Kim takes her time answering, picking up her beer and taking another drink.
“I think if you’re happy and are going into this with eyes wide open, then it’s a good thing. I think he could make you happy if you let him,” she says after a moment.
I can’t help but smile at their approval. I know it’s stupid and that I’m a grown woman who can make my own choices, but it’s still nice. It’s nice knowing that my tribe supports this, truly supports this, and isn’t just saying it to appease me.
Before I can say anything else, though, Panther’s whistle cuts through the air.
“What now?” Aspen groans, making me laugh softly.
“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” Panther says as the music cuts off.
He nods over at Chloe, who’s still behind the bar, before looking back toward all of us.
“We have two announcements tonight.” Cheers cut through the air, making him smile. “First, I would like to inform all of you that the bar will be reopening in two weeks’ time.”
The guys go crazy. The vibrations from their stomping and cheering move through me.
I can’t help but look around at all the brothers and smile.
This.
This is what it’s all about.
Ridge
I watch her as Panther talks. He announces the bar’s reopening, and everyone goes wild. As the girls chat around her, looking shocked, Rain smiles.
“Next up, we’ve decided to go on a memorial ride for our brother, Mustang. Two options are on the table. We could do it now, go somewhere warm like South Texas or Florida. Or we could hold off, and this summer travel to Ontario, Canada,” Panther says.
Murmurs rise through the air, and out of the corner of my eye, I watch Panther raise his hand, silencing everyone.
“We want to bring it to a vote,” Panther says.
Yak raises his hand.
“What’s up?” Panther asks.
“Quick question. Shouldn’t we ask Rain what she thinks before we vote? She is his daughter,” Yak says.
Brothers turn toward her as her face turns thoughtful.
“Do you have thoughts, Rain?” Panther asks.
“I think he would love any of the locations. He loved Mexican food, warm weather, and women in tiny bikinis,” she says slowly, making the brothers chuckle.
“Not wrong,” someone murmurs.
“At the same time, Ontario was definitely a bucket list place for him that he never got to experience. I think that would be anice ode to him, but it depends on what everyone else thinks. If he were here, I think he would like any of them,” Rain says.
“Do you have a preference, though? Like, is there one you would rather go to?” Aspen asks.
Rain shakes her head slowly. “No, not really. The question really boils down to if we go somewhere most of us have been or if we go somewhere new.”
Panther nods. “Okay, then let’s bring it to a vote. All in favor of Florida or Texas, say, ‘Aye.’”
A few brothers cheer.
“All in favor of a Canadian invasion, say, ‘Aye,’” Panther says.
