“So, this is where the party is?”
We all turned to see my brother walk in. His eyes lingered on Connor, and I saw the question pass through his eyes, the one that was always there when they laid eyes on each other, the“You good?”Connor just rolled his eyes, as always, then got up and jumped over the back of the sofa causing Lily to screech about watching the fabric. He just laughedand threw his arm around Warren. It looked like a bro hug to the rest of them, but I knew what it really was.
Hudson came into the room behind Warren. His eyes went straight to me, and I was slightly shocked when I saw the same look in his eyes as Warren gave Con. I ducked my head but kept looking at his face. I didn’t think he would be so blatantly open about it. After the day I got hurt, where he publicly claimed me and no doubt caused Tanya to lose her shit, he’d kept things on the down low.
“You heard then?” Warren indicated the TV as he thanked Lily for bringing him a bottle of beer.
“Your friend did a good job,” I told him.
“She isn’t finished yet,” he said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“She’s already had contact with more women.”
“Already?”
“It’s not like we didn’t think it was a possibility. In fact, it’s what we wanted.” He frowned. “That came out wrong.”
“I know what you mean,” I said. “So they can get justice.”
He ran a hand through his hair and nodded. “Okay,” he switched off the sadness. “This is a celebration, Rosa! Where’s the rest of the booze?”
“Over at the clubhouse,” she said dryly. “Don’t you boys think you can be coming in here to our place just because the fourth in your little quadrangle is here.”
“You love having us here. It’s an honor and a privilege,” Connor told her solemnly, then burst out laughing. “I’ll even go get the beer!” he sang out as he left the room to go to the kitchen.
Warren walked to Rosa and hugged her to him. It was something he did a lot, I noticed, and I smiled, enjoying seeing this side of my brother. “We want it to just be us tonight,” he told her. “Celebrate this win in private.”
Rosa glanced at me and nodded. But then glared at all three men. “You make a mess, you clean it up. And no loud music. There are kids around and Lana is due to pop in the next week or two.”
“Right, you are boss,” Warren saluted her.
Rosa left a few minutes after that and Lily an hour later. Cassie stayed though, and we all reminisced about growing up in the club. Cassie told us amusing stories about some clients she had represented in the past,and Connor kept us cracking up with his jokes. Hudson loosened up once it was just the five of us and sat next to me with his arm around my shoulders.
For once, I felt like I was where I belonged. Surrounded by the people I loved, laughing, and joking and taking the piss out of the Fast & Furious movie Connor put on, ribbing him over his love of the franchise.
Cassie was almost passing out around midnight, so Warren called one of the brothers to drive her home. Connor had turned off the lights for the movie, so when Warren came back after seeing her out, we left them off, just the glow from the hall light illuminating the space.
“How’s your head?” Hudson leaned into me and asked.
“Less pain today,” I answered honestly. He’d only flip if I lied or tried to pass it off. “I had a nap this afternoon too, which is why I’ve stayed up so late with you assholes.”
He relaxed into the couch, and I realized he had wanted to ask me that all night but hadn’t done it in front of everyone. Despite trying to keep things on the down low, and the embarrassing factor, Hudson was sticking to Medic’s warning of no sex for at least two weeks for me. He said any strenuous activity or exercise was to be avoided while suffering from concussion and he’d said no sexcapades with barely a straight face. Hudson had punched him in the arm, hard enough for Medic to threaten him with a scalpel if he did it again.
“You still need to take it easy, though. No more excitement.”
I nodded, deciding not to argue because he was right. I was tired. Across the room, Connor was sitting up on the couch, Warren lying with his head in his lap, Connor’s fingers brushing through his hair. It made me happy that they felt safe enough to let themselves be together freely with us.
“You won’t be smiling like that if they start dry humping in front of us,” Hudson said.
“Your jealousy is showing,” Warren laughed, taking Connor’s hand, and threading their fingers together. “Just because you can’t fuck for a week doesn’t mean we have to abstain.”
“Dude,” I covered my eyes with my fists, trying hard not to remember what I walked in on.
“Big words for a little dick,” Hudson told my brother.
“There ain’t nothing little about this, right Con?”
