With a shrug, I watch the condensation run down the side of my water glass. The heat’s cranked up in the clubhouse because none of these assholes like wearing shirts, even in the wintertime. I’m not exactly sure what to say in return.
Am I okay? I’m fine. Just disappointed in myself when I wanted to make a decent impression. Is that such a bad thing? To want to come off as a good guy to a pretty woman in a rough situation. She needs protection and trust, which I was hoping to give her both.
Peppermint, Brently’s ol’ lady, ducks behind the bar. She grabs a few beers and smiles warmly at Cain and me before she returns to Brently, offering him one of the bottles and sliding onto his lap. They started a bit shaky. The brother followed her home and took the door off her hinges to get her to talk to him. They’ve been glued at the hip ever since. Maybe I should take a page from his book and dive in head first, but who knows if it’s truly the right answer in this situation. I don’t want to come off as too pushy.
“Spin, talk to me.” His brow shoots up, beefy-as-fuck arms crossing over his chest. He’s been a fighter for as long as I’ve known him. He made a lot of money fighting in other clubs but has slowed down. Becoming vice president and popping out a few kids takes up the majority of his time now. He sips his protein shake, eyeing me up, looking like the intimidating motherfucker I know he can be. He’s not going to let me walk away without getting something out of me. I should expect nothing less, though. This is what family is all about—the Oath Keepers have taught me as much time and again.
Sighing, I run my finger over the label on my beer. After a beat of contemplation, I admit, “I may be a bit hard up for Naomi.”
“Naomi... you mean the new chick we’re protecting? From the vote earlier?”
With a nod, I divulge my thoughts. “Finding her like I did... it changed something inside of me. I can’t stop thinking of Naomi and wanting to be good enough for her. I don’t know why or what the fuck happened, just that it did, and it has my fucking head spinning.”
He emits a low whistle, lips tipping into a smirk. “Good for you, brother. And what the fuck do you mean good enough? You’re one of the coolest dudes around here with no drama, no bad attitude, and you’ve been steady for as long as I’ve been a member. You own your own business, and I’ve never seen you disrespect a woman... so clue me in, ’cause she should be gone for you too.”
Prez comes strolling up beside us, catching the last tidbit of Cain’s spiel. His brows skyrocket as well, making me roll my eyes. They’re my brothers, and by extension, nosey as hell. We’re all up in each other’s business at the club because we’re close. We’ve been in more than one too many shitty situations in the past not to have each other’s backs at this point.
“Ares,” Cain acknowledges.
“Prez,” I state, nodding my respect to the human tank. I’m not exaggerating. When it comes to massive dudes, Ares is one to head up the pack and is hella intimidating being our prez.
“The fuck you two gossiping about?”
“Nothing,” I mutter.
At the same time, Cain responds, “He likes the new woman. Our brother is sprung already.”
“Fuck.” With a curse, my hand goes for my beer and I take a swig, attempting to wash my embarrassment down. They probably think I’m trying to save another chick and don’t know what I really want. I’m not captain save-a-hoe or anything. I just come across women in distress on occasion and jump in to help them if needed. There are worse habits to have.
“Hmm...” He grunts, resting his bear-sized hands on his hips, taking me in. “You like her? Enough to keep her?”
I give him a jerky nod as 2 Piece waltzes behind the bar flashing his ol’ man a grin. His ol’ lady is around here somewhere as well. 2 Piece, Ares, and Avery have been solely committed to each other for years—a real live threesome, front and center. I envy their level of love and commitment and am glad the club is open-minded enough to accept their type of love.
“Stop stressing about whatever has you stuck in your head and tell her.”
“Ah... she just got here, Prez.”
Cain butts in. “True. You don’t want to scare her away. Maybe go easy for a little while and not jump straight to giving her whiplash.”
Prez huffs, grumbling to himself. He obviously disagrees with the VP and won’t hesitate to say what’s on his mind. “Wasting time is all it is. Trust me. I pissed away far too much time holding on to unspoken feelings. Worst mistake I ever made. Don’t wait too long, so she’s already gone when you’re ready to spill how you feel.” Prez is fucking crazy. A madman who chops up the bodies of his enemies and feeds them to the pigs at the farm, yet the brother is giving me advice on love. I guess if anyone can be the poster child of love having no bounds, it’d be him.
“I don’t even know her. I found her on the side of the road... we briefly talked in the hospital and then again earlier. I’m so fucking confused. This chick has me in knots over wanting her already, ’cause it’s too soon for this to be happening.”
“But you felt a connection?” 2 Piece questions, suddenly neck-deep in the conversation I didn’t want to have. Bunch of nosey fuckers.
“Unlike I’ve ever had before,” I confess, feeling my shoulders lighten by saying it aloud. It’s out in the open now and can’t be taken back. I have to own it, and I intend to.
Cain bops his head, not bashful for a second to point out when he’s right about something. “See. I knew it.” It takes everything in me not to flip him off. Cocky fucker.
Ares gestures to 2 Piece, stepping off to the side so they can speak quietly while I shoot daggers at my nearly full beer. I don’t intend on finishing it. I don’t know why I ordered it in the first place. Probably habit of sitting at the bar. I shouldn’t be drinking with a guest and a baby on the way. It doesn’t taste good today anyhow.
“I’ve always caught shit for how I look.” I finally acknowledge my deep secret I’ve kept locked tightly away, my words quiet enough not to be overheard by anyone else.
“I never thought you gave a fuck.”
“I didn’t. Not really, anyhow.” I shake my head, rubbing my palms over my black-wash jeans to get the sudden itch out of them.
“But you care now? Enough to let it bother you?”
“She’s about to have a baby. I want to be a good example.”
“Fuck, bro.”
“What?”
“You’re gonna patch this chick. I can see it already. You’ll marry her and put a property patch on her.” I stare at him, silent. He continues, “Wouldn’t be the first time a woman rolled up in here with a baby on the way from another and was claimed by one of us. Look at Twist and Sadie. Brother was gone, straight mental, and she managed to bring him back from the deep end. I thought the brother was going to kill himself, but then he found his ol’ lady. They’ve been together for years, and I don’t see Twist ever letting her go.”
“She was exactly what he needed, then and now. Helped heal his soul from losing his child.”
Cain concurs, reaching for my beer I’ve been glaring at. I wave it off, giving him permission to drink the barely touched beverage. I’d have wasted it anyhow. “You think Naomi could be the one for me? I’m not as jaded as Twist was, but I have my hang-ups I deal with too.”