With some structural fixes, a new coat of paint and a thorough round of making sure not even a hint of plastic explosives was still left, me and my guys, with the huge help of Mila’s men, transformed the old shelter from the sad memory it had becomeinto a fresh new one. After all it'd been through, there wasn't really much competition for buying the property so I got a good price using part of what was left of my vet school money.
It's been a lot of hours spent scraping, painting, putting down new floors, replacing ducts and water lines and God knows what else. It felt like every time we were close to finishing, something would leak or need checking. I think we're all more than ready to get our days and evenings back.
I take a deep breath and clap my hands. "Okay! Come on everyone, let me give you the tour."
For the grand opening, we've got just about everyone I know in this town. Natalie, of course, who's really starting to show now, and the rest of the Harem Brunch Club, and all their guys, and all their kids. And Spike, who isn’t much younger than me, but I feel like I’ve adopted after he saved my life. He’s still in physical therapy for his arm, but it should end up if not good as new, at least fully usable.
Then there's Jerry and Darren, of course. Even Carl, who's vaguely considering working part time for me, but I'm not sure if he's going to dare. All the crazy stuff that happened hit him pretty hard, and I get it if he doesn't. I'm just glad he came to the grand opening so he can see what it looks like now and maybe get a little closure.
Piston lets me go so I can lead the crowd through the new facilities. As soon as I'm free, Clark comes running, wanting up. He's getting so big now that I can only carry him for so long, but as long as Junkyard is nearby, he loves running around with her too. He went from unsure about dogs to wanting three of his own in about twenty-four hours.
I'm pretty sure I talk everyone to death. There are limits to how much everyone cares about the quality of the showers, the much improved records software that Rory helped me with, or the improved cage designs, but they humor me. Everyone oohs and aahs at the artificial pond in the exercise yard though. Junkyard has already been here enough for us to see that it's a success.
We have some cake, courtesy of Natalie. When the show is over and the goodbyes are said, we're back down to me, the boys, and Natalie and hers.
"Sandra." She pulls me aside, leaving the bikers to chat while they wait for us. Badass sweeps up Clark to ride on his shoulders. Junkyard stays with me, though.
Nat hugs me as hard as she can. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Are you? Really? Even though I didn’t finish school?”
She nods. “Your credits will still be there if you change your mind, but this? This is amazing. You turned something that was nothing but a pipe dream into reality.”
“I think Mom and Dad would be proud of us, don’t you think?” I say softly. “For a long time I never thought I’d be able to say that, but we’ve both done pretty alright, haven’t we?”
“Yeah, we have. I don’t know how Dad would feel about having six son-in-laws, but it’s better than none, right?”
“Six times as good.”
42
SANDRA
I've got an animal rescue.I've got a dream. I've got all the wild sex I could possibly want with three very willing participants. What I don't have, is three old men who call me their old lady.
We're about to fix that.
Taking an old lady is club business and only club business, so the usual place for the ceremony is in the common room at the clubhouse. Today, no one is having sex over on the couches, though. Heck, everyone has clothes on even. It’s still packed. Every available Eagle is here and Natalie, of course, along with all of the Harem Brunch Club. No kids, though. The older kids are watching the younger ones over at Alessa's.
I jokingly asked the guys if they were going to wear tuxes, and the response was a decisive no. No Eagle is going to get hitched without his cut. So to match them, I've stuck to a pair of tight jeans, black boots, a nice top that shows off my belly button jewelry, and my hair freshly dyed with a new coat of black, and my favorite purple underneath. Kaylee was even super nice and did it for free as a not-quite-wedding gift. She smiles at me fromover on the side, throwing me a thumbs up when I shake out my hair to make the purple pop.
The guys are over by the bar, next to Eagle-eye, as clean-cut as I've ever seen them. Beast has even tried to tame his hair and beard a little, though I don't expect it'll last for long. New jeans, motorcycle boots, black T-shirts under their cuts, I feel we match energy in how we dressed. Eagle-eye is Eagle-eye, dressed mostly as he usually is, though I think he polished up the leather of his cut, at least. It's got a gleam I'm not used to.
A bit to the side, Miriam is watching him with a sweet, indulgent smile. I have a hard time seeing the soft, loving side of a man as intimidating as Eagle-eye, but looking at the two of them, it makes me hope that when I'm older, I'll still see my guys that way. For now, they are my everythings, and I can't imagine seeing them in any other way.
I sidle up next to them, getting into position. Zero pulls me into an embrace, while I look out at the crowd of bikers here to see me join the Harem Brunch Club for real, even if most of the bikers aren't even aware of its existence. He murmurs in my ear, "Sure you didn't want this a little more formal?"
I shake my head. "The only important thing is that I have you guys, and you have me. If we could've just gone off and eloped, I would've done that, but who would I have married first? And would we have to divorce and re-elope every few years just to keep things even?"
Beast rumbles a quiet laugh. "Sounds like a lot of hassle. Besides, Eagle-eye woulda had a fucking fit. He might act like a grump, but he fucking loves these ceremonies."
"Alright folks, shut up and pay attention!" Eagle-eye announces. He smooths his bristly mustache with his fingers. He's put wax in it today, which makes it look extra sharp. "We're gonna start."
The crowd quiets. Zero squeezes me a little harder and Piston rests his hand on my back. The adrenaline hits. I know being declared someone's old lady has no meaning legally. There’s no tax breaks, no insurance benefits, nothing like that. It's in name only, but for us, and within the club, it means everything. It gives me a standing the sluts don't have, and it gives me credence among the members. I'll be recognized anywhere, and if I'm in trouble, there isn't a member who won't risk his life to keep me safe. If not for my sake, then at least for their brothers'. I'm becoming part of the club, even if I'll never be a blooded member. The old adage of, "members have members" holds true, even in a club like the Eagles.
"Once again, a lovely lady has ensnared three of my best men. I still haven't figured out what the fuck she wants with them, but that's not mine to say. She can make her choices, and I'll just pretend that they're not ridiculous." He looks over at the four of us, and for just a fraction of a second, I'm convinced I see the hint of a proud smile on his face. It's gone again in a flash. No one would believe me anyway. "I suppose I should've figured it out as soon as I heard that Natalie had a little sister back in town, so my fault for not paying attention. But you're all here now, and since you've decided to make something out of this mess, I might as well make sure it's done right."
When Natalie got hitched to her guys, they did the ceremony over at Books and Crannies because they hadn’t even bought the building next door to have a whole separate bakery yet. I think Beast is right. Eagle-eye always seems grumpy, but he lives for these moments. All of the members are his boys in a way, and Ithink he’s proud of what he and they have achieved. Plus he gets to be the center of attention and give a speech. I suspect that if he'd made a different turn in life at some point, he could've done the complete other way and become a priest. Well, that’s never going to happen, but I could at least imagine it.
