“She also got fired from the hospital,” Cami continues.
“Ohhhh.” Violet cringes. “She definitely messed around and found out.”
“She got the memo,” Cami says, her voice steady even if her eyes aren’t. “She’s not to come around any of us anymore. We’re done. As done as we are with our dad.”
Maggie exhales slowly and reaches for Cami’s hand.
Mack’s jaw tightens in that quiet, protective way she has. “My mom sucks, too. My dad raised me since I was a baby. It all works out.”
“We’re making new futures and families,” Cami says.
I don’t even think about it. I stand and pull her into a hug, holding her tight.
“I’m sorry,” I say into her hair. “But I’m also so damn proud of both of you.”
She hugs me back just as hard. “Thank you.”
For a moment, no one talks. Crew babbles softly on Sutton’s lap.
“What do you do for work?” Cami asks Sutton.
“I’m actually a freelance editor. I mostly edit romance books for indie authors.”
Violet grins. “That is so cool!"
“Ohhh, so you can help us pick our next one!” Maggie smiles.
“I have so many recommendations,” Sutton says, adjusting Crew. “Say the word, and I’ll give you a list.”
Love these people and sitting here at the Wilder Ranch, surrounded by chosen family and second chances, it feels like we’re all doing the bravest thing we’ve ever done. We’re choosing ourselves and building our own family.
I sit at the beat-up folding table in the back of the shop, the one that smells like old coffee and the lemon cleaner I used this morning. Ollie sits beside me, close enough that our knees touch. Jonesy leans back in his chair like he owns the place, boots crossed at the ankles, weathered hands wrapped around a beer. Grave sits across from me, elbows on the table, calm eyes taking everything in.
No one says anything for a moment.
The shop hums around us. A fan rattles. Somewhere out front, a radio plays low. This place has always been loud and chaotic, but right now it feels like the quiet before a storm, or maybe the quiet after one.
Grave lifts his bottle. “Like I told you before, Poppy, we’re restructuring. Making things new.”
I nod slowly, keeping my eyes on his face. Ollie’s hand restson my thigh, warm and steady. I can feel his thumb move just once, grounding me.
“We took out the trash,” Grave continues. “And we’re creating something legit. Above board. Different from what it was.”
Something tightens in my chest. I glance at Jonesy, who’s wearing a faint, amused smile like he already knows what I’m about to ask.
I clear my throat. “What does taking out the trash mean?”
Jonesy tips his head back and laughs. “That’s a dangerous question, sweetheart, that you might not want to hear the answer to.”
Grave raises an eyebrow at me. “Do you really want to know?”
I hold his gaze, then shake my head. “No, I probably don’t.” I pause, choosing my words carefully. “But what I want is no violence or anything illegal anywhere near this shop. This is a place where people feel safe. They trust us. I won’t have that trust ruined. We do things right, or we won’t work with you.”
Ollie squeezes my knee, just a little. These are all the things we’ve talked about together before we agreed to the partnership and set up this meeting. I’ll walk away if it’s not above board.
Grave nods, slow and deliberate. “I agree. That’s what we want too. But you have to know that this partnership and the club are separate. We don’t talk club business outside of the club. We keep things separate. You two will never be a part of our club and you’ll never know club business.”
Jonesy’s smile fades into something more serious. “We’re done with the old way.”
