Once the café door's bell chimed at the last officer's departure, Julie turned to Sapphire and let out a dreamy sigh. "God, I want all four of those men."
Sapphire's eyes widened as she stared at the mother of two in a new light. "At once or…" she let the words trail off, certain she was mistaken.
Julie was sweet and motherly. Yes, she was still young and very cute, but for some reason, Sapphire had immediately put the woman on some sort of motherly pedestal when she met her. Maybe it was the loving way she was to her kids, an absolute contradiction to the wretched woman Sapphire called mother, who had still yet to call or text her back. She just would've never imagined bright and bubbly Julie talking about banging four guys.
"Oh yes, at once," she confirmed with a resolute nod.
Sapphire's mouth gaped.
Seeing her expression, Julie stepped closer to her. "After my son was born, I was addicted to reality TV there for a little while. Between a restless toddler and breastfeeding a newborn, I needed any sort of mental escape to be had. And one time, I came across a show calledSister Wives."
Sapphire nodded, completely riveted to where this could be going. She knew the show. A bunch of jealous Mormon women who had to go to work each day and raise each other’s hordes of children while the guy went off and found a younger wife to add to the toxic brood he already had.
"And after watching it, I just sat there and was like—why don't women have this," she explained as she wiped down a spot on the counter. "You know, besides the patriarchy and the systematic oppression of women across the globe and all that." Julie waved her hand in the air as if to shoo away those pesky little issues. "I mean, think about it. Four guys like the Owens." She sighed and practically wilted against the counter as she openly dreamed over the officers. "All dedicated to one woman and fulfilling her every need."
More like filling her every hole.But Sapphire kept that quip to herself at the sight of Julie's dreamy look. She could tell this was a working fantasy for the woman.
Four men. Sapphire just kept repeating that to herself for the rest of her shift, even as she grabbed her backpack and coat from the back. It was a ludicrous thought that made her heart pound and wild images fill her thoughts. Julie had gone on to explain that she called the unprecedented ideaBrother Husbandsand thought that it was high time for society to normalize it for women.
Waving goodbye to the woman she would never view the same ever again, Sapphire stepped out the front door into the gusting cold wind and started walking toward the school.
She was reaching the end of the street when she heard the telltale growl of the motorcycle engine behind her. Her heart seized, and her hands went clammy in her pockets as she whirled around to see the black and chrome bike pull up to a stop next to her. For a second, there she thought it was the rapey bikers again. Flashes of their mean smiles and heartless empty eyes had appeared in her mind.
Sapphire released a breath at the sight of Hayden's bushy beard and dark hair hanging wildly around his face. Wearing a pair of black sunglasses, a beat-up brown leather jacket, and a pair of wrinkled jeans, he looked like he had just rolled out of bed.
Hayden dropped one hand from the handlebars and looked at her in stony silence from behind his glasses. The engine idled loudly from underneath him, and Sapphire turned to look around to see if the noise was drawing attention.
"Come on. I'll take you."
Sapphire eyed him suspiciously, squinting from the bright sun. "It's ok. It's not-"
"Will you just get on," he snapped.
Reeling back, she blinked at him. She could see the simmering frustration running over his bulky frame.
Snapping her attention away from him and back to the path, she began walking, dismissing him with a casualness she knew he would hate. "No, I’ll just walk," she said primly.
The sudden roar of the bike made her jump, and she stopped just in time as he lurched it forward just enough and swung it up the slope of the sidewalk, crossing her path and effectively blocking her.
Ripping off his sunglasses, Hayden's grey eyes shot to hers, pinning her in place like thundering storms. "Goddammit, Sapphire stop being so damn prideful and get on the damn bike," he growled. "Can't you see I'm trying to apologize?"
She ignored the tightness in her chest that he caused. He was looking at her as if he wanted to strangle her and throw her over the seat of his bike like some sort of old west movie. She would not let him see how much he intimated her.
Pushing some of her brown and gold curls loftily over her shoulder, she gave him a searing look of contempt in return. "Oh, is that what this is? You've got some way of apologizing,"
Despite his overgrown beard, she could see the muscle in his jaw tick and his knuckles whiten on the handles. If she kept pushing like this, he just might strangle her.
Heading the final warning, his stormy eyes, Sapphire grumbled under her breath. "Fine."
Hayden straightened the bike back onto the street and waited as she put her loose hair into a small bun before carefully grabbing his shoulders and swinging onto the back of the big bike.
There was no need for words between them as he waited for her to get comfortable and wrap her arms around his waist. As if waiting for her front to relax into his back, Hayden finally turned the acceleration and pulled away from the curb. The wind was cold as it whipped around the breadth of his frame, but the warmth of his body alleviated any discomfort. Sapphire couldn't help but close her eyes at the drugging feeling. It was glorious. She didn't remember it feeling this good the last time she rode with him. If she had, she might not have put up such a fight.
Too soon, the ride was over, and she opened her eyes as she felt them slowing down. Hayden pulled the bike to an easing halt near the curb, and she noticed he stopped at the far edge of the front parking lot near a tall group of hedges. She was more than thankful for that. Here, no one sitting in the classes looking out the windows would see them.
Bracing his feet on either side, Hayden held the bike steady as she carefully dismounted.
She should thank him and just turn around and get to class. Or just throw a wave over her shoulder as she walked off, she thought. But she knew the prideful walk away would only last a second. Hayden would no doubt reach for that very hand and snatch her right back to him. The mental image made her whole body tighten and heat at once. Sapphire knew Hayden hated her attitude and knew it was a matter of time before they really had it out with one another.
