It took work to bite down on the counter argument that everyone ended up in that kind of trouble, at least once. There were idiots that went out looking to push their luck with the undead and then there were the people that stumbled into it. But it was probably a parental thing to not want your kid in danger, and Silas could understand that. “Oh yeah, harmless pipe bombs and shit,” he said instead, flashing a grin. “Soon as he’s old enough to understand not to blow himself up.” Because that would be just great, getting Rae’s only son injured because he’d shown him something before he understood the importance of safety.
“Well maybe once, if we think up something good,” he amended. “That’s why I love you,” he stated easily, “you’re always more than willing to get in on giving Reg and Brandon shit. Silas knew that neither one of them would be able to retaliate on EJ either, even if they didn’t have the same fondness for him that Silas did; it was hard being angry at a kid for long, or at all.
He chuckled under his breath. “You’re ridiculous, babe,” he told her fondly. “But that’s not me saying no to it either.” It was actually a really tempting suggestion. “And for the record, I never said I wasn’t lose clothes, just that I like the idea of you losing clothing more than me, but only ‘cause I get a great fucking view that way.” He stepped out of reach for just a second, just in case Rae suddenly and unexpectedly had turned violent. Most of him realized she probably expected statements like that now; he was a little predictable.
It was a reminder that his own shortcomings could affect their relationship, and how lucky he was that Rae could forgive him, otherwise they wouldn’t be where they were. He’d probably still be pining after someone he couldn’t have, because he couldn’t see where even if Rae couldn’t forgive his flaws where he’d be able to get over her all that easily. “Guess I didn’t think of it that way,” he said, concentrated on that smile for second. God, she was beautiful, even if she looked a little tired, but didn’t they all? Or was that just his brain trying to explain away something he should be more concerned about? “I’m okay with sharing you a little,” he added in assurance, ruffling EJ’s hair again, what little there was of it. “See, now that I like so much better,” at her admission, laughing at the fact that she pointed out something he’d been thinking. It seemed like a waste of power to put a movie on if they weren’t going to watch it anyways.
“Cruel woman,” he muttered when she’d settled against his side. “But yeah, even if you made my own friends keep this from me, it was totally worth the wait.” He swallowed down the concern at how tired she was, because he didn’t want to say something and ruin the moment. Rae always said she was fine, so what would him asking again make any difference. “If this bike was a woman I’d have sex with it, it’s that fucking awesome,” he admitted, laughing at himself for even saying it out loud. He was lucky that Rae knew him well enough that she’d been able to pinpoint such an amazing birthday gift for him.
He was lucky that he had a woman in his life that considered him important enough to go through the effort of conspiring with his friends just to make sure she could surprise him. Again he thought about how the year had brought on so many firsts. The motorcycle was by and far the biggest gift he’d received on his birthday ever. Even his family had never gone to lengths like that.
It cemented a lot in his brain; a renewed sense of needing to not mess things up again at the top of the list.
"Next chance we get I'm taking you for a ride," he told her, basking in the happiness of the moment un-apologetically.