An Outlaw Wedding(15)

“Hey,” her mom said and hugged her tight. It was freezing outside, but there wasn’t any snow on the ground, despite Christmas being only two weeks away.

Alexis stepped inside, and turned her head to look at Odin, who sat in the oversized leather recliner. His feet were up, his Beats headphones over his head, and his attention on a medical journal. How he focused on more than one thing like that was beyond her. She moved over to him, but he was so engrossed in the magazine and his music that he didn’t even realized that she was in the house. His dark hair was the same shade as hers and their father’s, but he had their mom’s blue eyes. Odin was smart, going to college to be a doctor, and wanting to stay away from the club life. It might not be for him, especially because he wanted to be a physician and all, but he also loved the MC and the guys in it. It was hard walking away from a “family business” like the club, but she was thankful they had parents that supported whatever they decided to do.

“So, lots to do today,” her mom yelled from the kitchen. The music that was playing was totally old school, but Alexis had listened to her mom play it repeatedly while growing up. Alexis ruffled Odin’s hair and smiled down at him when he tipped his head back.

“Hey,” Odin said, pulled his headphones off, and grinned. He was her “little” brother, and only a year younger, but already as big as their father.

“You two come in here and help with the prep work.” Their mom called out again.

“Come on, kid.” Alexis grinned, knowing he hated it when she referred to him in any context that made it out like she was older.

When they made their way into the kitchen it was to see her dad having her mom pressed up against the fridge. Their dad’s hand was doing something totally disgusting between their bodies, but at least Alexis was spared from actually seeing what that was. Brick whispered something in her mom’s ear, and that had Darra sighing.

“God, come on,” Alexis said and turned away.

“Should I get the hose?” Odin said in the same disgusted tone as Alexis had used. Her mother laughed, her father made the standard grunt he did when he was indifferent about something, but at least they parted ways. That was the thing about their parents, well, all The Grizzlies actually. The passion that the couples had was still so alive, even after over twenty years of being with each other. She hoped she had that kind of relationship one day.

On the heels of that thought the image of Nico slammed into her head, and she knew she was smiling like a damn schoolgirl. She thought about the last time she saw him, how he had gotten his bike out of storage because it was a rare day in a Colorado winter morning where the sun was out and shining, and the temperature wouldn’t freeze her tits off too badly. She had asked him to take her on a ride. It might have been stupid and illogical, but she had wanted that ride so damn badly. He had looked at her like she was crazy, but in the end he had taken her down the back roads. The wind had been frigid, but she had pressed her cheek to his back, inhaled the leather scent of his cut, and just basked in the freedom of feeling the only thing keeping her grounded was her arms around his waist.

“Honey, if you’re going to do the daydreaming thing about Nico, can you make sure you don’t do it around your father and brother,” her mom said with amusement in her voice.

Alexis looked at her mom, but she was at the sink, her focus on the dishes she washed and a smile on her face. She then looked at her dad and saw him glowering. Brick grunted and turned away, and Odin rolled his eyes. Her dad might give her a hard time about being with Nico, but if he didn’t approve or want her dating a bad boy like Jagger’s son, Brick would have made sure Nico wasn’t in the picture.

“Okay, we have a lot of prep work to do since we will have a houseful tomorrow, so chop-chop, people.” Her mother turned toward them, now in general mode, and handed Odin a potato peeler, Brick a sponge, and Alexis a rolling pin. “Odin, we need enough potatoes to feed an army, Brick, wash as we go, and Alexis, we need an apple and pumpkin pie.”

They all stood there for a moment, no one saying anything, but all of them glancing at each other. And when her mom gave them “the look” they all snapped into action. If there was one thing that could make even the toughest Grizzly do something they normally would turn their back on, it as an old lady with a goal in mind.

****

The house was insane with all the activity the following day, and it was only going to get even more hectic as everyone continued to come over. Jagger and his family had arrived first, but Nico hadn’t been with them, much to Alexis’s disappointment. Then the rest of The Grizzlies and their families were there, and a few of The Brothers of Menace had come by. Lucien, Kink and Malice showed up, but they were waiting for the rest of The Brothers, who should be there any minute.