“I don’t know about that.”
“You got the client, didn’t ya?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Then, enough said.”
She walked over and took the lasagna out of the oven. As she placed it on the table, she asked, “So, how did it go with Viper today?”
“It took a turn I wasn’t expecting.”
“Oh?” She stopped to look at me. “How so?”
We both sat down, and we ate dinner as I told her all about my conversation with Viper. When I told her that I was interested in taking him up on his offer, she was more open to the idea than I expected. In fact, she was very encouraging. The little time she’d spent with them had proven to be enlightening, and she thought it was something I should truly consider.
And after thinking it over for a day or so, I decided she was right.
I just had to wait on Viper to call with the brothers’ decision.
That didn’t come until days later.
I was outside cleaning out the shed when I got a call from Viper. “You got Billy.”
“Hey, man. How’s it going?”
“Good. It would be better if I wasn’t out here cleaning out this damn shed.”
“You just doing a clean-out?”
“Yes and no.” I sat down on an old timber as I explained, “Everleigh wants to get a couple of goats and maybe some ducks. Figured we’d need a place to house them.”
“Sounds like you’ve got quite a job on your hands.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Good deal.” He paused for a moment, and I got the eerie feeling he was about to hit me with bad news. Instead, he said, “We had our vote tonight, and the club has decided to patch you in as an honorary member.”
“Okay. What does that entail?”
“It’s exactly what you wanted. You’ll have the support of the club and carry the name, but you won’t be required to work for the club or do runs.”
“Sounds good.”
“I thought you’d say that.” Viper sounded pleased as he said, “We’ve planned a run on Saturday as a welcoming of sorts. We’ll head up to the Dragon’s Tail and grab a bite to eat before heading back. It’ll give you and the boys a chance to get better acquainted.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Be sure to bring Everleigh, too.”
“Will do.”
As soon as we ended the call, I went inside and told Everleigh the news. Like me, she was pleased with their decision to make me an honorary member instead of a full brother. It was a sweet deal. I’d basically been given the best of both worlds.
When Saturday rolled around, we both put on our riding clothes and headed over to the clubhouse. As soon as we pulled up, several of the brothers came up and greeted Everleigh and me with a brotherly hug or a pat on the shoulder. Viper gave me a rocker with an honorary member patch on the lapel, and I’d just started to slip it on when Lynch came up and gave me a quick once over. “Holy shit. Jeans and a t-shirt? Damn, I didn’t know you owned anything other than a white dress shirt and khakis. And where are the glasses?”
“You serious?”
“I’m afraid he is,” Viper scoffed. “But you can’t say I didn’t warn ya.”