CHAPTER 6: AN OLD ENEMY LEADS TO NEW FRIENDS…

NOVOTNY BRUCKNER HOUSE – JUNE 2014

It’s a sunny day and all the boys were waiting for Steve to turn up.  They were all going for a run, Ben was back to his normal weight and Hunter was looking less stringy but Brian still found it irksome that he could still eat like a proverbial horse and gain nothing but muscle mass.

STEVE

                “Good morning boys are we ready, have we done our warm up.”

They nod and murmur, I nod into the direction we are heading and we set off at a nice slow jog, no point going hell for leather right now.  We fall into easy jog and I only have to call out a couple of times to correct Hunter’s breathing technique and get Emmett to lengthen his stride, you’d think being with Drew for so long would’ve taught him about running but apparently not.

After about 2K I hear the first sounds of griping.

                “How much further?”  Michael pants

                “About another 7K.”  I call back

                “What!  Wait a minute, you said it was going to be 5K Hunter?” 

I turn and see Ben slowing down so he can be level with Michael who had started to drop back a bit.

                “No, that’s not what he said, he said it was 5K to where we are running to, so obviously we have to come back…”

Michael glowers but keeps jogging, mercifully the rest of the run is in silence, except to shout out corrections to pacing for Brian who is running behind Justin...

BRIAN

…now that is a beautiful sight.  Justin is ahead of me and the way his ass is bouncing in those shorts is making it a bit difficult for me to concentrate and Steve has to shout out again.

                “Brian, eyes off Justin’s ass and correct your stride, run now drool later!”

I chuckle and throw him a smirk, he smiles back.  Justin turns back to look at me and flashes me a smile.

                “Twat!”  I shout out to him.

STEVE

                “Okay boys, sprint to that tree and then it’s a water stop okay…go!”

They all sprint off, I easily pass them with Brian, Ben, Drew and Hunter behind me, followed by Justin, Emmett, Ted, Blake and Michael is last.

                “Right water break…don’t drink too quickly, you need to save some and besides you will get a stitch when we start…”

                “Hey can you hear that?”  Hunter ask, waving his hand for silence

We listen and in the distance is a low roar, like motorbikes.  He heads towards the noise with us trailing after him and then he comes to a halt.

                “Motocross…that is fucking awesome!”

We all look across the bridge at a motocross centre.

                “Oh I have to go look, won’t be long!”  Hunter is already jogging towards the bridge.

                “Uh Hunter, there is this marvellous invention it’s called the internet!”  Michael calls out.

I watch Brian take a breath and Ted roll his eyes, this guy does nothing but bitch at the kid!

                “Don’t have my laptop with me!”  He calls back

                “What your fancy phone doesn’t have the internet?”  Michael snipes back.

                “It does but walking over there gets him away from you.”  I hear Blake mutter.

                “Hey Hunter, hold up, I want to see too.”  Justin shouts out

                “Me too.”  Ben calls and they both catch up with him and disappear from view.

We stand in silence waiting for them to come back.  Brian heads towards the riverbank and looks round, I join him.

                “You’d think for someone whose kid saved his husband’s life he would stop giving him such a hard time…”  I begin

When Brian stops and looks at me I think I have overstepped my boundaries.  I have become to regard them as friends particularly Ben and Hunter and even though people say Brian is a hard person to get to know, I don’t think so and I like him.

                “I’m sorry, I know he’s your…”

                “It’s not just me then?”  He murmurs having picked up a handful of stones and starts skimming

I shake my head and sigh in relief taking a couple of stones from him and start skimming.

                “Hopefully it will pass and they will get back to normal.  I’m not going to lie and say they were close, he and Ben are closer but he just seems so resentful of Hunter these days and I can’t understand, but maybe I can give respite…thanks Steve appreciate it.”

I don’t know what I have just done so just nod.

                “Ooh skimming, I have never been able to get the wrist action right…”  Emmett calls down as he and Drew approach.

                “Are you sure about that Emmy Lou?”  Drew asks

Blake and Ted have joined us with Michael, as usual, bringing up the rear. 

                “Huh…oh, Drewsie please!”  Emmett is blushing as we all chuckle

We all start skimming stones and soon Drew and Brian get competitive trying to get the most skips. 

                “Want to make it interesting Kinney?”

Brian quirks an eyebrow and nods, Drew whispers something in his ear and he chuckles.

                “You have a deal Boyd.”

They head towards the middle of the stream and start skimming upstream, before long, with some baiting from Brian, Drew is losing his rhythm and Brian easily beats him, he smirks and Drew shrugs makes his way out of the water and takes Emmett’s hand, says something to him and suddenly Emmett is pulling him up the bank and out of sight.

                “What’s going on?”  I ask

Before Brian could answer, the wanderers return with Justin grinning and clutching pamphlets.  Ben has his arm over Hunter’s shoulders and they are laughing about something. 

                “Guess what?  Hunter has had the most excellent idea!”  Justin scrambles down the bank towards Brian waving the pamphlets at him.

                “What is this a Bill & Ted movie?”  I tease

                “You wanna be invited dude?”  Hunter calls out

I do the universal zipping motion and watch as Justin is righted by Brian after he almost slips over.

                “For Gus’s birthday they can do motocross on the Friday, Gus overnights with Hunter at Ben and Michael’s on the Thursday night as it’s closer than Britin and they can easily walk over or even take their bikes or maybe the service, anyway, they spend the day doing it on the Friday and then Hunter stays with us on the Friday night and then they can do their thing during the morning on Saturday and then on the Saturday afternoon we have the surprise BBQ and then…”

Brian silences him with a slow leisurely kiss and then waits for him to come out of his slight daze.

                “Um, where was I?”  Brian chuckles and loops his arm over him, kissing his temple.

                “First, is it okay for him to stay with you guys?”  Brian asks.

                “Yes I guess, but can’t you pick something other than motocross to do…”  Michael asks looking between Hunter and Ben.

                “Why?”  Hunter looks surprised.

                “I see once again Hunter you are thinking of Jenny’s participation in all this.”  Michael snipes

                “Michael...”  Ben begins

                “She would love it!  You do realise that she’s does roller derby right?”  Hunter snaps

                “Roller derby?”  Michael questions

Hunter sets off on a jog back the way we came before stopping and calling back.

                “There’s this marvellous invention Michael it’s called the internet!  And also try taking an interest in what your daughter says to you!” 

And he sprints off.  Michael looks furious and we try to hide our smirks, even I knew about the roller derby.

When we get back to the house, having easily caught up with Hunter, well some of us, it is a case of cool down and people going their separate ways.

NOVOTNY BRUCKNER’S KITCHEN

MICHAEL

                “Can you believe how rude Hunter was to me earlier…”

                “He was rude, he was rude?  Michael do you realise you adopt a whole different tone when you speak to Hunter?  Like you resent him!”

                “I do not!”

                “Yes, yes you do.  And that tone and all that shit it stops now, I mean it this stops now.”

With that Ben turns round and leaves to head to the shower.

                “Fuck that I can do what I want.”  I mutter once I am sure he’s out of earshot.

ON THE WAY TO BRITIN

JUSTIN

Brian has been really quiet and nibbling on his lip, like he wants to say something but is not sure how I will take it.

                “Spit it out.”  I sigh

                “Have you, have you noticed the way Michael has been with Hunter lately?”

                “You mean behaving like a jealous, judgemental, resentful fishwife?” 

                “Mmmm.  Even Steve noticed.  And I was thinking there is something that I, well we can do to give him a bit of a break.”

                “What’s that, just come out and say it for heaven sake.”  I grouch as we pull into the garage

He parks and looks at me.

                “I am not saying that he can move in but if he needed a place to go…”

I look at him across the jeep in astonishment.  He sighs and turns round to head to the mud room.

                “Mr Kinney, where the hell do you think you are going?”  I call out.

                “Look, okay I haven’t thought it through much but it’s empty most of the time and if I didn’t…”  He finally turns to look at me and quirks an eyebrow.  “You are okay with this then?”  He growls as he walks back towards me.

I had started to strip and now that I am naked, I drop my clothes in a pile at his feet.  I get on my knees on top of them and nuzzle his crotch.  He lets out a small gasp as I grab his cheeks and hold him still.  Slowly I peel off his shorts and he springs out.  I ignore his cock and concentrate on getting him completely naked.  I kiss a trail up his stomach rimming his belly button and pushing his vest up at the same time. 

I latch onto a nipple and lathe it lazily, enjoying the feel of it hardening under my tongue, I nibble and nip at it eliciting soft gasps from him as he tangles his fingers in my hair and holds me in position, arching slightly as if to say “keep going”.  I kiss a trail to his other nipple and lavish the same attention on that one, whilst gently running my fingers through his bush, tugging at the hair there and lightly touching the base of his cock, he arches into my fingers with a moan.

                “Uh-uh, do that again.”  He whimpers as I kiss and suck at his neck.

He kneads my ass pulling me tight to him and starts to walk me back to the jeep.

                “Um, house the other way…oh that’s cold!”  I squeak as he pushes me against the jeep door.

                “Sorry, get in, I’ll soon warm you up.”

I shake my head and turn us around and push him onto the back seat and kiss him deeply.  Our tongues lazily battle for dominance as he runs his hands down my back and traces his fingers gently over my cheeks.

                “You really do have the most perfect ass.”  He grins at me

I slither down his body and take him all the way to the root.

                “Oh!  Yes!”  He bucks up grabbing at the front seat and punching the roof.

I suckle him gently but firmly and watch as he slowly starts to come apart as I lick the underside of his shaft running my tongue up the vein before taking him in again and then humming.

                “Oh…fuck…oh God, baby, no, no, stop, so g-go-good please wait want to be inside you!”  He cries out

I slide him gently out of my mouth letting my teeth graze over his tip tasting his pre-cum, his eyes roll back and his abs contract hard, he fingers circle the base of his cock and he gives a quick squeeze, his chest heaves with the effort of calming down.  I kiss and lick the inside of his thighs nibbling down his legs.

                “Not…uh…oh shit…helping.”  He growls

I giggle and slide out of the jeep and he swiftly follows and before I know it I am on my stomach on the back seat and he has two fingers in my ass.

                “Aaaaah!”  I yelp as he brushes and jabs against my prostate.

I try to get up but his other hand is holding me firmly down and I can’t get purchase on the floor.  All thoughts of moving are driven out when he starts to lick and suck at my back, making his way down.

                “Bri-Brian, please, please just fuck me!”  I beg trying to wriggle out of his firm grasp

                “What’s the matter little boy, don’t like payback?” 

He mumbles as he takes one of my balls into his mouth.  His mouth is so warm and he’s in no hurry letting it slip out of his mouth before lavishing the same attention on the other one all whilst finger fucking me.  I am screaming obscenities into the seat as my legs flail helplessly over his shoulders…when did he put my legs over his shoulders?!

                “Gaaaaah!  Oh yes, yes, please just fuck me, fuck me, oh God!”

                “So warm and tight and mine.  Mine.  Mine.  Mine!”  He shouts with each thrust.

I try to raise my ass so that I can get to my dick but he holds me down.

                “Let me!”  He growls.

He snaps his hips into me and I scream so loud I am sure they hear me in the next state.

                “I’m…I’m oh...there, right there, yes!”

                “Love.  You!”  He shouts as his orgasm claims him.

He rests his head against my spine as we both get our breathing back to normal.  Gently he pulls out and tugs on my hips to get me to stand.  I sink back into his chest. 

                “What happened to Emmett and Drew?”  I murmur

                “Doesn’t matter.  Shower time.”

All I can do is nod and wrap my arms and legs round him as he carries me to our bathroom.  I don’t even remember getting into bed.

KINNETIC – TWO DAYS LATER

CYNTHIA

                “Oh my God you have got to be kidding me?!”

Kicking off my heels I take off at a sprint towards Brian’s office, I don’t knock as I burst in and Brian looks up at me in surprise as I shove the paper under his nose.

                “What am I looking at?”  He enquires

                “This!  Did you know Stark Securities has decided to ask for tenders for their advertising contract?”

                “No but they have been with Ryder and now Vance for years they will never move.  Shame though, it would be nice to swipe that away from that fucker.”

I shake my head at him and sigh

                “Clearly you fucked Justin when he was in earlier and your brain is somewhat addled.  They are asking!  As in they might move!”

“Okay, I can see your point but Stark have been with them for years, old man Luther would not move being a born and bred Pitts man he saw it as his duty to be loyal even when their HQ moved to NYC…and besides we don’t…”

                “I did not kick off my Loubs for you to say we don’t need it!”  She snaps and quirks an eyebrow.

                “Okay get the research done but don’t be surprised if they retain.” 

                “Thank you and if we get them I want 20% bonus.”

                “Done.”

He waves me out of the office and I head back to my desk and put in a call.

                “May I be put through to Zander Stark, my name is Cynthia Moore.  Thank you.”

VANGUARD – GARDNER’S OFFICE

GARDNER

                “What the fuck do you mean they have put out a general tender release, how the fuck did we not know about this?!”  I bellow.

                “Gardner, you have nothing to worry about there is no way they will move away from us.  Relax.”

I take a good look at my ad execs and think carefully, we have had them on a rolling contract for the last 10 years, yes they are a $2 billion company, a security services company to boot, but I don’t want to chance my arm and let Brian Fucking Bastard Kinney get his hands on this contract, time to schmooze I think.

                “Good morning, my name is Vance, Gardner Vance from Vanguard may I be put through to…sorry could you hold a moment, to Zander Stark.”

Two days later I have secured a meeting with Zander and his board, I have to admit to being a bit surprised to find out that they are not shifting on a general tender release, but no matter, I am very confident that they will retain us.

                “Zander, may I call you Zander, please come in.  Have a seat.  Who is this delightful lady, your PA, I am sure that she won’t be needed at this juncture, why don’t you join the ladies outside?” 

I turn to her and usher her out, signalling to my PA that she needs to keep her amused.  Two hours later we are done but no closer to signing the contract, it has been a frustrating time of it.  He goes to talk to his PA and then he looks at me and nods.

                “Gardner, we would be delighted to take you up on the offer of the table at the advertising dinner.” 

                “That is wonderful…the offer is obviously extended to your wonderful and ever present PA of course.”

She doesn’t smile but does nod her thanks and they leave. What a miserable bitch I think to myself.

                “It’s Black tie.”  I call out to him.

                “Obviously.”  He calls back.

ANNUAL ADVERTISING DINNER

BRIAN

Well we tried, I mean everyone tried, but there is no way that Vance is letting Stark go.  Cynthia tried her best but we could not get a meeting with them, but my pride and competitive spirit won’t let me go down without one last fight.  Ah Vance is schmoozing with them and raising his glass to me…fucker.  I raise and smile back, this contract is burning a hole in my pocket.

I head over and immediately Vance is out to block my path.

                “Brian what a…ahem…pleasant surprise to see you here.”

                “I wish I could say the same Gardner.”  I demur.

There is a snort from the table but I am not sure who it is from.

                “Gardner who is this?”

                “Zander Stark this is Brian Kinney he runs a little advertising agency in Pittsburgh…”

                “Brian Kinney as in Kinnetic, that Brian Kinney?”

I nod and shake hands with a handsome man he pulls out a chair and indicates I should sit down, I am slightly thrown off my game but not as much as Vance.

                “As in the Brian Kinney, Concerned Citizens for the Truth?”  He enquires

Okay this is weird.  I nod and look round the table, Gardner is looking confused.

                “Concerned Citizens for the…”

                “They released that video that took down and led to the indictment of Stockwell.”  He explains.

Gardner opens his mouth and closes it again.  We exchange glances as neither of us knows what the fuck is going on.

                “I had no idea that you are such a good looking man…”  Zander continues stroking my arm, I move away from his touch.

                “For fuck sake, get off your knees he has a partner!”  An irritated voice comes from two seats down.

We all turn to look at the exasperated woman indicating that a scotch needs to be poured and quickly.

                “And you are?”  I ask.

                “This is Zander’s ever present and wonderful PA…”  Gardner starts.

                “Oh fuck this I have had enough.  Give it to me just give it to me!”  She waves her hand in my direction.

                “What?”

                “The contract in your pocket…give.”

I hand over the contract and she reads it quietly.

                “It’s good?”  Zander asks.

                “Okay, you need to take out this and this…”  She indicates a pen and I quickly hand her one

                “Excuse me Zander but we are still in negotiations…”  Gardner blusters

                “Hi guys, now don’t you look reptilian Gardner…”  a familiar voice drawls.

I turn to see Cynthia looking beautiful and smug.

                “Okay these are thus stricken, you happy?”  The PA asks

I nod, she smiles at me and then she signs the contract.

                “Okay this will do for now, we will arrange another meeting for boards and all that bollocks that goes with it later, but you have to figure a way to incorporate “we die first” in there okay?”

She stands and knocks back the rest of her scotch, then she gives herself a shake, flicks me a wink and marches out followed by the rest of her team, leaving Gardner, Cynthia and I alone.

                “Seriously what the fuck just happened?”  I demand of a smiling Cynthia.

                “You just got a $15 million contract and I got a 20% bonus…oh and a little bit of revenge Gardner.  You see I never liked you and you made the same rookie mistake all misogynistic assholes do when they underestimate the power of an extremely pissed off woman!”

As I look back to the door I see Zander and his PA coming back, Cynthia chuckles and pulls me to my feet and as they reach the table Gardner stands.

                “Mr Kinney, I have just realised where are my manners?”  She states and sticks out her hand.

                “Zaden Stark, President and CEO of Stark Securities, I look forward to doing business with you.”

                “You!  You’re the…” Gardner blusters

She nods smugly and tucks her arm into mine and starts tugging me alongside her towards the bar, whilst explaining

                “The first time it was a printing error but people seemed to respond better security wise when they thought the company was run by a man so we went with it…now come Mr K, we need to get toasted!” 

I pause as I watch Cynthia head back to our table.

                “Hey Cyn!”

                “Yeah boss!”

                “30%”

She salutes me with her glass.

As we get to the bar, I start to laugh and then I hear that snort again.

                “Remind me never to ever piss you off.”  I tell her

She settles into her seat and signals the barman, two scotches arrive.  I watch as she eases her shoes off, scrunches her toes then sighs happily.

                “Look great hurt like fuck.”  She mutters

I snort into my glass and she chuckles and then winces when her stomach grumbles.

                “I would kill for a burger and fries right now.  Seriously why do they serve rabbit food at these fucking things?”

Bending down I grab her shoes and then her arm.

                “Come on.”

She looks surprised but lets me lead her out to the foyer, I notice a member of her team starts to follow, but one look is all it took for them to remain.

                “You have a coat.”

She nods, takes her shoes back and goes to collect it, she looks at me with a smirk playing on her lips.

                “Just need to put in a call.”  I say as I guide her outside to our car and try not to laugh when I realise she’s barefoot, swinging her shoes in her hand.

                “Once they are off they stay off.” 

I nod and once my car swings in front of us I let her in first, we head to an upscale burger joint and she orders wings and another couple of scotches, I order a salad and again with the snort.

                “Okay I give up what?”  I demand.

                “Nothing.”

                “Like I said, what?”

                “Okay.  Honestly?   Ooh wings are here.”   She all but snatches them from the waiter.

She puts a couple on my plate and raises an eyebrow.

                “Just eat the damn things.”  She grouses good-naturedly and picks up a wing sucking it clean.

Within minutes the wings are gone…she orders some more and winks at me.

                “No matter what is said right now the contract still stands right?”

I nod wanting to know seriously what the fuck is going on.

                “You both got played.  I’ve known Cynthia since junior high…”

I gape at her and she shrugs.

                “And?” 

                “I hate that fucker so wanted to waste his time, seriously “your ever present and wonderful PA” comments made me want to put a knife in his testicle.  So I put out a general tender the day before the contract was due for renewal so that at least he would spend more time trying to fight off other competition by offering us more and more, I just kept stalling and et voila here we are…”

                “We were always going to get this?”  I was dumbfounded.

She nods again and raises her glass.

                “I wanted to make it as public and as a painful as possible!  To fucking over our enemies and hopefully, having forgiven my deception, making new friends…”

                “To new friends…”  I salute her and then sat back and stare at her in wonderment.

After dinner I dropped her off at the hotel and head to Britin.  I call my Sunshine.

                “Hey.  Where are you are you okay?”  He sounds sleepy

                “10 minutes away can you stay awake until then?”

                “Mmm, I’ll make some coffee.  You okay?” 

                “Never better.  Oh I bought you hot wings and a burger.  Later baby.”

I cut him off before he can say anything else, I rest my head again the back of the seat and smile.  Once we get home I find my Sunshine in the kitchen reading a magazine, he hops of the seat and wraps himself round me.  I inhale his scent and hand him the food, the fact that he was looking round for it didn’t go unnoticed, see how much I love this man.

                “Oooh, love you!  Wait thought you were at that dinner.”

I nod and explain what happened and afterwards he just stares at me.

                “I have got to meet this woman!”

JULY 2014

After a month of negotiations and back and forth the advertising campaign for Stark Securities hits the media and of course it is a great success, yes even with the “we die first” slogan.  Another great, and surprising, success is the growing friendship between Brian, Justin and Zaden.  Unfortunately, the relationship between the Novotny Bruckners is not good.  No prizes for guessing who the main protagonist is? 

Excuse me a moment…dear readers talk amongst yourselves…you know what, I have to say you just need to give them a fucking break, they have both been sick and…oh a break is coming, well why didn’t you say?  I know I am just the narrator but, wait you mean, are you kidding me, ooh booyah…and back to narrating!

The Novotny Bruckners are not good, Michael cannot shift his resentment of Hunter being right about Ben and even worse, to him, he see the growing friendship between Ben and Steven and that leads to a whole host of problems that could’ve been avoided if he had kept his mouth shut…but he didn’t so here we go!

MID JULY 2014

GUS

I am on the way to Uncle Michael and Uncle Ben’s with Jenny though I am not sure why.  But judging by the grin on her face, Jenny does – she has the worst poker face it in the world but I love my little sister.  Hunter apparently was watching from the window for our arrival and he wrenches open the door before we even knock.

                “Dudes!”  He yelps and grabs us both into a hug.  “Almost happy birthday to you!”  He bellows

                “Hunter!”  Jenny gasps.  “Can’t breathe!”

                “Ah shit!  Sorry J!”  He immediately releases her.

I can hear Uncle Ben’s chuckles then he calls from the kitchen.

                “When you have quite finished trying to strangle them perhaps you would be kind enough to let them in?  I would like a hug from my daughter and nephew before you haul them into the depths of hell that is called your bedroom.”

He herds us into the house and Jenny immediately runs to her papa.  He engulfs her in a hug and then I am swept in.  I have to keep myself from crying when I think back to how we almost lost him.

                “Where’s dad?”  Jenny asks looking round

I notice that Hunter tenses slightly but hopefully J doesn’t. 

                “At the store he will be home soon.”  Uncle Ben replies.  “So who’s for food?”

                “Me!”  We all yell.

Before we can do anything else, the doorbell rings.

                “Must be the food order.”  Uncle Ben says.

As we unpack one box Uncle Ben frowns, this stuff looks expensive and what the hell is foie gras and caviar.  Uncle Ben is shocked.

                “I don’t understand…”  He begins

                “Wait, I have just thought!  Your anniversary is next Tuesday…”  Jenny says.

                “Oh shit, seal the box back up and leave them both back outside!  Not a word okay?” 

We all nod and start to reseal the box.

                “That looks good right?  Right?” 

We nod again and wait, we see Uncle Michael’s car pull up and he gets out and comes inside.

                “Hey guys how are you!”

He hugs me and Jenny and taps Hunter on the shoulder…a tap…seriously!  He goes back out and starts to bring one box in but doesn’t bring in the other.  We say nothing but flash secret smiles at each other.

                “Okay so what’s the plan tomorrow?”  Uncle Ben asks winking at Hunter

J giggles wraps her arms round me, Uncle Michael is not sharing our enthusiasm.  Hunter clears his throat and strides in front of me.

                “What?  What is going on?”

                “We…are…going…”

                “Jesus Hunter get on with it!”  I yell

                “To motocross!”

J and I look at him blankly for a second then look at each other, clearly she didn’t know about that!

                “Motocross?!”  J and I yell at the same time.

                “See I told you.  Not something that Je…”

Hunter bites his lip and was about to say something.

                “Hunter pile!”  We both scream and leap on him.

                “Ooof, get off seriously get the fuck off me!  Ribs, I need my ribs unbroken!”  He yells giggling.

                “Motocross as you kidding me, I thought you were going to tell him about the BBQ!”  Jenny yells.

                “What BBQ?”  I swivel to face her.

Uncle Ben is laughing and picks Jenny off of Hunter who smiles at him in relief.  We pick ourselves up and flop on the sofa.

                “Let me call your folks so that nobody needs to shout ‘surprise’ anymore!”

He heads to the kitchen chuckling to himself.

                “Hey Justin…what no it’s all good.  Yeah they arrived safely.  Um the thing is that Jenny said the B word yeah so no surprise there.  What okay hang on?”

He comes back in and hands me the phone.

                “Since you now know your papa wants to know what you want to eat.”

                “Can we take this upstairs?”  I ask

He nods but says we must bring it down when we are through.  After talking to papa Hunter tells all about tomorrow and I cannot wait.

JENNY

I think I need to have a word with papa, maybe I imagined that nasty look that dad gave Hunter.

MOTOCROSS CENTRE – NEXT DAY

HUNTER

I knew it!  I knew this would be a good idea!  We have been here all day, well most of the day.  Once we had the safety lecture and were suited and booted we were off.  It is the most awesome thing ever.  Okay I have to admit that I was a bit annoyed when Brian said he would pay for it because I wanted it to be my present to Gus but when he said I could do food I was okay.  We are the smallest of the groups here so we are pretty much left on our own to just do tag races and it is great fun.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and almost leap 10 feet in the air, the whoever the heck he is reaches under my helmet and does something.

                “Can you hear me?” 

I whip my head up in surprise and nod.

                “Great the name’s Matt and we are an odd group….shut up Tag….so if you want to join us that makes us 10 and then we can split into teams of 5 and make the rest of the day interesting…”

                “Gus, Jen you guys okay with this?”

They both nod and that is that, we don’t even stop for lunch and all too soon it is the end and we head to get changed.  Gus is hugging me hard and yelling at me.

                “The most awesome day ever!”

                “Seriously Gus how old are you today?”  Niche asks

                “16 today and we are having a BBQ at my dads’ tomorrow you guys want to come?”  He is tugging at his helmet to get it off.

There are general nods from our new friends.  Gus is grinning from ear to ear as is Jenny, not something she would be interested in my ass I think to myself. 

As I watch the rest of the gang introduce themselves properly as we only heard voices, I turn to “Matt” and I am looking into the brown eyes of the most beautiful man I have ever seen…