He laughs. “Tonight is a special night. This place looks great, right? They did a good job.”
I look around and take in the place. It does look better than before. Originally, the club bought the place and did minor renovations, but left much of the original aesthetic of the place.
Not anymore. They rebuilt everything, and it looks amazing. The colors of the club, blue and green to symbolize nature, fill the room, making it feel more like an outdoor sanctuary than a bar.
Add in the hand-painted photos from local artists covering the walls, and it feels like this place is where the Mountain River brothers belong.
It almost feels like where I belong.
I let that sink in for a moment. I could make this place my home. These people would be my family.
I look around the room until my eyes land on him.
Ridge.
I am his wife, after all. What would it look like if we didn’t divorce? If I were here and on his arm, because this was real.
He looks up, eyes meeting mine. The smile that spreads on his face has my body feeling odd, almost like it likes his attention.
I break eye contact and turn to Prairie.
“It looks great. Really represents the club.”
“You would know. You’ve been a member since you were born. You know, I remember when Mustang brought you home. He was so happy to have a daughter. Most of the guys ribbed him about not having a son, but he said a daughter was better. She would be beautiful and could shank you with a knife. He always wanted this club to be your home.” He squeezes my shoulders.
“It always did feel like home until he died. I don’t know why that changed, but it’s like I don’t feel like I belong anymore. He was my connection to the club, and it’s gone,” I admit to him.
He rests his head against the side of mine. “None of these people feel that way. I sure as hell don’t. You are like a niece to me. A sister to many of them. You are part of this club, whether you want to be or not. Maybe it’s time you remember that and start embracing it.”
With that tidbit of information, he leaves me, meandering back to the bar. I watch him go, wondering if this has all been in my head the whole time. I really thought I needed to leave, but was it because I didn’t belong here, or was I running from the grief I don’t want to face?
“There you are. You look gorgeous.” Aspen wraps her arm through mine, leading me closer to where Ridge is.
I’m not sure I’m ready to greet him yet. I almost pump the brakes and tell Aspen to let me go, but then she veers off the path and leads me to Maggie instead.
“I found our girl. Look at this outfit.”
I look down at myself. It’s nothing fancy. A pair of tight black jeans paired with an off-the-shoulder tee from the J. Giles Band concert my dad took me to when I was fifteen.
Maggie smiles warmly at me. “You look good. Never heard of that band, though. You’ll have to show me their music sometime.”
“It’s classic rock, but yeah. Maybe we can have a jam session where we all share our favorite music. I am always looking for new songs to add to my playlist.”
I peek over and find Ridge already looking at me. I mouth, “What?” to him, wondering why he is staring.
I watch his mouth move as he says, “Nothing.”
I shake my head and focus back on the girls. Or at least I try to.
After my talk with Prairie, I keep thinking about how different my life could be if I changed my thinking. What if this place really is where I am meant to be?
My eyes keep finding Ridge unbidden. Surprisingly, every time they do, he is already looking at me. It’s almost like he is as drawn to me as I am to him.
Which is weird because I don’t like him. Is this leftover from the days when I did everything I could to avoid him? Or is it asense of obligation? I’m his wife now, so I should be at his side, shouldn’t I?
Then again, Maggie and Aspen aren’t at their men’s side either.
When I look back at the girls in question, they are sharing a look like they are keeping a secret.
