Page 75 of The Riders’ Reign

“What’s a good idea?” a female voice comes from behind us.

“Fuck me.” I practically jump out of my skin.

I turn around to see Camile smiling sweetly at me. “What ya doing?” she asks faux innocently.

“Nothing,” I say, scuffing the ground with my foot and not meeting her eye.

“Feeding his armadillo,” Ghost chimes in at the same time.

“Do we need to check you out for a brain injury?” I tap his head, and he bats me away. “P-O-R-C-U-P-I-N-E.”

“What’s a good idea?” Camile insists.

“I think we should do something fun now Jack is home.” I shrug.

“Well, I imagine there will be a big party before Jack’s original chapter heads home.” Camile gestures to outside the barn, as if showing me where said party would occur.

“I meant just the five of us.” I clarify. “To try to get Jack used to the… umm… dynamics.”

“Oooohhh, the dynamics.” Camile’s mouth twitches, and Ghost laughs softly.

“Fine, fuck you both.”

I start to walk away, irritated, but Camile hurries after me and grabs my arm. “Hey, Ace, I’m only joking. I think it’s a really good idea, actually.”

“You do?”

“Yes, I do.”

“But what sort of thing should we organize?” Ghost catches up with us as we stroll back toward the clubhouse.

“I know.” Camile claps her hands. “There’s something I’ve always wanted to do ever since being a kid. I never had the chance growing up.”

“What’s that?” I’m keen to make her dream come true.

“A picnic.”

I stare at her for a moment. “A picnic?”

“Yep, a picnic. With a proper picnic basket. I’ve always wanted one.”

The yearning in her voice has me getting half hard because it’s almost sexual. Still, it’s hard to imagine four massive, tattooed bikers, sitting down to eat out of a cutesy picnic basket.

“You know, those wicker ones, with the straps that hold all the plates and cutlery in place?” She sighs. “Some of the fanciest stores sell them. I think you can get them from that super upmarket store in London. What’s the name?”

London? We can’t go shopping in London. What is she talking about? I don’t know, not really, but I nod as if I am following it all, just so I don’t stop her daydreaming, because she’s so pretty like this.

“They are amazing,” she says. “We have to get one, obviously cheaper and local, and then I can plan the picnic.” She nibbles on her lower lip. “Can any of you cook or bake?”

“I can cook,” Ghost says. “But the ol’ ladies will make us a ton of food to go.”

“Noooo, I want us to do it. Fancy little sandwiches, and cakes and stuff.”

Camile’s eyes are so happy that I don’t want to ruin her fun by pointing out that we’d all prefer chicken thighs and corn.

“What would these fancy little sandwiches have in them?” Ghost asks warily.

“Cucumber. I don’t know what else, but I saw people eating cucumber sandwiches once on an old TV show, and it looked so whimsical.”