“I’ve got Grudge tailing her. If she makes a move, I’ll know.”
“Okay.”
Brushing a knuckle along my cheek, he murmurs, “As natural and easy as breathing.”
“What is?”
“Being with you. I want to do it right this time, Alexa.”
“I think it’s a little late for that.”
“Just get in the shower. Wylla Mae will be there.”
**
James rides through the gates of the clubhouse and rolls to a stop in his parking spot. I reluctantly follow him off the bike and allow him to hold my hand as we go around back to where everyone is hanging out by the picnic tables. I’m only here because our daughter is supposed to be. I scan the crowd for Wylla Mae’s face not finding any sign of her.
“Heard the good news, Prez.” James let’s go of my hand to do some sort of weird back slapping hug with a brute of a guy. The name on his cut says Viking. I’ve seen him in passing but don’t really know the guy. He’s a tall blond with tribal tattoos running the length of both his arms in full sleeves. “Ding dong that bitch is gone. Fuck me.” His gaze roams over me. “Looking fit as fuck, Alexa.” He releases James and comes straight at me. Hands going to my hips, lifting me into a spinning hug. Viking plants a sloppy wet kiss right on my mouth.
“Hands off my Old Lady,” James snaps through his gritted teeth at the guy.
I slide down his tree trunk of a body and return to James’s side.
“Shit. Didn’t waste no time. No disrespect meant, man. I’m gonna go see about a beer.”
“Yeah you do that before I stick a boot in your ass.”
“He seems friendly.”
“Too damn friendly.” He tucks me into his side.
“I feel like everyone is staring at me.”
“That’s because they are.” He chuckles and I punch him in the rib.
“Ugh. This was a terrible idea.”
“Want everyone to know that after all these years I finally got the girl.”
“We’ll see.” I can tell he wants to argue by the way the corner of his mouth twitches under his facial hair. “You need a shave. Starting to look like a mountain man.”
“Didn’t hear no complaints when I had my face buried between them legs. C’mon. Let’s get some grub.”
We move through the crowd. James pausing every two steps to bullshit with another club member. Some of them I know. Many of them I don’t recognize. Holy must be new. I’m happy to see Slick is still around after all these years. He’s always been good to me. When I heard the news about Nickel it bothered me more than I expected it to. He was the club VP and always looked out for Wylla and me from afar under James’s orders, but I found comfort knowing I could always call on the man for anything. I hadn’t needed to for some time. Not with Easton Reed always ready to swoop in and save the day for Wylla Mae like some sort of damn hero riding on his Harley instead of a horse.
I should’ve seen it coming. East and Wylla Mae falling in love. The two of them were always drawn together like magnets. Even when she was nothing more than a child they had a bond no one else could compete with. I finally spot the two of them by the buffet style table. East is loading her plate down with macaroni salad. Her hands rests on each side of her baby bump. Their baby girl is due in a few weeks. I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandma. Seems like only yesterday I was pregnant with her. I squeeze James’s hand and motion to our daughter. He gives me a squeeze then a nod.
“You came.” Wylla smiles big and after all these years I’m still never prepared for the pang of guilt that hits me when I look into her eyes and see the resemblance she holds to Rochelle. Like my deceased friend she has her father’s big brown eyes.
“Your dad said you’d be here.”
“I told him to invite you. Grab a plate. Pam will be offended if you don’t eat. She’s been prepping for this all week.”
“Okay.” I don’t think Pam will be too torn up if I don’t pay my compliments to the chef, but I keep that to myself. Link’s woman never has liked me. Always turned her nose down at me because I was the other woman. Old Ladies don’t hold any love for a clubwhore. And though technically I never played the part that’s how she viewed me. I get it, but I never crossed that line. I only ever dated single club members. It was all to get under James’s skin. Not that it matters now. It’s all in the past. “I’ll meet you at the tables.”
East gives me a nod. I’m accepting of him as my son-in-law, but there’s still an awkward tension I’m hoping will fade soon. We never were compatible, and I’m glad my daughter has him. I’ve never seen a man more devoted than he is to her.
I grab a hot dog and squirt some mustard on it. Pam keeps giving me this funny side eye glance. I’m surprised she’s biting her tongue. She’s always been a woman who doesn’t hold back. I know James wants me to fit in and get along, so I make sure I get a heaping pile of her potato salad even though I don’t really care for it. When I get to the end of the table where the coolers are, she approaches.