Wild Card

by Elsie Silver

For the ones who were told their dreams were too dreamy but who went on to make them come true anyway.

“At least then I wouldn’t have to spend all my free time with a guy who cries as he masturbates while thinking about his son’s ex-girlfriend.”

Yes, Clyde pays me for my time, but if he stopped, I’d continue to show up. Hell, I’ve even offered to do it for free, which, in hindsight, I think offended him. He’d hobbled away and come back with a handful of cash, shoving it at me brusquely. Then he looked me straight in the eye and told me to never work for free. To never sell myself short or question my value. I cried in my truck after that and never brought it up again.

West strides out of his kitchen with a shit-eating grin on his face and a kidney-shaped cake in his hands. He stops at the head of the table, right beneath the banner that reads We’re going to miss you, Daddy! “Bash, congratulations on finally finding your perfect match,” he announces to the dining room full of our friends. “None of us expected it to be Clyde, but sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants. And I, for one, could not be happier for you. Or him.”

“Quit gawking at his ass,” Clyde whispers, making me snap my gaze away. “I’m not. I’m looking at his back.” He giggles. This grizzled old man giggles. Like a little girl. My eyes narrow, and now it’s my turn to cross my arms and look down my nose at him. Suspicious. “Are you in pain?” “Me? No. I’m on more drugs than I’ve taken in my entire life. I can’t even feel my face.”

I lean toward Clyde with a stage-whisper loud enough that Bash can hear. “He reminds me of Oscar the Grouch sometimes.” Then I turn back to face Bash, wanting to reassure him that I understand. “I love how honest you’re being with us about your expectations and what you need. Clear communication will make sharing the space easier for everyone.” Clyde nods solemnly. “Bash, we understand. This is your trash can, and we’re just living in it.”

“When I built this place, I thought I’d have kids.” I swallow and nod softly. “The room you’re staying in was supposed to be the perfect kid’s room. The bench. The window. I figured by a certain age, they’d want to use the balcony too. But then I worried that when they were small, it might be a safety issue. So I put a dead bolt on the outside so my wife or I could⁠—” He trips over his own words, stopping midsentence with an irritated twist of his lips before forging ahead. “Whatever. I just figured I could lock it from the outside, then head back into my room from the shared balcony and not have to worry about a curious toddler wandering out.”

“You know what’s complicated?” Tabby’s head rolls toward me. “Life. Life is complicated. And short. Gwen, life is too damn short not to wade through all the complications. And you guys are too hot not to bang. I’ve seen the fuck-me eyes you give each other.” I bark out a laugh. “Tabitha. You’ve had too much wine.” The tiny woman just waves me off. “You heard me. If you’re allowed to tease Rhys and me about chakras, then we get to talk about Bash. He needs chakra 911. The only cure is doing naked yoga with the hot teacher.”

“Gwen, I just want you to know that if I were you, I’d fuck my ex-boyfriend’s dad, and I wouldn’t even feel bad about it because that other guy sounds like a fucking loser.”

“You that fucking eager, Gwen?” I taunt. “Yeah. I am,” she breathes.

“The thing is, Gwen, next time you want to watch me, you should just ask.” My brain function stutters as my eyes snap to his. “Pardon me?” “You heard me.”

“That he was a fool to let you get away. But that it was just as well because I could fuck you better.” I suck in a breath as Bash’s dark eyes bore into mine. “Listening to him talk about you made me want to come home and take you just to prove to myself that I could. Does that make me jealous, Gwen?” My heart hammers against my ribs, and I lick my lips, meeting his wild gaze. “I think it does.”

This big strong man who shows up for everyone around him, who always does the right thing, looks beaten down, and I can’t handle it.

So anyway, enjoy your life while you’ve got it. That’s what I say. Tomorrow is never promised.”

Rose Hill isn’t just beautiful—it’s majestic. “Wow,” I sigh. Because no other word seems to do this view justice. “This is beautiful.” “Yeah. It is,” Bash agrees. But when I turn back to face him, he’s not looking out the window. He’s looking at me.

“You gonna be a mouthy, little tease about this, Gwen?”

“Tight as fuck,” I grit out, moving my hips in tandem with hers. “I love you like this.” “Like what?” she murmurs, entranced. “All mine.” Our eyes meet in the dim cockpit. “I am.” And fuck, it’s music to my ears. “Mine,” I repeat, increasing the speed of my shallow thrusts. “All yours,” she whispers, pulling me in for another kiss, clenching and releasing my girth as she does. We kiss. We move. I let my hands roam her body, tracing every curve.

“Bash needs a little fun too, you know,” Clyde says, looking out toward him and drawing Tripp’s gaze in the same direction. “It’s nice to see him like this. He works so hard. He’s so tightly wound sometimes. Now he’s out there getting all wild. Bare feet, shirt buttons undone one too far…” I smile and nod along with Clyde’s assessment until I realize that, without his corduroy jacket, the skin on Bash’s chest and neck is far more visible than I realized. Clyde continues like a steam engine down the tracks. “A beer in his hand, big old hickey on his neck.” I freeze, but only for a beat, willing myself to act as naturally as possible. Because yes, there is a big hickey on Bash’s neck, and yes, I’m the one who left it there.

“Fuck, fuck!” she cries out again, and it’s too loud. I reach forward, cupping a hand over her mouth. “Gwen, baby, I need you to be quiet. You can scream for me later. But right now, I need you to shut your mouth and take this cock like the good girl I know you can be.”

“Guinevere, what are you doing?” I smirk and ditch the bra too. “Giving you a parting gift.” “Fuck,” he groans. “This is not helping me want to leave.” I shoot him a sultry wink. “Gotta keep you coming back for more.” He sobers for a beat. “I’m never going to get enough. I can promise you that much. I’ll always be coming back to you.”