“And that is exactly why you need to be wearing it. We’re all worn and weathered. We’ve seen war, have more blood dripping from our hands than we know what to do with. You still have a fighting chance at doing something great with thisclub.”
“Thanks, man. I needed to hear that.” He slapped me on the shoulder. “Also, that chick is pretty cool. Raine seems to really like having herhere.”
“I’m trying to convince her to stick around.” I couldn’t help the smile that spread on myface.
“Well, if there’s anything I can do to help make that happen, all you have to do is ask.” He gave me a little wink and then turned to head back over to where Raine and Sloan were still planted on thecouch.
“Dinner time!” Crickett yelled, walking back into thekitchen.
“Need some help?” I asked, handing her back the woodenspoon.
“Get your butt in a chair at the table with everyone. I got this.” She turned off the burner and grabbed the muffin trays out of theoven.
It was nice to have everyone sitting around the table. There was no talk about revenge, rage, murder, the shop, the bar—nothing. It was just a big family having dinner together. We laughed, told old stories, drank way too much, and ate evenmore.
I looked over to Sloan as she snickered at something Raine said, and the lightheartedness of her laughter had me over the moon. Her cherry Cupid’s bow perked up, making her cheeks almost jiggle with elation. It was adorable. In that moment, I declared it my sole mission in life to never let that smile fade from herlips.
After dinner, I walked up to Ryder and Red on the front porch. I sat on the railing across from where Ryder was smoking ajoint.
“Want some?” heoffered.
“Nah, thanks though man. Hey, I was thinking…” I trailed off trying to find the rightwords.
Red chuckled. “That’s never a goodsign.”
I ignored him. “What if Red, Sloan, and I head back to the garage and sleep there? That place is damn near a fortress when it is all locked up, and it’s fucking crowded as shit in thisplace.”
Ryder narrowed his eyes at me. “I feel like I should say no, but at this point, I’m too drunk and high to care what the fuck you do. Just don’t get yourselves killed. That’s all Iask.”
Red heaved up from his chair. “Fuck yeah. Take me home or lose me forever.” As he started to dig his keys out of his front pocket, he stumbled alittle.
“Whoa there, big fella. How about I take Crickett’s truck and drive all three of us? We’ll come get the bikes in the morning. It’ll be better if our bikes aren’t out frontanyway.”
Ryder pointed at me. “Damn, good thinking. Remind me to keep you around,brother.”
“You couldn’t get rid of me if you fucking tried, man.” I slapped Ryder on the shoulder before turning to Red. “You drunk ass, you’re going to break your damn leg if you get too close to those stairs.” I made Red sit back down so I could get Sloan and head back. I was fucking tired, and it was time for the day toend.
“Hey love, you ready to go?” I put my hand on the small of her back as her soft doe eyes locked ontomine.
“Go? I thought we had to stayhere.”
I smirked and shook my head. “I got us a pass to playhooky.”
Raine grabbed my hand. “How fucked up is my husband rightnow?”
I laughed, putting my hand on her arm. “I am pretty sure he is pretty far gone. It’s time for you to take him tobed.”
“Fuck, that’s what Ithought.”
Chapter 10
Sloan
As the days went on,I grew more and more attached to all the members of the club. Raine had turned into the best friend I had ever had—how fucking sad is that?I had only known her for a damn blink of an eye and she was my best friend. I couldn’t understand how it was so easy for me to be that comfortable with everyone as quickly as I was. Things like that shouldn’t happen—they didn’t happen. It felt like I was in some weird TVshow.
Trent had turned into an addiction. He was so soft and kind with me, something I had never known in past relationships. There was something so different about him, even in the way he looked at me. I knew fate existed every time he smiled at me. It was all too serendipitous, and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I couldn’t let myself get too carried away; it had only been a few days for crying outloud.
“Your week is up.” Trent sat on the end of the bed in the tiny back room of the shop. He was trying to wipe grease off his hands with an old rag with very littleluck.