“Well, let’s start there. Which direction, deary?”
Mad Max points to the front of the club where most of them are standing, waiting to be called on for work. Well, those not manning the bar or on gate duty. They usually mingle after a while, but Atom was being extra cheeky this morning and put up a “Prospect Location” sign in the club since he couldn’t find a single damn one of them when he needed one. So, if they aren’t on a job, they’re to remain in this spot till one is given to them. Ain’t a bad rule, actually. I kind of like knowing where they are. Helps when I need someone to do something for me, like open my beer or some shit.
“Wish me luck. I’m going to show these youngsters the benefits of dentures. Or more accurately, what I can do when I take them out.”
Nana walks away with a pep in her step, and every guy around us openly gags.
“Don’t worry, boys,” Babygirl says. “I had the dentist cement her dentures when we went last week. Those things ain’t coming out anytime soon.”
“Does she know?” I ask, watching my girl’s eyes sparkle as she tracks her nana.
“She’s about to find out. I told her last time I wasn’t going to go fishing in any more trash cans when she pulled them out for tricks and fun and forgot about them. Something she only does because she knows it annoys me. She never actually forgets where her teeth are, but she finds it funny as hell. Well, who’s laughing now,” Babygirl says with a chuckle as she picks up her beer, Bulldog’s brand, and takes a steady pull from it.
“You’re evil,” I say into her ear as I swing my arm around her shoulders and pull her in tight.
“Remember that if you ever mess up.”
“Noted, Babygirl, noted.” I kiss her lips, just a quick peck. I’m saving the true fire for when we get back home.
Nana sat us down about a week ago and said the house is Diana’s. The garage fix-up? That was for her. Diana was more than shocked to know her nana had already transferred everything into her name, but I wasn’t. She might be old, but she’s sharp as nails. She knew what Diana wanted before anyone did and made damn sure she got it.
Cleaning out my place wasn’t hard. I had no memories there, not really. The ones I woke up with were of this place. The club and my room here. I had a vague memory of the house, but I wasn’t tied to it beyond it being a place I put stuff that was mine.
The entire club came out to help me move. Took a day. One fucking day. Moving was the simple part, actually. Telling Ruby? That was something I didn’t know I’d be able to do, but I went with Babygirl, and we did it together.
Ruby’s place is nice. I still have the urge to punch Kooper every now and again, but I hold it in. Especially when I remind myself that he’s the father of my grandkid. That’s saved him more than one black eye with just the thought.
When we went to Ruby’s, I really didn’t know if she’d let us in. It was a five-minute stare-down before she opened the door wide enough to invite us in. When we sat down, she was quick to ask her questions.
“Already know she’s pregnant. I don’t do babysitting.”
Diana looked at me with wide eyes, and I forgot that I had missed mentioning that part to her. “Nana said something in front of everyone.”
“Oh” was all she said. Then she looked at Ruby with a shake of her head. “I’m not pregnant. It was a false positive.”
She said it easily, but the sadness lingered at the end. And that was all Ruby needed to hear to end the bitchiness from a second before.
“I’m sorry.”
They held each other’s eyes for a moment before my old lady smiled with a nod.
“I’m moving in with Diana. I want to sell the house. Figured before I do, I would offer it to you. I know you’ve got this place, but it’s yours if you want it. It’s paid off already, so no need to move in or anything. It can just sit there till you’re ready.”
I remember the look on Ruby’s face as she processed everything. It wasn’t anger that stuck out, but the acceptance and her smile when she shook her head.
“I’m good. Just tell me when you’re moving. Kooper and I will come and help.” And that was it.
On the day of the move, I expected their help only and ended up with the entire club. Even had an offer from Casper to buy it. He said he wanted a place for him and Billy that was close to the club but also their own since they’ve just been living at the clubhouse since they got together. It was an easy yes, and even easier on the paperwork since it was all done in-house. Apparently, Fairy got a realtor’s license during a random bored moment and could do it forus. She was even going to do it pro bono, but Mad Max wasn’t about to let his girl do work for free. Not that Casper or I would have allowed it either. She got a nice payout, and the former president passed on his keys to the new president.
“Babygirl, huh? I was wondering what he’d end up calling you,” Ruby says with a smirk.
“Fitting,” Troublemaker says, and Kitten, Flint’s girl, nods in agreement.
“Call me?” Babygirl asks.
I forget sometimes that she still doesn’t get all the ins and outs of the club. She fits in so well that I feel as if we’ve done this for years and not just weeks.
“Club name. All the brothers get one once they patch in. When they claim a woman, she gets one too,” Ruby explains.
