It totally has the club written all over it. In the past, we’ve helped raise money for people who were about to lose their homes, people’s medical bills, and more. If there is one thing I know about Panther, it’s that he likes to give back and has instilled that same desire in the men around him.
“I’ll bring it up when they get out of their meeting,” Maggie says, pointing her finger over her shoulder toward the room they call the chapel.
Aspen turns toward me with a wicked smile. “How are things going between you and your husband?”
Husband.
The sound of that word is hitting differently now that I’ve admitted to myself that I am in love with him. It’s like the word before only meant obligation, but now it holds expectations. A future.
“It must be good if she’s making that kind of face,” Kim teases, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Things with him are good,” I tell them. “I applied to have my name changed legally.”
“Way to bury the lead. I thought you wanted to keep your maiden name?” Maggie asks.
“I thought I did too, but I realized I was only holding onto it as a way to keep my distance from him. We are married. I want to share the same last name as my husband. We might divorce in the future, but I don’t want to part ways thinking I didn’t give it my all. I guess what I am saying is that I am all in now.”
They all clap, making my cheeks heat.
“Okay, enough. It’s not that big of a deal.” I roll my eyes.
“It’s a pretty big deal. You don’t even like to date, but now you are married and willing to take his last name. I think we need shots to celebrate,” Aspen jokes.
“No!” Kim, Maggie, Lisa, and I all say at the same time.
“Party poopers.” She sighs. “Anymore killer dates?”
I shake my head. “No, we’ve both been busy, but he helped me go through some of my dad’s things, and he’s made dinner every night before I get home, even if he won’t be there to eat with me. He even started presetting the coffee to brew while I’m in the shower, so I don’t have to wait for it once I’m done getting ready.”
“That’s so sweet. I love when Panther does little things like that for me,” Maggie sighs.
“Wolf makes sure I never come close to running out of energy drinks. He says I become someone else when I don’t have my first hit of caffeine right away.” Aspen laughs.
“My man draws me a bath twice a week. Sometimes three if I had a hard shift at work.” Kim smiles, referring to Prairie.
“Who would have thought that the big bad bikers were secret softies,” I tease, making them chuckle.
I joke, but I always knew. My dad was the biggest, toughest-looking biker, but I can’t forget all the times he would be soft for me. Like when I skinned a knee and cried when I was six. He was in a panic trying to make me laugh again. Or when my prom date stood me up. He escorted me himself, ignoring the faculty when they tried to tell him he couldn’t go in.
He was the best man I’ve ever known. Well, besides Ridge, now. I’m slowly coming to realize that Ridge is a pretty good man too.
“Do you know who I think would make a great husband?” Maggie asks.
“Eagle,” Aspen says.
“Trout,” Kim chimes in.
“Dove?” Lisa tosses out.
“Yak.” The girls look at me like I’m crazy. “What? You can’t tell me that the man wouldn’t keep someone thoroughly entertained!”
“True.” Kim laughs.
Maggie shakes her head. “All good options, but I think Meek would be fantastic. Think about how observant he is. He would know what you want before you do, and the man screams caretaker.”
“Should it worry me, Magpie, that you think someone else would make a great husband?” Panther teases.
Maggie jumps in her spot and looks over her shoulder. “You know not to sneak up on me!”
