Page 30 of Double the Redemption

Rogue closed the shop for two days to give the club time to prepare to welcome Esme and Jett home and to let everyone meet the new addition. It made Naomi see the club in a completely different light.

Observing was one of the few pastimes she had, and watching everyone pull together the way they had, warmed her heart. It’d been so long since she’d seen any care from a group as large as this. Gifts brought, the house cleaned by multiple members, Gabe’s school drop-offs and pick-ups sorted without much fanfare. All of it was something else.

Not to mention, all the plans for tonight’s celebration. Esme came home yesterday, but tonight was for the club to celebrate and party the night away in Jett’s honor. Or so Jax had explained when she’d dared to ask why everyone seemed so excited.

It also explained the thumping bass coming from the clubhouse as she walked past it. It wasn’t loud enough to be heard from the apartment, but with the cheers coming from inside, there was no denying a party was happening.

A part of her wondered whether it was only for club members, but then she spotted Saylor, Karissa, and Glitch inside, drinking and laughing. A small pang of longing hit her, but she refused to let it take hold. She had a job to do and a son to get back to. The twins were watching him for her while she worked, but she didn’t want to take up their whole night.

She walked into the garage office, rolled her eyes at the papers scattered around the desk, and got to work.

“What are you doing working when there’s a party going on?”

Startled, she jerked her head up and stared wide-eyed at Glitch and Karissa, who stood grinning, drinks in hand. “I always work on Friday nights.”

“Yeah, but tonight is a party night. You don’t work when there’s free liquor and lots of fun going on,” Glitch scolded lightly. “And aren’t the twins watching Asher?”

“Well, yes, but only until I’m finished. And I’m not really a partier anyway.”

She certainly never wanted to be invited to one of Diego’s parties. She’d been to one when he dragged her there, and she’d never gone back. Not that she thought that was the kind of thing going on here, but it certainly wasn’t her scene.

Bikers were well known for what kind of things happened during these kinds of events.

“Babe, you need to live a little,” Karissa advised, tone firm but kind.

“Well, I wasn’t really invited, so I don’t think I should intrude.”

They stared at her and groaned. “Okay, that’s our fault for assuming you’d instantly know you were invited. Consider this your official invitation.” Karissa beamed. “Now, finish up and let’s go relax.”

“I don’t⁠—”

“Naomi, just come have one drink,” Glitch urged. “You don’t even have to stay very long. I’ll get Scarlett to send the twins a message to watch Asher for a bit longer. Honestly, it’ll make Scarlett and Rogue happier not to worry that the girls will try to sneak into the party or get into trouble.”

“They’d do that?”

Karissa and Glitch winced. “Shit. Look, they’re teenage girls who like to piss off Rogue and the guys as much as possible. They’re good kids, though. Sneaking in was just a test to see how well their stealth skills had developed that one time. They don’t try to drink or anything like that. And they’ve never tried to get in past nine,” Glitch added, nodding. Like that was a very important fact to note.

Naomi’s brow arched. “What happens after nine?”

Karissa sighed. “That’s when the club girls show up. The girls don’t need to see that. Guys in relationships are faithful, but anyone else is fair game.”

Naomi’s cheeks flushed at the implication. It’s not like she hadn’t seen that before and worse when Diego made her go to that party or even to meetings where he wanted accurate numbers and counts. That didn’t mean she was comfortable with the open displays.

She glanced at the time on the computer. It was closing in on nine. “I probably should go back to Asher.”

“Don’t make us drag you, Naomi,” Glitch warned. “One drink, then you’re free to go. It’s to celebrate baby Jett, not for something wild and nefarious.”

She could feel herself buckling under pressure. There was only a little bit more to do. It wouldn’t take long. Maybe a couple of minutes wouldn’t hurt. She was curious to see what a party at an MC clubhouse was like compared to what she knew.

“Fine, but only for a few minutes. Asher’s probably already asleep, and the girls will get bored just sitting around.”

“Good. Finish up and meet us in the clubhouse. What do you want to drink? I’ll have Tom make it since he’s on the bar tonight, and it’ll taste right. Those other prospects are hopeless unless it’s beer or straight liquor.”

“Oh, no, I don’t need to drink anything. I’m not much of a drinker anyway.” Ever, actually. Drinking was something she never allowed herself to indulge in. She didn’t want her senses dulled.

Thankfully, neither woman pushed it. They nodded and headed back out to the clubhouse.

Naomi finished the paperwork and walked out of the shop, locking it behind her. Already, the clubhouse sounded louder, rowdier. Part of her wanted to run the other way, but she forced herself to head toward the clubhouse.