The Serpentine Syndicate MC: Manix

Chapter 13

After searching for a short while, I finally came into view of the customary president and snake patch, attached to the back of the black leather jacket. Seated with his head in his hands on the curb side, I feared I might be interrupting a very intimate moment.

Taking a second to merely stand behind him and take comfort in his obliviousness to my presence, the sound of him sighing and drooping his head even lower, had my legs treading towards him. Placing my body on the curb beside him.

'Hey'.

'Hi'.

'I can leave if you want me to, but... I just thought It would be best I checked you were ok. You kind of vanished from the party'. Now as I spoke, it sounded stupid that I came out here to find him, of course he abandoned the party and didn't tell anyone. He wished to be left alone and I just came and disrupted the serenity he was trying to experience.

Silence.

'I'll just go, I shouldn't have interrupted'. Getting up to make my way back to the party, the pull of my hand caused me to jerk back, almost tumbling to the ground. Though, his burly palms caught me.

'No wait..., I mean your probably the only person to notice I never came back, but I don't know... Crystals words always eat at me. I'm so confident in all other areas of my life, but sleeping with her was the worse thing I could have ever done. Don't get me wrong Aldo is a blessing, but thanks to my poor life choices, he has to put up with a mother like her and I can't help but condemn myself'. 

His voiced cracking at the end as he stared into the distance, lost in thought before persisting.  I've never given much thought to dating, taking up an ol lady, not really. But as he gets older I'm starting to wish I had.'

Turning to look me dead in the eyes, taking my nimble fingers in his, he pulled me to once again be nestled beside him. With a huge humph of air and a sigh he continues, 'I'm sorry I've ignored you since the park, it was nothing you did, I'm just not good enough. I'm not a positive person to have in your life, my actions are dangerous, never mind the decision I have to make. It's bad enough Aldo had a target on his back for being the prez's kid, I can't bring someone else, someone I care about into this'.

Staying reticent, I was unsure how to answer, I broke contact looking rather at the dirt track road in front. It seemed his own self doubts regarding his job and his role as a farther, had been the reason for his silence and disregard for me recently, and I just wished in that moment he could view himself the way I view him. See himself through my eyes.

'I think I should take blame as well you know, you may have buried your head in the sand, but I made no effort to try and talk to you either. Honestly, my dating life has always been a rocky one and kissing you opened up a whole new can of worms. I'm not saying you have to ask me out or kiss me again, but I would at least like to be friends. We shouldn't be going around like children sulking and ignoring one another, that's crazy'.

Allowing him to digest the words spoken and ensure he was in agreement, I waited. Recognising him still hunched forward, warming my hands in the crooks of his. I chose to be more forthcoming with my next words.

'I want you to know so many decisions in my life have been made for me, not by me, and so I think it should be up to me if I choose to get myself tangled up in the biker life. Sure I don't know all the things you've done, or how everything works. But you have the respect of every single biker and the towns people, your constantly away sorting out problems. I truly don't think your as evil as your subconscious is telling you, and if you want, I desire to at least try this between us. Truthfully I do like you, I've been entrapped by you since our first encounter and if I don't tell you this right now, I'm not sure I could forgive myself'.

The tremor of my hands had become noticeable, as he enclosed his calloused own around mine, bringing them up adjacent to his chest, direct to his heart. In turn, allowing me to shuffle to where I was practically sat on top of him, unbending my head on the crook of his neck. His lingering cologne wrapping me in a musky wooden aroma. Usually I found fragrances to be overwhelming ,sickly almost. But his only seemed to aid in making him more enticing.

Sure, I knew he was a broad tall individual, but sat in his lap currently, I felt like a small child seeking comfort. I don't know how the situation had changed, from me confronting him, to now spewing my feeling for him, but here we are.

'Look I can't promise you that this, whatever this is, will work out. I would however, like the opportunity to at least try. We've both clearly got our own hang ups, but I'm willing to work through them, if you think its worth it. I'm not going to force you and if you just want to be friends that's fine, but you've got to stop this pity party on yourself and allow yourself to take a gamble'.

As soon as the words left my lips, I knew they were partially meant for me as well. Perhaps I should be acting on my own advice, not just dishing it out. I'd been in Colorado for sometime now and still my decisions were clouded by the consternation and fear of Calvin. It was my time to allow someone in again, was it too fast maybe, but if I didn't take the plunge I would never know. Manix was the exact opposite of Calvin, no strict routine or the expectations placed of a female. No façade in front of friends and family it seemed, overall everything Calvin was not.

My head now hung low, only making contact with the floor beneath, wriggling to remove myself from his hold, but this just meant his grasp grew tighter.

'It's been such a long time since I've felt this way for someone, someone I could see myself with in the future. So I'm not promising this will work out, and I can't promise I wont unintentionally hurt you. However, I would at least like the ask you out on a date and see where this goes'.

A large grin eclipsed my face, smiling in acceptance. The idea of going on a date with Manix caused my stomach to feel uneasy, both through nerves and excitement. But we were finally acting on the growing attraction between us and for that I was thankful.

'I'd like to take you out tomorrow night if you'd do me the honours, can't promise you anything fancy but I'll try my best', Manix retorted. Resting his forehead on mine as he smirked, causing the butterfly to reignite within me.

'I would love to. Now I have a feeling we've been absent to long from your sons party'.

So in agreement that we wouldn't spread the word of our attempt to date with the others, we headed back in.  Ready to sing happy birthday to the child that had effected our lived vastly.