“Let me help you, babe.” My shoulders drop and my eyes close as Switch’s voice washes over me. Not his loud, bombastic voice, no, this is the one he uses for me and Kit.
His large hand is warm when it presses against mine, steadying mine enough to slip the key into the lock and turn it. Ipush the door open and the smell of an empty home greets me. One part musty, one part warm and exciting.
Nat lets out a low whistle as the Ol Ladies follow me into the house. It’s nothing too big and extravagant, even though what Travis left was more than enough for something bigger and flashier, but I’m not that type of girl. I wanted warm, cozy, something that feels like a hug when you walk in. This house ticked that box and so much more. With the clubhouse a five minute walk in one direction, and Switch’s house a five minute walk in the other, the location is exactly where I want to be. Hell, I would have bought a shack as long as it had me nestled between the people who saved me and my little girl.
“Now who on earth is Mad Dog making eyes at?” Mama Debs mumbles, staring out the window.
Kaia lets out a wolf whistle as all the Ol Ladies press their faces up against the window.
“That’s my neighbor Willa. She’s one of the reasons I bought this place. She just gives off safe vibes,” I say before I can think twice. “Oh, um, that sounds weird, don’t mind me-”
“No. Don’t do that. Your opinion matters,” Kaia says, reaching out and squeezing my hand.
“Vibes are definitely something you should go on,” Nat adds. “On paper Savage was definitely not worth giving a chance,butthe vibes with him were off the charts and now I have my little girl and I can’t think of anyone else I would want to be doing life with than my Ol Man.” She shrugs.
“Vibes are illogical, but energy doesn't lie. We’re all just atoms and molecules,” Chewy says, pushing Chomper up to the window so he, too, can see outside.
“Well, thank you for making things geekier than they needed to be,” Blanche mutters.
“So, sweetheart, where do you want all this?” Marx asks, distracting us all from watching Mad Dog and Willa.
“Yup, put us to work, girl! We’ll have this house looking like a home in no time!” Ana adds.
I hesitate, looking at all the expectant faces of the people who have come out to help me over and over again and I can feel my throat getting tight, vision blurry as I try to swallow down my tears. It’s not until I feel a presence at my side, warm and comforting that I know everything will be alright.
“You tell me what you want, and I’ll get ‘em moving,” Pops whispers to me and I give him a tremulous smile.
***
“Ah, Joy? I don’t mean to alarm you in any way, but there don’t seem to be any beds.” Lovely says, approaching me as if you would a spooked stray cat.
“Oh shoot! I was meant to order new beds but I clean forgot what with all the house paperwork and oh no! I’m so stupid, stupid, stupid! I should have known I would never have been able to do this all on my own I - ow!”
“Holy shit, I can’t believe you just did that!” Blanche cackles as I blink wildly.
“Did you just blow in her eye?” Jazz says, coming up beside me and wrapping an arm over my shoulders.
“She was spiraling. It was either that, or I slap her, but I figured with her history she would not appreciate that,” Chewy answers in her monotone voice.
I shrink a little at her words, knowing that as much as I’d like to forget my past, it’s still there, flashing a big neon arrow at me.
“It’s OK, I’ve got you,” Jazz whispers. She was my first friend. Actually, no, that’s not true. Switch was my first friend. Jazz then became my second and closest. “And just so you know, if Icatch you calling yourself stupid again, I will kick your ass. Your history be damned.”
My lips curl up at her words and I give her a sheepish nod.
“Well, I don’t know about you ladies, but unpacking is for the birds. Who’s up for a road trip to buy some beds?” Pops says, blowing out a breath, hands on his hips.
“I don't know, isn’t it rude if I leave the men to do all the work?” I chew my lip, watching as the DRMC brothers move around my home, unboxing things.
“They’ll be fine. They love doing this stuff.” I give Lovely a dubious look but she just smiles impishly and leads the way out to the SUVs where we start to pile in.
“Where we goin’, ladies?” Mad Dog asks through the driver's side window.
“Heading out to look at beds for the two princesses if you’ve finished chatting up the neighbor,” Pops says, shoving Mad Dog out of the way so he can pull himself into the driver's seat.
“I wasn’t chatting up anyone, I was getting her measure to make sure she’s a safe person for Joy and Kit,” Mad Dog fires back.
“Oh yeah, like Wire and Remy wouldn't have already run a full background check on her,” Pops rolls his eyes. “You in or out, fucker?”
