Epilogue
Three Months Later
“And there it is.”
With one final slamming of the nail, Brock stepped back from the front door, nodded at his handiwork, and turned to the rest of us. All of the Black Reapers, along with the Rogers girls, had come here today to witness a big moment for us.
The opening of the Black Reapers MC: New Mexico Chapter Clubhouse.
“I now declare this place open for pool, shots, and parties.”
The boys cheered. Tara and Elizabeth smiled to the side. Elizabeth looked a little concerned—I didn’t think she’d ever quite get to the level of comfortably partying with us boys with ease—but I knew full well in the time since we’d started dating, her discomfort had nothing to do with me.
She wouldn’t have said what she had said if she’d felt anything other than completely comfortable.
Brock and I led everyone, including Tara and Elizabeth, into the clubhouse. Brock had already lined the bar with liquor, and everyone, even Elizabeth, poured themselves a shot. We cheered “to the new motherfuckers in town,” tapped our glasses on the table in front of us, and downed it.
“And to you two!” Garrett yelled. “Thanks to you two taking the only good girls left, we’re only left with the bad ones. What a shame!”
Everyone, even Mason and Connor, two people usually more prone to a fight than a chuckle, laughed at Garrett’s words. Small groups splintered off, and I turned to Elizabeth, who had remained all but bonded to my side.
“Not bad, huh?” I said.
“I prefer the privacy of your home,” she said. “But I think I could come to the occasional party if it means supporting you.”
“Such a generous soul,” I said, pulling her in and squeezing her side. “By the way, has your father gotten over you rejecting his promotion?”
“Oh, hell no,” Elizabeth said, her scoff making me laugh. “Tara’s helping me look for other jobs in the area.”
“Oh, damn.”
But Elizabeth shook her head, placing one hand gently on my cheek.
“Don’t sound upset,” she said. “I mean it when I say I’m grateful to you for showing me the other side of things isn’t always as filthy or ugly as I might have once feared.”
“Yeah?” I said. “Well, I’m more grateful to you for showing me I could be loved and can give love.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, I’m most grateful for you, Steele Harrison.”
“Nuh-uh, I’m most grateful for you.”
“Jesus Christ, you kids, go back to the fucking house,” Garrett said as he walked by.
We both just laughed, pressed our foreheads together, and smiled with love at the other.
“I love you,” Elizabeth said.
I was tempted to start the game all over again and say I loved her more. But for now, the moment was good as it was.
“And I love you.”
I clasped her cheek, and we shared a gentle kiss. It was tempting to ramp up the intensity, just to get her riled up so I could give her that quiet space that she preferred—
“What the fuck does that mean, Garrett?”
I pulled back, so taken aback by Mason’s sudden jarring tone that I wondered if we’d break in the clubhouse with a brawl as much as we would shots and a party.
“Sorry, man!” Garrett said. “You know how I am; I’m just making a joke!”
