Chapter 14
Lucy
Chubs has been gone for months now, but my heart hasn’t even begun to heal yet. I take one day at a time and hope to get through it still sane at the end of it. I refuse to make plans for anything further than a day or two in advance. I can’t look that far ahead, or a whole lifetime of emptiness is staring back at me. Baby steps is what Lisa reminds me when I get overwhelmed.
Pooh and Pippa’s wedding has come and gone, and it was beautiful. The women were stunning, the men all handsome, and the kids adorable. Craig stood off to the side and signed to Luke during the ceremony. Craig improvised with his own version of the wedding vows, raising more than a few eyebrows along the way. Ava and I snickered a few times over what was being signed, but all in all, the wedding went off without a hitch.
The only time things got uncomfortable for me was when Pippa tossed her bouquet, and it landed in my lap. I hadn’t stood with the other single women waiting to catch it, and yet I ended up with it. My mind wanted to rage at the injustice of it all because if Chubs were here, I would most likely be the next bride. But he’s not, and that ship has sailed. Instead of ripping the bouquet to shreds, I smiled serenely at Pippa’s horrified expression and gave her a wink. She relaxed, and the festivities resumed.
“You Lucy’d yourself that time,” Lisa whispers with a small frown. “After the reception, we can torch that fucker.”
“It’s fine. If the bouquet hadn’t hit the ceiling fan, it wouldn’t have landed in my lap. I should give it to Tessie for luck. She wanted it so bad, she leveled three women trying to get into position.”
“That was hilarious! That one women’s dress ended up near her own ears!” Lisa says with a snort of laughter.
“Can I have this dance, please?”
I turn to find Axel standing next to my chair, bright smile in place.
“Is it going to be a normal dance, or are you going to toss me around like a bag of beans?” I ask because, well, it is Axel.
“Normal, I promise.”
I stand and take his arm, but I know I’m making a mistake, especially when Lisa wishes me luck.
As we come to a stop on the dance floor, the music starts up again. I groan and turn to make my getaway, but Axel holds onto my arm.
“Come on, Lucy! It’ll be fun! I know all the moves, so you just need to follow along. I’m a great leader!”
“Why can’t Bailey dance this one with you?” I whine as Axel starts dancing and moving me with him.
“She threatened Big Al and the Twins if I tried making her, so I chose you instead. You’re a lucky girl!” Axel answers gleefully as he twirls me away and then back into him.
“I’m not doing the lift!” I shout to be heard over the music.
“That’s the best part! Of course, you are!”
I cringe so hard when I see the others stepping back off the dance floor. Their hooting can be heard two counties away, and all faces are sporting big smiles while I try to find a way out of this Axel-sized predicament. I give up when I spot Bailey laughing her ass off, giving me two thumbs up, and little Alex clapping while swinging her dress back and forth.
While I love the movie Dirty Dancing and all things Patrick Swayze, I never thought I’d have to dance to “I’ve Had The Time of My Life” with a large, bald biker. A biker, I must admit, that has some seriously good dance moves.
Still, I’m not thrilled when he picks me up and then spins us before setting me back down and grasping one hand to send me out for another twirl. When he backs a few steps away, Tammy, Tessie, Taja, Livi, James, and a drunken Horse join him dancing the sequence of moves prior to the lift. When Axel nods his head at me, I think to myself, fuck it. I take two running steps and am lifted high in the air to raucous applause. When Axel finally sets me back on my feet, I grin up at him.
“Thank you, Axel. That was fun.”
“I like you best when you smile, Little Lucy. I just needed to see one today,” Axel says sincerely. “Love you.”
“Love you too,” I say before making my way toward my table.
“How come Axel gets a dance, but I don’t?” Craig asks.
“He made me, but I’ll dance with you because I want to,” I answer.
“Come on, Lisa. I can handle two girls at once,” Craig says before grasping both our hands and leading us to the dance floor. “Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll marry the twins, and I’ll already have it all figured out.”
After Craig came a succession of bikers, their women, and kids, all making me feel a part of this family and special day. No one left Lisa out of the fun either, and we both smiled at our parents enjoying themselves as well.
“Your kid is a pork chop,” I grumble to Ava while shifting Chasin’s body to my other arm.
“I know he is. I can’t believe how fast he’s growing,” she says while glancing in our direction. “He and Liam will be the only defensive lineman needed for their high school football team.”
“Can I hold him?” Candy asks from beside me.
“Yes, please, before my arm falls off,” I answer while transferring his chubby body to Candy.
Candy and I are hanging out in Ava’s catering kitchen while she tests out new appetizer recipes. Candy has become a close friend of mine and Lisa’s, and we spend a lot of time together. Ava is thrilled to have her as a tenant and sings her praises often.
We’ve come to find out that Candy isn’t one to sit still for long. She likes to keep busy, so it’s not uncommon to find her in the bakery kitchen washing dishes or clearing tables. She refuses to take pay for helping out, and it’s quite amusing to watch her and Ava battle over that topic.
Candy and I meet at the gym a few times a week and work out together now. My mom and Lisa join us for some of the classes, and the guys tailor them to suit our individual needs. Lisa and I are constantly amazed at how quickly our mother has gained skills and how hard she works at them. The Governor of Colorado’s wife, Miriam Douglas, even insists the guys aren’t pushing us hard enough. I think a huge reason she likes coming is because of Candy and Axel’s ongoing battle of wits. I’ve even caught her betting on the outcome a few times with Pooh.
“How do you like working at the animal rescue?” Ava asks Candy.
“Love it. I’m learning a lot about animals too. Pigeon and Ivy asked if I’d work for them at the ranch part-time, and I’m thinking about it. It would only be during their busy times, but a day here or there would be nice,” Candy answers while smiling down at Chasin.
The door to the kitchen opens and in walks Trudy and Bella. Bella moves to check out what Ava’s making, and Trudy zeros in on Candy and Chasin. Trudy stares hard at Candy until Candy sighs and hands over the baby. Axel is right—Trudy’s a baby hound.
It’s not long and the door opens again with Petey, Gunner, Rex, and Horse entering. The men greet everyone as they head directly for the trays of appetizers. Horse moans after each bite until Rex smacks the back of his head.
“Do you have a favorite, Horse?” Ava asks as she pulls another baking sheet from the oven.
“Aren’t they all the same?” he questions before popping another into his mouth.
“Jesus, Horse. There’s a whole lot of stupid inside of you,” Rex mumbles around a bite. “Ava’s not cooking these because you’re too cheap to buy dinner for yourself. She wanted opinions on which are the best ones.”
“I like them all, Ava,” Horse replies while reaching for more.
“Thank you, Horse, but please excuse me if I don’t take your opinion seriously. You didn’t even notice the difference between stuffed mini peppers and candied bacon-wrapped shrimp,” Ava declares with a laugh.
“Shrimp? There was shrimp in that?” Horse questions in a higher voice than I’ve ever heard out of him before.
“Yes, these ones have… oh shit, Horse! You’re allergic to shellfish!” Ava shouts in alarm.
“Oh fuck! I’m going to die!” Horse wails before running to the garbage can.
“Anyone have an EpiPen? I volunteer to jab that sucker into him. You know, to save his life and all that jazz,” Rex says dismissively while looking over the latest tray of food placed on the counter.
I pull a couple of antihistamine tablets from my purse and hold them out to Petey. Petey, in turn, holds them out to Horse, but he’s busy trying to make himself vomit, and his gagging sounds are making Gunner turn an interesting shade of green.
“Take these, you simple fuck,” Petey insists, but Horse ignores him.
Candy stands from the table, takes the pills from Petey, and approaches Horse. Wrapping her arm around his head, she pulls it backward until his face is out of the garbage can. Then, without warning, she shoves the tablets into his mouth and uses two fingers to push them down his throat. Removing her fingers, she holds his jaw shut while stroking his throat. There is no sound in the room, but stunned silence, before Horse shrieks like a banshee lit on fire.
“What the hell?” Petey gasps out before nearly falling off his stool laughing.
The room erupts in wild laughter except for Candy. She calmly washes her hands, then pulls her car keys from her pocket and turns to Horse.
“Let’s go, Princess,” she orders.
“Go? I’m not going anywhere with you! You just shoved your hand down my throat like I’m a damn dog! Not to be petty or anything, but you washed your hands AFTER instead of before! Just sayin’, I feel a little violated!” Horse shouts a little hysterically.
“Fair enough. And you’re welcome for me buying you a few extra minutes before your death, you ungrateful dick. But while you’re standing here being just that, your mouth is starting to look like a toilet plunger. Just sayin’,” Candy returns sarcastically before tucking her keys away and sitting back down in her chair.
If I’m reading the look she’s giving Horse correctly, he’s in danger of having a shrimp shoved somewhere he seriously does not want one.
At her comment, all eyes swing to Horse and his rapidly swelling face. Candy nailed the description of his mouth, though. I’m not sure I’ll ever look at him again without remembering this moment.
“I totally get the toilet plunger reference, but I’m getting more of a ‘Cherry, the Sex Doll’ vibe,” Rex states while waving a hand in front of Horse’s obscenely huge, red lips formed in an O shape.
Horse knocks Rex’s hand away and turns to Ava.
“Wis is yo fwalt!”
“No, dumbass, it’s yours. Do you want to stand around arguing that or head to the hospital before we have to find an urn for your ashes?” I ask as I stand.
“Stay and relax, Lucy. I’ll take him if you let me use your car. No fucking way am I letting him ride bitch on my bike looking like that. People might get the wrong idea,” Rex says while dragging Horse behind him. Grabbing my keys, I hold them out to Rex.
Seconds after the door closes behind them, Axel carrying Alex with Bailey following, enters. Bailey’s eyes are wide as she turns to me.
“What the hell happened to Horse? That was Horse, right?”
“Shrimp allergy,” I answer with a grin.
“Is he going to live?” she asks.
“Yeah, because he’s too stupid to die,” Gunner replies, starting another round of laughter. “God looks out for those ones.”
“Okay, whatever. Horse is gone, and let’s leave him that way. Listen up! Alexia wants to tell everyone something. Go ahead, baby girl,” Axel says when everyone’s attention is on him and his daughter.
“Daddy is having a baby!” she crows, then throws her arms up in the air, nearly smacking Axel in the face.
“If any man could, it would be your daddy,” Gunner states dryly.
“Bailey’s pregnant?” Bella shouts, catching on the quickest.
“No! Daddy is!” Alex argues.
“We’re pregnant, and as much as Axel wishes it were different, I’m carrying the baby. We found out today,” Bailey says softly while smiling broadly at Axel.
Back slaps, hugs, and congratulations take place before things settle down a bit. When they do, I pull Alex out of Axel’s arms and give her a big hug.
“Are you excited to be a big sister?” I ask.
“Yep,” she says while nodding excitedly.
“You’ll be great at being a big sister,” Candy adds from beside us before turning to Axel. “What do you want? Boy or girl?”
“Girl, definitely,” he answers instantly.
Surprised at his answer, I ask, “What if it’s a boy?”
“A boy is my second choice, so that would be great too!” he replies, cheeky grin in place.
“I don’t care as long as it’s healthy and acts nothing like its father,” Trudy adds as she takes Alex out of my arms, winks at Axel, and walks off.
“You’re a great dad, Axel. Any kid would be lucky to have you for their parent,” Candy tells him sincerely before slugging him in the arm and walking off.
“She still scares me a little,” he admits while rubbing his arm.
“She’s good people. Had a rough life and no role models, so she did the best she could to get by and survive. I can respect that,” I say quietly.
“It was bad enough having her hang around the gym. Then she started turning up everywhere. With you, Ava, or Trudy. I had some doubts about her, but Ava told me a little bit about her life. I’m glad you set her up in the apartment and helped her get a better job. The club is starting to see her as one of ours, so if she needs anything else, let me know. Yeah?”
“Yeah. Thanks,” I answer. “I’m really happy for you and Bailey.”
Before Axel answers, Petey joins us and holds out his phone to Axel.
“What’s up?” Axel questions as he takes the phone.
“Bella did us a solid. Just sent me a video you’ll want to see. Let’s call this your congratulations-on-your-new-baby gift,” Petey explains as he taps the play button.
Horse’s gagging sounds come through clearly, but the part that had Axel howling starred none other than his former nemesis, Candy.