Jace
“About time you made it,” Locke greets me a week later at the next poker night. The last one was out in terms of me going with all the shit that happened at Willow’s parents’ place. Fuck, it’s still going down, and it’s going to be a long and tedious time before William Ashford II sees a courtroom. For the time being, he’s sitting inside of a prison cell. It couldn’t have happened to a better man.
“Yeah, yeah. I came bearing gifts at least.” There’s a homemade salsa and tortilla chips courtesy of Willow. She felt bad that I missed last weekend, told me in no way, shape, or form would I be missing this week.
“Goddamn, I love the women in this group. Between them all, I’m a well-fed man from leftovers alone,” Toren says with a smug smirk on his face. Fucker. See the man at work nearly every day I’m there, and he’s always making some remark to irritate me on purpose.
“Watch it, fucker,” Colt adds to the mix.
“Your ass can be uninvited any time, brother,” Tysen remarks.
“I’m keeping my eyes on you. Better watch it,” Johnny says with a smirk. Everyone gives everyone hell.
“Where’s your woman tonight, Jace?” Asher asks.
“With all of yours. Jade introduced her to the group the other day, added her into their chat, and I swear my sister monopolizes Willow’s time more than I do. Locke, fix that shit.” I give him a pointed look. He just shakes his head.
“Sounds like the welcome wagon is at it again.” Toren digs his hole a little deeper. I plop the bags of chips on the counter, do the same with the salsa after peeling back the lid, and rifle through the drawers until I find a spoon. This week, we’re at Colt’s garage. He has the most room in the downstairs area. Still not sure how or why he’s staying in the upstairs apartment with Sable and his daughter.
“You have no idea, man.” Matthew tosses his cards on the table. “Fold.” He stands up. “Grabbing another beer. Anyone want anything?”
“Nah, I need food. Heard about what’s going on with Willow and Industrial, man. That shit storm, you need us, let us know,” Jude offers. The guys all checked in with either a phone call or a text. The women, on the other hand, have stopped by the house, interrupting me from having my woman to myself, and this happened all in the past two days. I’d grumble, except Willow really seems to mesh well with the group and I know she likes them. I can’t pretend to know how she feels with what’s going on with her mom being sober and what’s happening with her father.
“Appreciate that. So far, Industrial seems to be fine. Kate, Willow’s mom, is making sure of that. I haven’t been back yet, but Toren is keeping me up to date on all the gossip going around.” I make my plate, grab a beer for myself, and move to the poker table. Trent, Crew, Luke, and Gallo aren’t here tonight, and neither is Dean; they must be working. None of us like missing out on our weekly poker game and try not to go too many weeks without making it.
I take my seat next to Toren. He’s the one who’s easiest to read and the least likely to cheat.
“Ready to lose some money?” Johnny asks, dealing the cards.
“Ready to take yours, you mean. Fuck yeah.” The hand I pick up is a decent one and the night is still young.
--
“That took longer than I thought it would. Time for me to make rounds and hug all your women,” Toren says when the door opens and Lennie walks in followed by the rest of the women, my mom included. Christ, this is about to become a three-ring circus where all the women gang up on the men.
“You’re in for it, man.” I elbow Toren in the arm.
“Nah, they like me too much. Plus, Winnie just hit me up for a metal artwork piece for Sebastian’s music room. The way I’m keeping busy on the side, might not need to stay at Industrial too much longer.” Toren is a hell of a metal fabricator and has a way with interpreting it into wall art, statues, and a shit ton of other stuff.
“Jace, your woman is cooler and nicer than you. She’s officially my sister, ring or no ring!” Jade yells out across the room.
“Jesus, sis. Decorum much?” She gives me a quick shrug of her shoulders. Willow’s head is volleying back and forth between us.
“Jade McKay, knock it off,” Mom says. There’s a twinkle in her eyes and mischief written on her face. Her arm is looped through Willow’s, and it’s clear as day the trio is as thick as thieves. I like that for Willow. I like it a whole lot. Her mom hasn’t always been the best, and sure, she’s righting her wrongs now, but it’s always nice to have another person in your corner. And Mom definitely has a lot of love to share with others.
“Watch out, Mom. You might find yourself on a dating site if you’re not careful,” I throw my sister under the bus from the last time we talked about our mom and her lack of a dating life.
“Don’t make me threaten you with the wooden spoon,” Mom retorts without a hint of anger behind the words to Jade. When my sister isn’t looking, she sends a wink my way. Meanwhile, Jade rolls her eyes, and that’s because my sister could be a handful growing up. She’d push our mother to the edge at times, and when Mom wasn’t looking, she’d grab whatever utensil Mom would threaten her with, put it under a door, and break it in half. Mom never hit her, or me, for that matter, but Jade as a preteen, well, it was a heck of a time, to say the least.
“Jeez, I was just stating facts.” Jade looks from me to Mom, continuing to dig her grave a little deeper. “And that was a low blow, Jace. Hence the reason your woman is nicer than you, plus she’s prettier.”
“Sugar,” Locke intercepts her from talking further, and I’m more than fucking thankful.
“Thanks, man.” I nod at my best friend; he returns the gesture and guides Jade along with my mother toward the area where the food is set up.
While there was talking before, now it’s at a much higher octave with more laughter than words. My eyes zero in on Willow, watching as she watches me. She untangles herself from the girls and comes right to me. I push my chair back and throw my cards on the table, more than ready to meet her halfway.
“Missed you,” she says as she settles in my lap before I can get up from my seat.
