Someone turns the music up just as a man yells from the other side of the room that the turkey is resting and better not be rushed like a damn prospect! Laughter ripples through the kitchen.
Amber loops her arm through mine. “Come on, Mindy, let’s get you a drink before someone else picks a fight with you.”
“Are they always so hateful?”
Amber nods. “Almost always. Some are better than others. Mostly they’re just hateful and jealous.”
She guides me to one of the long tables set up in the common room. They’re mismatched and heavily damaged, clearly dragged together over the years for moments just like this. Folding chairs line the sides, some already claimed by men laughing too loud, others saved with jackets slung over the backs.
But the food…
Wow does the food look amazing!
A giant glistening turkey is being carved up by the tall man named Bigfoot, and there’s a cherry glazed ham, already sliced and ready for consumption. The mashed potatoes are swimming in butter, with a cute little gravy boat filled to the brim with thick gravy, setting by its side. Beside it are all my favorite Thanksgiving sides: green bean casserole, and stuffing made the right way because it’s homemade and not out of a box. There are large sweet potatoes that look delicious set next to a typical marshmallow yam casserole. But it’s the perfectly browned rolls stacked like little clouds on a platter that have my mouth watering. My carb control wavers around the holidays.
Someone even attempted to put out some cranberry sauce, but it looks suspiciously like it came out of a can, though no one seems to care.
Gremlin darts past me with one of my pies already cut into pieces. “This peach pie is out of this world,” he announces to no one in particular.
I can’t help but smile.
Then I feel it. That familiar pull.
I look up just in time to see Krampus step back into the room. His jaw is tight, eyes storming with rage. He only softens when he sees me staring at him, lifting his mood just for a moment, smiling just long enough to make my chest ache.
He doesn’t come to me right away. He goes to Drac, murmurs something in his ear before Drac claps him on the shoulder, and nods.
He keeps my stare as he marches across the room, only stopping when he’s in front of me, his presence steady like an anchor.
“You okay?” he asks, low enough so only I can hear.
I nod. “Yeah. I am now.”
His hand brushes over mine. I can barely feel it, but it’s possessive… intentional… like he’s making sure there’s no one else stupid enough to intervene. Then he takes the seat beside me, placing his arm over my shoulders like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
He's wearing that stupid mask again, but I don’t have the heart to make him take it off. He told me himself that large gatherings of people make him nervous.
Dinner is anything but quiet.
Someone argues over who carved the turkey last year as Bigfoot complains about the chair size being too small. A man playfully steals food off Autumn’s plate and earns a quick smack to the chest. I’m guessing that’s her man, Phantom, but we haven’t been properly introduced. Voorhees stands up obnoxiously, quieting the room.
“Prez has asked me to say grace, so let’s all bow our heads.”
The room goes silent, everyone’s head bowed in silent prayer.
“Dear Lord,” he starts, taking on a gospel tone. “We’d like to thank the big biker in the sky for allowing us to come together to share this wonderful meal. We’re thankful that the women prepared this ginormous feast for us, and that Gremlin wasn’t allowed in the kitchen.”
Gremlin’s voice carries. “Hey now, I helped with some things.”
A few of the men chuckle.
“We also want to thank you for bringing new friends into our lives. As everyone knows, we’re all a family here, and once you break bread with us, you become a part of our family too. So, Autumn, Mindy, here’s a roll for each of you. We’d like to formally invite you to be a part of our Elm Street Rider family.”
The warm bread is placed in my hand, just as Autumn reaches over to touch hers to mine. “Cheers,” she shouts, immediately popping a piece of bread into her mouth.
“Cheers,” I answer back.
Drac gathers everyone’s attention right before they dig in. “I just want to thank all the ladies for making this meal, and if anyone starts any shit tonight, I’m putting them on dish duty.”
