“To the next generation,” I said with a grin at Allison as she beamed with joy.
“Who’s next, do you think?” Darcy asked after taking a sip from her mug, her eyes skimming over us.
“Don’t look at me,” Rachel said. “I could go a few more years without a baby. No offense.”
Allison shrugged. “None taken.”
“I’m not even dating a Blue Angel,” Joni said. “Ah, shit.”
“What?” I asked. “Is it your arm? Does it hurt?”
She shook her head. “I’m supposed to go on that date with the doctor I work with. How the hell am I supposed to explain this?” She pointed to her bandage.
“Tell him you’re a klutz,” Rachel suggested.
“And that you were holding a vase of flowers, tripped over your own two feet, and the vase went flying and you went down and cut yourself on the broken glass,” Darcy said.
“You came up with that story really fast,” I remarked with a laugh.
“It’s a good story,” Darcy said.
“Not if you’re a nurse and you hold people’s lives in your hands,” Joni stated. “If I tell that story, he won’t think I’m a klutz, he’ll think I’m an idiot who can’t be trusted. He likes me because I’m competent, not some goof.”
Rachel frowned. “I’m pretty sure he likes you because you’ve got a great rack.”
“I’ve got a great rack?” Joni asked with a smile, puffing out her chest.
“Dynamite,” Rachel said. “I’d kill for your rack.”
“You guys are kind of amazing, you know that, right?” I smiled. Their banter reminded me a lot of Shelly. I thought about how much she’d like these women and I couldn’t wait to introduce her to them. She’d quickly get over her biker aversion when she saw how they all treated me.
Like it didn’t matter that I was in a world of shit, or that I brought it to their front door or that Joni had gotten injured because she’d been with me at Shortie’s.
“What’s wrong?” Joni asked quietly. The other three women were smiling and talking and hadn’t noticed I’d fallen into a somber state.
“Just thinking.” I shook off my mood. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop feeling guilty,” she said. “It’s not necessary. I’m okay, Mia.” She squeezed my hand to take the sting out of her reprimand.
I heard the slam of the back door and then voices. The kitchen was suddenly overrun by Darcy’s two children and Cheese’s brother, Silas. He was a skinny kid with skinned knees, but his smile was big and goofy. His ears stuck out just a bit, but I knew in a few years, after braces and a growth spurt, he’d be a good-looking teenager. With a biker as an older brother, I was sure he’d learn how to swagger and break a few hearts.
“Mom, I’m hungry!” Cam said.
“Me too!” Lily yelled. “Hi, Mia!”
I smiled at the adorable girl. “Hey, Lil.”
The kitchen was suddenly filled with people—church had ended and the bikers were now back, grabbing plates of food and sitting at any available spot.
Colt came up behind me, reached over my shoulder and took a half-eaten piece of bacon off my plate, and popped it into his mouth.
“Hey,” I said. “I was going to eat that.”
He grinned after he swallowed. “No you weren’t.”