The Biker in Lace

Chapter 16.

“Did Josh say to you how long he will be staying at his mom’s?” Bradley asks as he put two of Lacy’s suitcases down on the living room floor.

“No, I don’t think it will be long though.” Lacy replies looking around the apartment in search of the second bedroom. “He finally had the guts to ask Mary out on a date.”

“Wow, that is great.” Bradley exclaims, excited for his friend. “I thought after everything he would chicken out.”

“Yeah, Mary told me today that he kissed her last night.” She informs him, happy that he showed excitement for Josh and Mary.

“They grow up so fast.” Bradley sighs dramatically as he picks a fake tear from his eye, causing Lacy to laugh.

“Where can I put these?” She asks after her laugh quieted down, her eyes still scanning the space for an extra door.

“Well, Mrs. Jones I assume that would be in our bedroom.” Bradley says as he rubs the back of his neck. To come to think of it he didn’t really think of the sleeping arrangements as of yet. He assumed that Lacy would remember he lives in a one bedroomed flat. He never really saw the need of an extra room as it was only himself that lived here. He was barely there most of the times in any case. Week days he was mostly at the university and weekends he was always with Josh doing whatever they wanted till whenever they felt like. He basically only used the flat as a place to sleep. Last night was the first night he slept in his own bed since his last exam took place a little more than a week ago, he was at Josh’s working on the plan to find Ethan.

“What do you mean our bedroom?” Lacy asks confused. He surely does not expect her to sleep with him in one room, does he? It’s not like they have to act like a married couple when they are alone, does it?

“This is a one bedroom flat, Lacy.” Bradley says in a nonchalant way, pretending not to be affected by the sudden revelation he had to make himself. Maybe he should not have given in to her stubbornness so easily.

“You cannot be serious right now!” Lacy says shocked dropping the suitcases she still had in her hands while realising that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Maybe she should have waited before she just decided to move in with Bradley. Getting a bigger flat would have been a great idea before she started to pack.

“Don’t act like you did not know.” Bradley retorts deciding that it would be better blaming her rather than admitting that he might have been a little guilty in not sharing that information earlier.

“How was I supposed to know? I was never here before!” Lacy shoots back refusing to take responsibility for her mistake in not knowing more about Bradley’s living arrangements.

“Well, that’s all there is. Do you still want to help me so badly?” Bradley asks sure that this will let her back off. For some reason he still wants her to pull out of the deal, maybe it’s because he still feels awkward about admitting that he needs her help or the fact that he feels she deserves better than a marriage she is forced into. Why did he care so much about her future in any case? Sure the kisses they shared was mind blowing, but it does not mean anything, right?

“Do you really think this would scare me off?” Lacy asks with a little more determination then she thought she still had left. “Even this will not let me get in the way of Mary and Josh’s love.” She adds barely audible, but Bradley still catches her last sentence.

“You know yourself sacrifice is not entirely needed, right?” Bradley asks while looking at her inquisitively.

“Bradley, please I get that you don’t want to be married to me, but please I cannot let you marry Mary and let Josh lose another person he loves and I cannot let you ruin your own future by marrying Amy. I know you would much rather be married to anyone of them, but please Josh is your best friend too.” Lacy again defends her decision to do this. The pleading tone of her voice tugging at Bradley’s heartstrings catches him by surprise. Is it really so hard to understand why she is willing to do this?

“Lacy.” Bradley breathes as he takes a few steps closer to her. Taking her chin in his hand he lifts her head so he can look into her eyes while he speaks. “I admire your willingness to do this, not only for Mary and Josh, but for me as well. I am beginning to see what Josh always saw in you as a friend and again I have to say I admire you for being the type of friend that you are. He is lucky to have a friend like you.” His words are censure and Lacy can see that he means every one of them while her eyes are locked onto his. “I am lucky to have a friend like you.” He adds after a short pause. He never really realised it before today, that even with their fights and loathing of each other, he actually had a friend he can count on behind it all. Pulling her closer by her shoulders he engulfs her with his big strong arms, hugging her close to him.

“Thank you.” Lacy whispers in the curve of his neck, while small hot tears roll down her cheeks. She never expected Bradley to see her as a friend or to see that what she is doing is without any other ulterior motive like he always thought she had. “My friend.”

“I will go get the rest of the stuff while you get set up. We can think about where to sleep later.” Bradley says while he slowly lets Lacy go, leaving Lacy still frozen in place. When he reaches the door he turns back to Lacy. “I never really hated you either.” He says before opening the door and disappearing into the hallway, admitting that out loud made way for something else to settle in the back of his mind.

*_*

The day passes quickly with Lacy unpacking her suitcases and trying to find her place in the apartment. It felt like déjà vu the whole time she was in the bedroom, remembering moving into her dormitory when she started with her arts degree. The only difference is the big double bed in the middle of the room reminding her every time she looks in its direction that this is nothing like collage. She has not seen Bradley again after he left to fetch her suitcases, he only knocked on the bedroom door and when she opened it her suitcases was placed neatly in front of it and no Bradley insight.

After she unpacked the necessary items from her suitcases in an empty dresser she found on the left side of the bed and hanging some clothes in the closet to the right, she neatly stacks the suit cases in the corner of the room, making a mental note to ask Bradley where she can put them later. Then she decides to start with dinner as it is almost five in the afternoon and she might as well do something productive with her time. The whole day she tried not to think of their situation any further as it will not make a difference and just might make her regret her decision. ‘This is the only option.’ She reminds herself every time her thoughts stray from what she is doing or her eye catches the bed.

“What are you doing here?” A vaguely familiar woman’s voice asks just when Lacy passes the living room on her way to the kitchen.

“Oh… uh.” Lacy utters startled. “Jess… Jessie…” she tries to remember the name of the pretty blond woman staring at her from the couch in the living room. She vaguely remembers her as one of Bradley’s groupies.

“The name is Jenny. I demand to know what you are doing here.” She says her voice cold and her face pulled in a disgusted manner.

“Well, I uhm… I uhh…” Lacy struggles to put her words together, she did not expect Jenny or any other women to be here and then she realise something she never thought off. Maybe the reason why Bradley did not want to do this is because he already had a girlfriend, but why didn’t he tell her and his father that there is another person he can marry. Maybe that is why he was so reluctant to accept her help.

“Well, I am waiting?” Jenny asks getting annoyed while she stands from the couch, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Jenny?” Bradley’s voice comes questioningly from the front door, where he entered with plastic bags in his hands. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to visit you darling.” Her voice is sweet as honey with no trace of the annoyance she showed seconds ago. Lacy rolls her eyes as Jenny strolls up to Bradley, swaying her hips side to side. Every move she makes is meant to be seductive, but Lacy imagines her as a flamingo tying to walk in a straight line. Lacy struggles to keep herself from laughing as the vivid image runs through her mind’s eye. “Aren’t you glad to see me?” Jenny flings her arms around Bradley’s neck, trying to pull his head closer for a kiss, but Bradley ducks down under her arms effectively escaping her hold. Seeing Lacy standing in the hall way he mouths in a desperate plead: ‘Help me!’

“Jenny, so nice to see you.” He says sarcastically with a fake smile while Lacy takes the bags from his hands, purposely misunderstanding his plea for help. “You remember Lacy, don’t you?” He asks trying desperately to divert Jenny’s attention.

“Yes, of course I remember Josh’s little friend.” She answers, her face pulled in disgust again as she looks at Lacy. “Is Josh here too?” She asks with pretend interest.

“Don’t speak of her like that. Why are you here, Jenny?” Bradley his voice is brisk and final as he ignores her question. Walking in the direction of the living room he keeps his back turned to Jenny, his demeanour unwelcoming.

Lacy shakes her head while she turns around to continue her way to the kitchen with the bags in hand, but before she can get out of earshot she hears the explanation for the empty space in the closet and dresser she just filled minutes ago.

“I thought I would surprise you and move in before you get back.” Her sweet voice travels to Lacy’s ears, her mind still reeling with thoughts as to why Bradley would defend her on the way Jenny spoke of her in her demeaning tone. “My bags are in the car for you to bring up.”

“You what?” Bradley’s stunned voice stops Lacy in her tracks. “You are not moving in Jenny.” Bradley says his voice carrying a tone of animosity. “You can drive your bags back to your apartment.”

“Of course I am. Remember before you left you said you wanted to…”

“I might have been drunk, but I know exactly what I said and I never said anything involving you or moving in.” Bradley interrupts her.

“Don’t be silly I saw the way you looked at me when you said it.” Jenny says amused that Bradley would pretend that he did not mean what he said. “There is no need for you to pretend that you didn’t say it to me.” Flinging her arms around Bradley’s neck she flutters her eyes in an attempt to seduce him.

Untangling her arms from his neck, Bradley gently pushes her away from him. This girl must be nuts if she really think that he ever liked her at all. “Jenny I barely know you. You are nothing more than an acquaintance to me, besides when someone asks you something you look them directly in the eyes when you answer them.”

“You are joking, right?” Jenny asks in one last attempt to get Bradley to admit he is just playing a trick on her. Her eyes turn cold as realisation sets in. “You can’t be serious. Who else could you have meant?”

“Just because I answered your question and had the politeness to look you in the eyes does not mean that you are the one I wanted to marry or spend my life with!” Bradley says a little louder with annoyance laced in his tone.

“Besides he is already married.” Lacy says as she enters the living room after placing the bags on the kitchen table. With the tone of Bradley’s voice she gathered that he did not have any intention to be with Jenny and again she decided to leap to his rescue.

“Will you stay out of this?” Jenny asks her voice revealing her distaste for Lacy. “It has nothing to do with you.” She snarls while choosing to ignore Lacy’s comment.

“Oh, but you are sorely mistaken, it has everything to do with my wife.” Bradley says with his eyes thankfully lingering on Lacy’s, before he bends his head down to kiss her fore head in a tender act of thankfulness.

“You cannot expect me to believe that, you hate her. You couldn’t make it clearer to a blind man. ” Jenny scoffs unconvinced that Bradley would ever marry Lacy.

“There is a very thin line between love and hate, Jenny. It took me years to realise just how thin that line is.” Bradley says while he tenderly pushes a strand of hair out of Lacy’s face, before he rests his hand on the nape of her neck. For a few seconds it’s like it’s just the two of them in the room as Bradley’s eyes keeps hers prisoner. He wish that he could somehow show her that what he said was the truth even if he only realized it a few minutes ago while standing in the supermarket, but he doubts that she would believe him after the way he treated her all these years. “The only reason I ever tried to convince everyone else was so I could convince myself that I could not fall for someone that was so perfect for me. I tried to convince myself that she is fake, but I was the one that was fake. I was the one untrue to myself and the way I feel every time I see her or when I just hear her voice. I tried to deny the fact that my heart skipped a beat when I caught her eyes and convinced myself that it was annoyance. Somewhere along the way I fell in love with the person I thought never could even be a friend.” His voice is soft as he speaks more to Lacy that Jenny.

“I might be blond, but I am not stupid? You cannot seriously expect me to believe you?” Jenny says her voice rising with every word. “You love me not that… thing.”

That was it, Bradly had enough. He turns around furious at the woman that does not want to take a hint. His eyes ablaze as he looks at the women vehemently. “You keep your filthy mouth off of my wife, Jenny. Get out of here before I forget my manners and help you out of here. I am married to Lacy and I will stay married to her for the rest of my life and there is absolutely nothing you can say or do to change that. She is my wife and you will respect her as such.” The tell-a-tale muscle starts to jump in his jaw again and his eyes turned into the caramel colour Lacy knows all too well.

“You better make very sure about who you choose, Bradley, because when I walk out that door I will not come back even when you beg me too.” Jenny threatens refusing to believe that she never stood a chance. In her mind Bradley is still just joking and will choose her if he is given an ultimatum.

“Wait let me open the door for you.” Bradley says sarcastically as he walks towards the door. “Goodbye Jenny, don’t let the door hit you on your way out.” He says while opening the door for her to leave.

Jenny’s jaw drops to the floor as she watches Bradley open the door for her to leave. “You … You… You cannot…” She stutters while trying to find words.

“Yes I can and I am. Get out Jenny and please never return.” Bradley’s cold voice runs chills down Lacy’s spine. Even when he was fighting with her, she never heard his voice so cold and unkind.

Storming past Bradley, Jenny finally leaves the apartment still to stun to say a word. Just outside the door she turns around to say something to Bradley, but the words are lost at the sound of the door slammed shut.

“That was… interesting.” Lacy says struggling to find the right word to describe the passing events. Turning around to go to the kitchen to see what she might be able to make for dinner, a thought slips in her mind causing her to turn back to Bradley. A thoughtful look clouds her face as she looks intensely at the carpet beneath her feet. “Bradley, why didn’t you tell me there is another person you want to and can marry?” She lifts her eyes slowly to look at a confused Bradley.

“Jenny?” He asks with a frown between his eyes. “There is no way I will ever marry that…” Shaking his head in a negative motion he looks at Lacy like she needs serious psychiatric help.

“No, I mean the woman I assumed you hoped to marry when we return and Jenny thought se was.” Her eyes still following Bradley intensely while he moves away from the door.

Bradley silently walks towards the big window facing the park. The summer sun slowly starts to descend, painting the sky in an orange and yellow hue. This is the exact reason why he chose this apartment. The sunsets are the most extravagant scenery he has ever seen. Silently he watches as the orange hue turns into blood red before it touches the horizon of the city skyline. “I cannot marry her anymore.” His voice comes after a while.

“Why?” Lacy asks walking closer to the window herself. Her voice is soft and a soft catch of her breath could be heard as she takes in the beauty of the sunset beneath their feet.

“Because I am already married…” Bradley says as his eyes turn to Lacy, his breath also catches in his throat, but for a totally different reason then Lacy’s.

“But we can get it annulled.” Lacy interrupts before Bradley could finish his sentence.

“No, Lacy.” Bradley says as he turns and moves away from the window, his hands in his jean’s front pocket. “I cannot marry her because I am already married to her.” He softly whispers in her ear when he pauses next to her.

Turning around shocked Lacy’s eyes grows big as Bradley’s words sinks in. “What?” she asks her voice carrying a hint of disbelief as she watch him leave the room. “Bradley, what do you mean?” She demands as she follows him to the kitchen.

“I am starving and you?” Bradley chooses to ignore her question.

“Bradley Gabriel Jones, I demand to know what you meant.” Lacy demands again her voice stern and unforgiving. Stomping her one foot on the ground and crossing her arms over her chest, she reminds Bradley of a stubborn child not getting her way.

His eyes gleaming with mischief he takes slow teasing steps towards Lacy. “Did I ever tell you how cute you look when you try to look intimidating?”

“Stop it, Bradley. I want to know what you meant.” Lacy say starting to get irritated with Bradley trying to avoid her question.

“You are a real blond.” Bradley retorts with a crestfallen sigh. “The night before we left, Josh and I went to a bar. At the bar we ran into Jenny and her friends. She heard we were about to leave town for a while so she asked what we hope to achieve with this trip we are taking. Josh said he wanted to find peace with his father’s death and I said I hoped to find the love of my life and marry her when I returned. I did not know she would think it is her.” Bradley intentionally giving the wrong answer to what Lacy really wants to know.

“That’s really nice, but you know that is not what I wanted to know. What did you mean you are already married to her?” Lacy asks rolling her eyes at the smirking i***t standing mere feet from her.

“Okay, fine. I said I am married to the love of my life and that is exactly what I meant.” Bradley confesses with sparkling mischievous eyes.

“But, you are married to me.” Lacy says confused. “You cannot be married to two people.”

“I am just married to the love of my life. No one else.” Bradley says as if it is nothing important and an everyday event.

“So, we are not married?” Lacy asks still confused. She just packed all here clothes in the closet and dresser. ‘All that work for nothing.’ She thinks in her mind, sighing.

“No, we are married.” Bradley says turning away from her so she would not see the big smile on his face. “So, pizza or Chinese?” Bradley asks diverting her attention again.

“Pizza.” Lacy answers distracted with a thoughtful look on her face. Biting her bottom lip while she looks at the tiles on the kitchen floor, she tries to put the puzzle pieces together, but it does not make sense to her. Lost in thought she does not notice Bradley moving towards her.

“Lacy, I am married to the love of my life.” Bradley says lifting her chin with his right hand to look in her eyes. The mischievous gleam in his eyes is gone as he looks deeply into her eyes. “I am married to you.” His voice is soft and serious. Taking his thumb he softly pulls her bottom lip from between her teeth. “Lacy Ann Cavanagh Jones, I love you.”

“What?” Lacy whispers astounded before Bradley’s lips touch hers. He wanted to do this since the moment she walked into the apartment this morning. Her lips against his, the taste of her tongue, was all he could think about the entire night. That moment beside the road after she left he realised that the biker in lace isn’t fake; she is true to her own being. She is tough and strong like the leather and jeans she wears, humble like her worn old boots and soft and feminine like the lace. Lacy Ann Cavanagh Jones may not be perfect, but she is perfect for him and like Josh said she always has been and will be the predictor of his attitude. The moment in the supermarket it all came together and he could not wait to get home and tell her that what he feels for her is more than an attraction and a need to kiss her, he finally realised he loves her and wants to be the man she fell for in return. He promised himself that he would do everything he can to make her fall in love with him even if he needs to chain her to the bed post until she gives in.

The taste of tears brings Bradley back to the moment. Worried he forces himself to break the kiss. “I am so sorry, Lacy. I didn’t mean… I didn’t want...” He starts apologizing bewildered as the silent silver tears keeps rolling down Lacy’s cheek.

“Bradley, shut up.” Lacy says with a bright smile breaking through the tears.

“But, you’re crying.” Bradley says confused. “I am sorry for kissing you and…”

“Bradley, don’t ever apologise for kissing me.” She says folding her arms around his torso and hugging him tightly to her she continues. “I love you too.” She did not realise it before, but it could not be truer than right at this moment. When he said those words to Jenny of how he tried to convince himself that he hated her she wished that he meant it and then the moment she realised that she might lose Bradley to the mystery women he loved a pang of jealousy ran through her heart. She felt lost for a second and then when he kissed her after he confessed his love for her she felt whole and home like a traveller returning home after a long journey. The instant his lips touched her again she knew she never wanted anyone else’s to ever take its place. She loves him for a while now if she is honest to herself. It happened slowly and unnoticeably, but all she can think about now is how much her mind tried its hardest to fight her heart and although she won a few battles, she lost the war. She too convinced herself that she hated him and never realised that she crossed that invisible line between love and hate until that very moment.

“What?” He asks just as astounded as she was when he said it before.

“I Lacy Ann Jones love you Bradley Gabriel Jones. Maybe not always had, but now I always will.” She says smiling up to him. Bradley doesn’t waist another second before he clams her lips again with his. With both hands firmly holding her head in place, he deepens the kiss that seals their love. Finally they could stop fighting and focus on the love they shared beneath all the bickering and teasing.