Chapter 15
Loyalty
We pulled up to Shenanigans, which was a local bar and grill that made every day feel like St. Patrick’s Day, and had drinks so stiff that you felt the luck of the Irish was within you. Luke gracefully slid from the bike and held his hand out to me while I clambered off. He introduced me to his V.P. Worm and his wife Luci B. Worm was a tall slender guy with a deep voice and looked even taller next to his petite wife who smiled kindly at me. They both hugged me as if I were a part of their family. Maybe this night wasn’t going to be so bad after all.Luke grabbed my hand and we walked in to find the whole left side of the bar filled with bikers. Each one stood up as Luke walked in and he took turns hugging each one and introducing me as “Dallas,” but never giving me a title. I didn’t complain. Hell, at least he was actually acknowledging my presence.
Regg and Red were there along with Tiny and War who I had remembered meeting a few weeks ago. I was slightly embarrassed remembering what had happened last time I was with them all, but if they knew anything of it, I couldn’t tell. There were also a lot of people there I had not met. All were patch members and their women who I assumed were their ol’ ladies; Coon and Carla, Octane and Juggs, Buck and Baby, Kev and Gypsy, Boss Hogg and Texas, Scratch, Bear, Crash and three PROSPECTS. Everyone greeted me warmly and each hugged me. I could feel the love in the room that I was in, well until Maddie sashayed her way from the back and into Luke’s arms. He never let go of my hand, but returned her hug and asked, “Maddie, you remember Dallas?”
I could see in her eyes that she would rather eat shit than acknowledge my presence, but she surprised me by saying, “Yes, I do. It’s good to see you again, Dallas. How is your head?” The bitterness in her voice and her ending comment made me want to slap that sour look off her face, but instead I just answered her in the most polite voice I could manage.
“Eat me Maddie.” I had not realized that all eyes were on me when I said it. Everyone in the club seemed to be waiting for my response from the moment she had walked in. Luke shot me a disapproving look, but everyone else seemed to find it humorous because the whole bar erupted in laughter. Maddie rolled her eyes and stormed off. I heard several comments like “I told you” and “You owe me a beer” and I knew that my reaction toward Maddie had been wagered. I silently wondered who bet against me. That kind of information might be valuable in the future.
Everyone was chatting away-laughing, talking, and flirting. I saw why Luke loved his club so much. Everyone seemed to be family here and other than Maddie, they all seemed to accept me as part of it too.
I sat at the head of the table next to Luke, and from my seat I had a clear view of everyone around us. Worm and Luke seemed to be in deep conversation about something and Luci B, who sat next to Worm, was laughing and chatting with Red. Coon and Carla were in their own world. They seemed so in love with one another. I felt like I was intruding just by watching them, so I allowed my eyes to leave and fall on Juggs who was adjusting her breasts in her shirt, which seemed pointless considering Octane was constantly playing with them. Buck and KD, along with Scratch, Bear and Crash were listening intently to Kev who must have been telling a joke, because they all erupted with laughter. Gypsy rolled her eyes and shook her head at Kev, obviously disgusted at what he said. The PROSPECTS were nowhere to be found and neither was Maddie.
Tiny came up behind us and tapped Luke on the shoulder, motioning for him to come outside. With a nod of his head, every man at the table stood and followed Tiny out.
“Good luck Babe,” Luke whispered in my ear.
“Thanks a lot,” I responded laughing. He laughed with me and leaned down kissing the top of my head, and then walked out. My eyes followed him and I had a big goofy smile on my face when my eyes fell on all the women at the table. They were all staring at me open mouthed as if I were an alien.
“What?” I asked.
Red was the first one to recover. “Nothing, it’s just good to see Luke happy,” she said smiling. The other women nodded in agreement and choruses of “yeah” and “that’s right” rang out from all of them while they busied themselves with their phones and drinks and averted their eyes to anything but me.