my good friends. I stare at Reid who is grinning at something Dash said, and Xander who has been suspiciously quiet all night.
“No, I’m good. Where are we going next?” I ask Tag.
He shrugs, and asks, “Reid, where we going?”
“Strip club,” Reid replies, turning to look at us.
“What strip club are we going to?” Xander asks, his lips tightening.
“Wait and see,” Reid says. We all get into another Taxi, and drive for about fifteen minutes until we reach our destination. Reid pays the taxi driver, and we all get out and stare at the building. We walk to the door, and Reid gives his name and the bouncer lets us in. Xander is the last to walk in, looking like he’d rather be any place than here.
“Are you okay?” I ask him, slapping him on the back.
“Yeah, ummm…” He looks like he wants to say something to me, but we walk further into the strip club and the loud music cuts him off. A woman dances on stage, wearing nothing but those stickers that cover her nipples and a thong. I notice Reid not even looking her way as he orders drinks from a passing waitress. Why did he even want to come here? He doesn’t care about any other woman besides Summer, and if he did, I’d punch him in the face. I have a feeling he’s doing the big brother thing, him trying to let me experience everything, not wanting me to miss out on anything. Even something stupid as this. We’re here just for the sake of being here.
We all sit at a table, Xander dragging his feet, the last to be seated. Tag stares at the stage, watching the woman dance for a second.
“Well, this is overrated,” he says, and I burst out laughing. My thoughts exactly. I wonder what Taiya’s doing, how their night is going. That’s where I’d rather be, wherever she is.
“You’re not going to make me get a lap dance are you?”
Reid laughs. “No, let’s just have a few drinks and enjoy ourselves before we go home.”
Sounds like a plan. We’re talking about getting Dash a lap dance when something catches my eye. Not something, but someone.
My sister.
My f*cking beautiful little baby sister.
She’s wearing a tight top that shows off everything, and short shorts, standing by the stage, talking to another dancer. She walks past a table, and a guy grabs her arm and pulls her onto his lap.
I stand. Reid sees where I’m looking and stands up too, his face contorting in anger. Xander curses. Tag and Dash are staring in shock.
The man tries to kiss her, while she tries to squirm away.
I see red.
I stalk forward, ignoring Sephie’s gasp when she sees me. Xander grabs her into his arms, taking her out of the way, and I punch the man right in the nose. Tag and Dash are holding Reid back, but just barely. A bouncer comes to grab me, and then Reid pushes Tag and Dash off him, and hits the bouncer in the jaw. A typical Reid Knox punch, the bouncer’s head snaps to the side before he crumbles to the floor. More bouncers run up, four of them, and Tag and Dash face off with them. Reid grabs the second guy on Tag, while I take on the second on Dash. When they are all down on the floor, the four of us eye each other. I look around for Xander and Sephie, but it seems Xander took her out of the building, for which I’m grateful. Last thing I want is my little sister hurt in the crossfire.
I hear Reid curse and follow his line of sight, staring at the entrance where two police officers are walking in.
F*cking great.
And that’s how we all spent the night in jail.