The MC’s Little Brother (Bikers and Babies #3)

Chapter 12

12

Melissa

M y vacation was officially over, and I had to head to work that morning, but I figured I’d stop by Wraith’s to check in on the brothers before I went in. They were still awkward around each other and I hadn’t figured out yet how to change that. They were still home when I got there since Wraith’s bike was still in the driveway. I was going to knock on the door when I noticed Xander standing on his toes to look through the garage window. I didn’t want to startle him, so I shut my door loudly to signal my presence and lifted a hand to wave at him when he looked over his shoulder. He looked guilty, but there was nothing wrong with being curious.

“Did you want to take a look?”

He lifted a shoulder uneasily. “I was just curious.”

“Sure. Lemme grab the key.”

I ducked into the house long enough to find the key to the garage. I knew Wriath kept it locked, but I didn’t know where he kept the key. I eventually found it in a drawer in the kitchen. I could hear the shower running and forcefully ignored that mental image in favor of heading back outside with Xander. Thor was at his feet, happy as a clam, since Xander was scratching behind his ear. I chuckled, giving his chin a scritch before opening the garage door.

“Woah,” Xander breathed, coming to stand beside me. I nodded.

“Most of the guys’ garages look like this, honestly. Not all of them know the mechanics of their bikes, but those that don’t pay Butch to help them with restoration. Usually by exchanging babysitting because he doesn’t like charging his brothers money.”

“Is he on the crew?”

I nodded. “Sure is. You’ll meet them all soon.”

He didn’t look overly excited by the prospect, but he’d figure out soon that they weren’t that bad. The crew looked rough, but they were all teddy bears at heart. Even Wraith, who was stoic with adults, but sweet with Gracie. He was teaching her coding because they were so similar and she was crazy smart.

Since it didn’t look like Xander would go into the garage on his own, I went in first, studying the bike Wraith was upgrading. I knew my fair share about bikes, having been raised by a biker crew, and this one was an old classic. Smaller than his bike now, but once it was done, it’d probably sell for a lot. Xander shuffled forward, trailing his eyes over the parts curiously.

“Do you like motorcycles?”

He lifted one shoulder awkwardly. “I don’t know much about them. They look cool, though.”

“Well, brace yourself for lecture upon lecture on each bike and how much better they are than the others. If the guys even get a whiff of you liking bikes, they won’t ever shut up about it.”

That ghost of a smile flashed over his face again. We looked over the two bikes Wraith had stored in the garage before heading outside to look at his baby. All the guys thought the same thing about their bikes and would pitch a fit if even a scratch was found on them. I saw Wraith open the back door, worry on his face, but when he noticed me with Xander, he relaxed and pointed back toward the kitchen. Ooh, maybe if I was nice, he’d wrap me up something to bring to work. I skipped breakfast that morning to come here and check on Xander.

“Do you know how to ride?” Xander asked, drawing my attention back to him.

I wrinkled my nose. “Yes. But my dad and the crew go nuts any time I suggest buying a bike of my own. Apparently, it's safe enough for them to ride, but not me.”

His brows snapped together in an instant, and he frowned deeply. “Why? Because you’re a woman? That’s sexist.”

Snickering, I shook my head. “No. They’re fine with other female riders. It’s me specifically. They’re overprotective, not sexist. It's a little like I have twenty plus older brothers who all argue when I mention getting a bike of my own. It doesn’t feel like worth the arguments right now. Maybe a little later down the line.”

His shoulders came down a little at my reassurance. I didn’t want him going into the clubhouse expecting the worst, so I told him a few stories about me being taught to ride by the older members of the crew and how they hovered worse than mother hens, but still encouraged me when I got nervous. They were good guys. Xander would see that eventually.

Wraith came back out eventually, calling us both inside. He jerked his chin at the table, sending Xander to sit down, and offered me a paper bag. I grinned.

“How’d you know?”

“You’re wearing scrubs. I figured you had to work.”

Ah. I’d forgotten about that. I could change at work, but sometimes it was easier to get dressed before I left. Xander looked over his shoulder, frowning at me.

“Are you leaving?”

I nodded. “Yep. Gotta get back to work. But have Wraith give you my number once you set up your phone. I always have mine on me and unless I’m helping a patient, I’ll answer my phone right away. If you need anything or just want someone to chat with, then send me a message.”

He didn’t have any friends out here yet, and I wanted him to feel safe, so I’d keep encouraging him until he trusted me to have his back.

Wraith followed me outside, shutting the garage door while I got behind the wheel of my little sedan. It wasn’t as fun as a bike, but it was reliable, and it had heated seats. So there.

Wraith stopped by my window, his hands shoved into his pockets. “Thank you for coming to see him.”

We might butt heads a lot, but he obviously cared about Xander and was trying his best. I smiled and nodded. “Any time. I know you’ll be busy today, but keep me updated, okay? And don’t push him too hard. He’s still recovering. Take breaks.”

He nodded, and I thought he’d head back inside, but he hesitated for a minute. I waited for him to say something, but we ended up staring at one another until his phone finally rang and broke whatever spell we were under. I blinked rapidly, watching him walk back inside with his phone pressed to his ear. What even was that?

I wasn’t sure, but it left me a little breathless and my heart was racing out of control. I needed to be more careful if I was going to be hanging around more often. I didn't want Wraith to figure out how I felt about him. It’d make things seriously awkward at the clubhouse.

My shift was as uneventful as an ER shift in a small town can get. Normally, I’d stick around, but for the first time in forever, I found myself watching the clock. I wasn’t needed at the hospital today, but I felt like Wraith and Xander needed me. I almost texted at least half a dozen times to ask Wraith if they were doing okay and if he was being social enough to make Xander feel more comfortable. The two times I gave in to the urge, I only got back short two-word responses. ‘We’re fine.’ or ‘He’s okay.’ It was frustratingly vague, but because Xander hadn’t texted me yet, I didn't have his number to text him instead. I got the feeling he’d be more forthcoming than his stoic older brother.

When my shift ended, I launched out of my seat, waving at Janelle, who’d just sat down for the night shift.

“Woah, woah. What about handover?” she called, stalling my forward movement. I backed up a little, stopping in front of the desk.

“Bed three had an allergic reaction to shellfish. Apparently, she didn't think shrimp counted. She’ll be released as soon as the edema comes down. And bed one is a new mother with an infant with hiccups. She’s just nervous. Her OB is coming down to talk to her since she wouldn’t relax when we reassured her.”

She smiled, shaking her head. “Is the baby even hiccuping anymore? ”

“Nope,” I said with a grin. “Stopped about five minutes after she got here. But she’s convinced it lasted hours, and it was a sign of something wrong. Maybe check her for signs of postpartum, just to be sure. I’m betting she’s just sleep-deprived and nervous, but it doesn’t hurt to check.”

Like I said, it was a quiet day, so there wasn’t anything else to update her about. I wouldn’t say that out loud, though. It’d jinx us both, and I had somewhere I needed to be.

“Alright, I’ll wait for OB then. How’s the boy?”

I tipped my head back and forth. “It’s slow. He doesn’t trust either of us. But I’m working on it.”

“And his brother?” She raised her eyebrows significantly. “He didn’t seem like the social type yesterday.”

I snorted. “He’s not. I’ll work on that too. He cares, he just doesn’t know how to show it.”

It’d be a challenge getting Wraith to open up, but I got the feeling he’d do it for Xander. All the guys were the same. When a new kid came into their lives, they bent over backward to make them more comfortable. I didn’t doubt for a second that Wraith would do the same.

Janelle was called away to deal with a patient, so I waved goodbye and headed out, stopping at home to clean up before heading for Wraith’s. I got the message from Skylar that we were all going to the clubhouse for dinner, but I wasn’t sure if Wraith was heading straight there or not. His bike was in the driveway when I got there, but he could’ve gotten a ride for all I knew. It didn’t hurt to check. I knocked on the door, breathing a sigh of relief when Wraith opened the door. He put a finger to his lips and tipped his head toward the couch, where Xander was asleep hugging Thor.

“Aw…” I murmured, melting a little. “They’re so cute.”

He grunted in response, stepping back to let me in. “I was going to wake him soon, but I don’t want to startle him. He had a rough day.”

I frowned at him. “Did something not go well?”

He shook his head. “It went fine so far, but he got bad news. He has to meet with the judge if we want me to have full custody. He’s not going to be able to keep lying anymore.”