“You have a son?” I ask, turning in my seat with a smile on my face. I adore kids.
She throws her jacket on with a smile. “I do. His name’s Garret and he’s a sweet kid,” she answers without skipping a beat.
“How old is he?” I ask, still interested.
“He’s six. You’ll meet him tonight maybe. We live on the north side.”
“You live on the property, too?” I ask, excitement ripping through me. I may have found a friend in Jada.
She nods her head, pulling her long hair out from behind her jacket. “Yeah, I’ve tried to reason with moving us out, but Hella and Beast have nothing of it. I don’t see an issue with it, this way I know my boy is safe. All the people who care about him, the same as me are in this club. Until everything with The Army and Yakuza are put to rest, we will stay here.”
I nod my head and smile, Melissa still sitting there quietly.
“Okay, hang on,” I say, reaching into my bag and pulling out a pen and paper. I scribble down my number before folding it up and handing it to her. “Give me a text when you get home or something. Maybe I could bring some wine over that Bethy has stocked up.”
She laughs, taking the paper into her hand. “I’d like that. Maybe I can call the old girl up, see if she can join us.”
“Old girl?” I question, confusion on my face.
“Yeah, that’s what we call Bethy. Okay, better go. See you later.” She quickly rushes out the doors after waving a quick goodbye to the rest of the boys who are sitting by the pool tables.
Swinging my attention back to Melissa, I smile. “She’s nice, huh!”
Melissa nods. “Yeah, she is. Sorry, I wasn’t up for talking. I’m feeling a little down.”
I take the glass off her and pull out my water bottle from my bag. “Drink H20 instead. Maybe you’ll feel better.” I smile at her when she accepts my offer. Right on cue, a sound of loud bikes rumble down the driveway, the deep sound shaking the barn. Pushing off the table, I walk toward the doors with Melissa following closely behind me. Leaning up against the door, I fold my arms in front of me, looking directly at Beast, who’s getting off his shiny black Harley with his skull bike mask on, white T-shirt under his MC vest and jeans that hang loosely with his combat boots. A smile pulls on the corner of my mouth as he walks directly to me, picking me up and swinging me around. Pushing his mask down, I kiss him hard, running my fingers through the back of his hair.
“Hey, big guy. How’d you go?”
Pulling my lip between his teeth, he sets me back down. “Good. We have all the help we will need. We’ll talk about it later. How’d Jada go?” I nod my head, and look over at Melissa, who’s frozen in her steps, eyes locked on something. When I follow her sight, I find myself looking directly at Hella and Jada, who look to be in deep conversation.
“Yeah, good. She was… we got on well if that’s what you’re asking?” I clarify. Obviously she means a lot to him, so that means I want to make an effort with her. And to be honest, I actually like her. Melissa walks back into the barn with angry steps and I bring my attention back to Hella, who has his eyes fixed on the back of Melissa’s head.
He words, “Fuck,” before Jada and he hug each other and then she waves to me one last time before getting into her GMC SUV and pulling out.
I bring my attention back to Beast, who’s already scanning my face nervously. “Ask me,” he states, looking deep into my eyes.
I laugh awkwardly. “Ask you what?” Running my eyes everywhere except to him.
“Ask me if Jada’s kid is his.”
“No,” I answer, wrapping my arms around myself. “I don’t want to know the answer to that because then I’ll have to tell Melissa.”
“Why?” he asks, cocking his head to the side.
“Why?” I scoff, narrowing my eyes at him. “Beast, you’re the president of a motorcycle club, and you’re questioning my loyalty? I have none to Hella and a shit load to Melissa… that’s why.”
He nods his head, a smile pulling on his lips. “All right, baby.” He takes my hand into his. “It’s training time.”
Knew she would make a perfect Old Lady. After Meadow checked on Melissa, we made our way to the back barn where our octagon and gym sit. All of us work out here. When we’re not out on missions, some of us are usually in here. Pushing open the door, I point to the little room that sits on the other side. “Go, change.” I hand her one of the bags that I have and she laughs.
“Did you really stop somewhere and buy me clothes?”