“Can you fucking move?”
We both turn our heads to see Maple standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at Alder.
Alder glances behind him at the bar we’re clearly blocking, then slowly turns back to her. “No.”
She rolls her eyes with a heavy sigh. “Fucking insufferable.”
“Fucking entitled,” Alder shoots back.
Maple’s eyes narrow. “Ignorant fucking asshole.”
They quietly glare at each other for a moment before the corner of Alder’s lips twitches, ever so slightly.
Then he reaches around and grabs a beer from the bar and holds it out to her.
She stares at it for a moment before she slowly reaches out and takes it, and something in both of them eases… just a little.
“Don’t be ungrateful,” Alder says with a sly smile. “Say thank you.”
Maple huffs, rolling her eyes again as she turns to leave. But I see the small, reluctant smile on her lips, too, as she twists the cap off and walks away.
Alder watches her for a moment, then turns back to me. But his eyes catch on something behind me, and his lips quirk up.
“They’re here.”
I turn towards the door, where my parents and Darren stand just inside it, wide-eyed and frozen. They look like they stepped through the wrong door and landed smack in the middle of someone else’s life. Dad’s arm is slung protectively around Mom’s shoulders, holding her close as if he can shield her from everything in the room, while Darren’s eyes scan the clubhouse like he can’t believe what he’s seeing.
But when their eyes land on me, I swear I see a breath escape each of them.
“Hey,” I say as I approach them, with Alder next to me.
“Hi, honey,” Mom says in a small voice. She gives me a strained smile and awkwardly lifts the container in her hands. “I brought a salad…” she trails off as her gaze lifts to Alder beside me, then quickly flicks back to my face like she’s unsure if she should be looking at him at all.
But Darren’s eyes stay glued to him. He stands beside Mom, staring straight at Alder with a mix of suspicion and unspoken challenge.
On Mom’s other side, Dad’s eyes flick between Alder’s tattooed arms, Kurt and Dom smoking at one of the nearby tables, and the mugshot wall. Then, all three of them flinch, andMom clutches the container to her chest as their gazes fly to the other side of the room when Boot snaps another cue and lunges at Trip, while Mac steps in to hold him back.
I know they’re nervous about being here. And I have to admit I’m a bit nervous about it too. But Alder is part of my life now. An important part. And these people are too. This place gave me something I didn’t know I needed, and I want my family to see that. I want them to see that what I’m building for myself isn’t wild and reckless. Or not completely, anyway. And not anymore.
What I have here with Alder is solid, and it’s safe. And this man beside me will do everything to make sure it stays that way. I want them to know the real Alder, and not the version that’s spread around the province, rooted in fear and misunderstanding. I want them to get to know the man I love, for exactly who he is.
And not when I’m leaving with him on the back of a motorcycle.
“So…” I say, glancing between them and Alder. “This is Alder.”
Their eyes all land on him, and the tension is palpable. I shift on my feet, not quite sure what to do or say.
Until there’s a loud quack at our feet, and we all look down at Wingnut.
He’s standing near Darren’s feet, and when he quacks again, I brace myself for him to snap at Darren’s legs.
But he just wiggles his tail and gently pecks at his sneaker, then waddles away.
Alder lifts his chin and locks eyes with Darren. Darren does the same, and neither of them backs down as they hold each other’s gaze.
Then Alder extends a hand between them. “I knew I liked you.”
Darren looks down at Alder’s tattooed hand for a moment before he takes it in a firm grip. “I’ll like you as long as you treat my brother right.”
