ICE
“Prez.”I nod my head at Rage as I walk into the kitchen, this time making the coffee before the other dumb fucks can get ahold of the pot, somehow managing to screw up coffee. Must be hard to put the grinds in the filter, add water, and wait for it to percolate. Crush is sitting at a table, looking like he’s ready for battle. Not that I can blame him one bit. Rage is standing near the table, Jolie wrapped around him. Shadow is nowhere to be seen, so I figure he's in his office or still at home.
“Good mornin’, Jolie.” I take my first sip of coffee. Collins was still passed out, dead to the world when it was time for me to make my way downstairs. After yesterday afternoon, plus her schoolwork, she was worn out.
“Hey, Collins still asleep?” she asks, not upset in the least about the change in events. That’s just what family does.
“Yeah, she should be waking up soon. I set the alarm for her.” One of the last things Collins asked before standing up from the spot in my room, an old desk along with a chair and a lamp. I noticed when it came close to dinnertime, she still hadn’t gotten up, so I made her a drink, made us each a sandwich and chips. She didn’t dive into her food like she usually does. It’s why I closed the laptop on her, causing her to take a break and to actually eat.
“The girl never did like waking up early. We once thought she’d take a job at night with her penchant of sleeping in,” Jolie states. She’s not wrong either. It takes a bit to wake her up. Usually, the only way that works is if I’m between her thighs.
“It hasn’t changed yet, either.” The noise of motorcycles roaring up has us all standing up straighter. Talking is silenced because we all know what that means. Hawk and Rocket are here.
“Time to welcome the boys. Crush, you wanna get Shadow.” Rage doesn’t ask a question; it’s more like a statement. And even if Shadow is Crush’s father, that don’t mean dick when it comes to club business.
“Yeah, he’s in his office.” Crush pushes from the table, stands up, and makes his leave.
“If Ice has no objection to it, why don’t you wake our girl up. We’re going to be busy for a bit, and you know she’ll sleep through her alarm clock.” Rage doesn’t look at Jolie, though; he’s looking at me.
“Not a problem. It’s unlocked.” Collins was too tired to do anything after she ate the food I made and then returning to her schoolwork for us to do anything else. She took a shower, pulled on one of my shirts, got into bed, and basically collapsed into my arms with exhaustion.
“Thanks,” Jolie says, squeezing Rage one last time. I head towards the door, giving them time to talk. Already knowing it’ll be for the women to steer clear as we head into Church. Of course, afterwards, the cousins will want to say hello, but that’ll have to wait. Unfortunately, this isn’t a social hour, and if we miss our window of opportunity, who knows when we’ll get it back.
I’m just opening the door when Hawk and Rocket come to a stop, turning off their motorcycles, shit-eating grins on their faces when they see me and now Crush, as he didn’t waste any fucking time getting out of the clubhouse either. I’m thinking it was a good idea that I made leave even more so now, having an idea of just what Rage and Jolie are doing.
“Boy, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” Hawk says as he climbs off his bike. The Texas chapter didn’t make it to Crush’s welcome home party, and with everything else going on, no one has really made a fuck ton of runs to Texas or vice versa.
“About time you got your asses out here,” Crush tells the two of them.
“Good to see you guys,” I tell them. We do our own version of hellos and pull one another in by a handshake to give a hug.
“You think the coast is clear?” I ask Crush. He grimaces, figuring they’d be doing something no one would want to see. Rage may be my Prez, but one day, he’ll be my father-in-law, and there are some things I don’t want to see.
“Shit, it’s like we’re right at home.” Fortunately, just after Rocket says those words, Shadow appears, giving us the all-clear.
“Brothers, let’s get this show on the road, yeah?” We all agree, heading into the clubhouse, Hawk and Rocket with a bag on their shoulders. Crush and I let them go in front of us yet following Shadow’s lead. I didn’t think we were outside too long until we make our way inside. Collins is up, a cup of coffee to her lips, hair rumpled from sleep, in my shirt still, though she added what looks like a pair of my pajama pants judging by how loose they are on her body.
“Holy shit, you two are here. That spells trouble,” Collins says with a smile. She stops by my side, leaning up for my lips. I brush them across hers, knowing she’ll want to say hello to her cousins as well.
“Heard you were shacked up with Ice. Guess the rumors were true.” Hawk pulls Collins into a side hug, then Rocket does the same.
“Well, you know how it goes. You go after what you want. Apparently, Monroe and I have more in common than I thought.” Except Cannon had to face the whole Texas chapter, which is a fuck ton bigger than we are. I’m pretty sure I got off on it easy, not that I prefer that. I’ll just show my worth in more ways than one.
“In more ways than one, huh?” Rocket looks at her clothes and shakes his head.
“Shut up and let me talk to my Ol’ Man so you can get to work,” she gives him shit right back, not taking anything from nobody. Fuck, but Collins was made for me, for this life, and I’m about to steal her away from her cousins because who the hell knows how long this damn meeting is gonna go.
“Church!” Rage calls out. Just like that, I know I’ve got a limited amount of time, and I need a pulse on how Collins is doing.
“Babe.” My hand reaches for hers; she takes it as I pull her in, our wrapped hands going to my chest.
“Hey, Pax.” I see the beauty before me, the softness surrounding her face, giving away that she’s not completely awake yet.
“’Mornin’. Not sure how long this is gonna go. Could be a few minutes, could be hours. I’d feel better if you stuck around here tonight, though, okay?” I don’t go into detail, and I know she won’t ask.
“I can do that, but if I don’t start moving, I’m going to be late for work, and as much as I hate my job, I do kind of need it for the time being.”
“Hate that you hate it. Wish I could do somethin’ about it. Already know what you’ll say if I offer you somethin' else. So, for the time bein’, you do what you gotta do. Eat, take your meds, go to work, and come here.” Collins gets the seriousness in my tone and nods her head. My lips go to hers, making it quick so as not to get my ass reamed from Rage and Shadow.
“Be safe, okay?” Collins squeezes me closer, head resting on my shoulder, and if I had more time, I’d hold her longer.
“Always, babe, always.”