Home.
I’m already home.
She doesn’t realize home is wherever she is.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
ASPEN
It’s done and over with.
Adlet is no longer a problem lurking in the shadows. The devil in Asher’s and my story has been slain. We can finally live in peace.
It’s freeing in a way I didn’t know would be possible.
Tonight we celebrate. Not just the war being over, but Asher, and he has no idea.
Tonight is his patch-in party. He’s officially going to be a member of the Mountain River MC. There will be no going back now. Not that he would. Not unless I asked him to, which I wouldn’t.
He loves this club almost as much as he loves me.
“Kim texted. She says she has the sweets but is running late. Apparently, she got held up,” Rain says.
“Everything okay?” Maggie asks her.
“She said not to worry. Is Ashley still coming?”
“She is. She has parent-teacher conferences today, so she will be here later,” I tell them.
“That’s rough,” Maggie says.
“Yeah, she’s definitely going to need a drink by the time she gets here,” I say, making them laugh.
“Well, we have her covered. The bar is officially stocked. This place looks awesome,” Rain says as she wipes down the bar.
Maggie and I stop and look around. The place is cleaner than I think it ever has been. The floors shine like they are new. We hung up party lights and set up yard games in the back. The fucked-up pool sticks and broken darts have been replaced with new ones.
What makes me smile, though, is the balloon arch Ashley put together in her brother’s honor. She told us that her mom loved putting them together to celebrate big milestones before she got sick, so it felt fitting to include one today.
Is it childish? Absolutely, but I hope he loves it.
“Hey, what are you three up to?” Panther asks as he walks into the clubhouse.
“Your boots better be clean,” Maggie warns him as he approaches.
He ignores her sassiness and pulls her into his arms and kisses her.
“Okay, you two, keep it PG,” I tease.
Panther smiles down at her when he pulls away before turning toward me.
“Now you know what it feels like when I see you and Asher together.”
I roll my eyes but smile.
“It looks good in here,” he says as he looks around.
