“Me and Kendall settled up shit between us,” he said. “You been so fuckin’ sad, I thought havin’ your bitch back might cheer you up.”
“I’m fucking indebted to you,” Johnnie told him. “You’re putting aside your differences on my behalf.”
“As long as she behave.” Christopher wanted to be absolutely clear. “If she fuck with Megan again, threaten to tell any bullshit I ain’t wantin’ Megan to know, all bets off.”
“I know,” Johnnie said, only relief showing in his face. “But after Kendall lost our baby, I think she realized how out-of-hand the entire situation had gotten. She wants to make amends.”
She had no fucking choice, if she wanted Johnnie to be kept in the dark. “I think she finally under-fuckin-stand the situation, too,” Christopher said. “I still ain’t gonna talk to the bitch and I still don’t like her ass, but she your woman so she needed to be back.”
Johnnie smiled at Kendall. “See, sweetheart? Family is everything.”
Blinking back tears, Kendall nodded. “I’ve been so sad about the baby, Johnnie,” she whimpered.
“I know,” he soothed. “I have too.”
“Can we try for another one? I’ll stay in bed and not move for the entire pregnancy. It just hurts so bad and I need to find a way to ease my pain.”
“We’ll talk to your doctor,” Johnnie promised, kissing her tenderly and cupping her chin. “Just don’t stress yourself out. Even if we never have another child, we have Rory and Matilda.”
“But I lost our Baby Biker and now this baby. I feel s-so awful.”
He hugged her. “Shh. You survived both times and that’s what matters. We’ll always mourn our lost kids.”
“Meggie only lost one baby. I can’t see how she survived. Losing two is ten times worse.”
Christopher’s fucking cue to get the fuck out of there. “Later, John Boy,” he called, heading to the door, knowing Kendall would always be a lying manipulator. If her bullshit made Johnnie happy, then Christopher was fucking ecstatic.
As the teetotaler in the group, Meggie volunteered to be the designated driver for Bunny’s bachelorette party, a week after Kendall’s return. She’d wanted to be a part of the wedding and had met with Bunny, but Fee didn’t know the outcome. Fee was happy that her weekend would be filled with acitivities, with both Cash and Stretch out of town.
They’d gone in different directions—Cash to Houston and Stretch to New York—but they’d both invited her, going so far to suggest they rendezvous in one city or the next. Fee declined, deciding she’d enjoy herself with her family after making up with both her brother and sister, and let the guys do whatever. If they wanted to meet up, that was fine with her, especially after the way they’d been enjoying each other’s bodies. She knew she had a place in their lives, and always would.
Now, as Meggie halted Bailey’s Escalade outside of a Portland strip club, she frowned. “This is where you had me change the venue to, Kendall?”
“Says the girl who has us in jean shorts, skull caps, motorcycle boots, and tank tops that says Bride’s Bitches. Real fucking classy.”
Zoann handed Kendall a glass of jungle juice that Meggie made for the ride over. “Drink this, Kendall, and enjoy yourself. You’re back. You’re alive. We’ve put all the bullshit behind us. Be happy.”
“Kendall, if we go into a strip club, Christopher will hunt these men down and kill them.”
Instead of responding to Meggie, Kendall gulped half the contents of her glass first. “Why the fuck would you tell him?”
“He’ll ask me, and I’m not going to lie to him.”
“Let’s take a vote,” Kendall said, smirking at Meggie’s profile. “All those in favor say aye.”
Kendall and Bunny were the only ones who spoke. Before Kendall said anything—which wouldn’t be good judging by her dark frown—Meggie sighed.
“It’s your party, Bunny,” she said glumly. “If you want to see a stripper, we’ll see a stripper.”
“Let’s stay an hour,” she suggested, “because you’re right. Outlaw will have Cash blow up this place.”
“After Johnnie rips their cocks off,” Zoann said. “And Val plucks their eyeballs out.”
“Yeah. Lucas will get his special tools,” Bailey added.
“Hmm,” Bunny said, a thoughtful look on her face. She pressed her hand against her belly. “Mark will probably dig the graves.”
“All of you are wimpy spoilsports.” Kendall finished her drink and held up her glass so Zoann could pour more into it. “Let’s just go to whatever boring little place you wanted to take us.”