Chapter 24
RAELYN
When Walker suggested going to Grim’s place for dinner, I was more than a little hesitant. His name alone was enough to give me pause, but Walker assured me that it would be a good time and that I would like his ol’ lady. That was another term that took me off guard, but I didn’t question it.
I didn’t care where we went or who we were with. I just wanted to spend time with him, so I agreed. And I’m so glad that I did. Not only was Grim friendly and welcoming, but his wife and daughter were absolutely precious. And their home was beautiful.
It was my favorite kind of house. It was older, with three or four bedrooms, and it had tons of character.
It had flowers at the front door, a porch that wrapped around the front, and a fenced-in backyard.
They had a beautiful, large patio and furniture to match.
There was a new swing set and a little girl's bike parked right where she left it.
I’d never been there before, but I felt right at home.
Skid, Grim’s son, and his girlfriend, Laken, were there with her daughter, Baylor. Goose and Presley, too. And they were all so friendly. In fact, I’d never met a more welcoming group of people, and I was so glad Walker had brought me to meet them.
After we each made a drink, Walker and the guys claimed their spot by the grill while I joined the ladies in the backyard. I’d barely sat down when the questions started rolling in. Laken gave me a warm smile as she asked, “So, what do you do?”
“I’m a librarian over at Clairmont Elementary.”
“Oh, that’s over by us,” Jenna gasped. “I’m hoping Luna will be able to start there in the fall.”
“That would be great. It’s a wonderful school. She’ll love it there.”
“I hope so. It’s hard to believe she’s almost ready for kindergarten.”
“It happens so fast. I feel like I just blinked, and my two went from toddlers to teenagers.”
“Goose said you had two boys. Is that right?”
“Yes. Thomas and Lucas. They’re with their father tonight.” I wasn’t sure why I said that. I was nervous and divulging too much information, so I asked, “What about you? What do you guys do?”
“I work downtown at the Black Crown,” Laken answered.
“That’s the new casino, right?”
“Yeah, that’s it.” Laken glanced over at Skid as she said, “Thatch knows the guys who own it, and I’m pretty sure he called in a few favors to get me the job. But I really like it there. It’s good money, and they even have on-site daycare, which is almost impossible to find these days.”
“It’s a super nice place,” Presley added. “If you guys haven’t been, you should definitely check it out.”
“We will. I look forward to it.”
“I work at a daycare a few blocks from here, and Presley is a hairstylist. She has the cutest salon down on Main.”
“You should come by,” Presley suggested. “I’ll give you a wash and cut on the house.”
“That would be amazing.” I ran my fingers through the ends of my hair. “I can’t remember the last time I actually went into a salon for a haircut.”
“Well, come see me, and I’ll fix you up.”
We exchanged numbers, and then we were on to the next topic of conversation. It came easy. They were open and kind, and they made me feel like I was a part of the group.
It was nice to get to know them a little.
Especially before the heavy stuff started.
It helped ease the blow when Presley leaned in and whispered, “Is it just me, or has something been going on with the guys?”
Jenna didn’t hesitate. “It’s not just you.”
I glanced over at Jenna, and she was watching the guys the same way Presley was, like she was trying to figure them out. After a few seconds, Jenna leaned back in her lawn chair, but her focus remained on Grim and the guys.
It did seem strange. They weren’t joking around or laughing. They were talking in low voices and exchanging quick glances. Not what you’d expect from good friends at a barbecue.
“You can always tell when something’s going on,” Laken whispered as she pushed Baylor on the swing. “Skid gets really quiet and tense, but if I ask him if something’s wrong, he always says it’s nothing. I know it’s not nothing. You can see it all over the man’s face.”
My gaze drifted back to Walker. He had a pair of tongs in his hand, but he wasn’t really using them. He was mostly just standing there, listening to the others talk, and his jaw was tight, just like it had been the night he came to change my oil.
Every so often, his eyes would scan the yard, checking the perimeter and the street beyond the fence. He did it when we first pulled up. I thought he was just being cautious, but after Laken’s comment, I was wondering if it might be something else.
“Okay, but what does that even mean?” I asked, looking from Jenna to Laken. “Should I be worried?”
“No,” Jenna answered softly. “If we needed to be worried, we would all be at the clubhouse on lockdown. Not here.”
“Lockdown?” I gasped. “Those are for real.”
“Yeah, girl. They’re about as real as it gets.”
“But why would the guys need something like that?”
“There are times when it’s safer for us to all be under one roof, and the guys are all about being safe, especially when it comes to their family.”
It sounded like something you’d see in a movie, not real life, but there was something in the way Jenna said it, calm and certain, that made it seem almost rational.
I let the idea settle for a moment and watched Luna and Baylor swing higher and higher.
The creaking sound of the swing was oddly soothing against the tension in the air.
“I don’t like it,” Presley admitted. “Luke is usually so at ease, but this has had him on edge. We actually had our first real argument this morning.”
“That’s saying something,” Jenna chuckled. “You two have been together for a while now. It only took me a couple of weeks to have Lawson at his wits’ end.”
Laken giggled as she asked, “You talking about the razor thing?”
“Yeah, he loses it any time he thinks I’ve used it... I haven’t in months, but I’ll move it or get it wet to mess with him.”
“You’re a brave woman,” Presley giggled. “No way I’d want Grim mad at me.”
“Pfft. Don’t let him fool ya. The man’s a big teddy bear.”
“Maybe with you and Luna…” Presley scoffed. “I’m just glad the man’s on our side.”
“He definitely is… They all are.” She didn’t look concerned or anxious. If anything, she looked confident as she told us, “Whatever’s going on, they handle it. And they keep it away from us. That’s the deal.”
“The deal?”
Jenna leaned forward a little, resting her elbows on her knees. “The silence isn’t about shutting us out. It’s about protecting us and what we have. One day, you’ll get it, especially if he moves his patch here.”
“I’m not sure what that means?”
“He patched in with Fury at another chapter, so if he wants to stay here, he’ll have to transfer his patch. I’m not sure how all that works. I’m sure it’s just a matter of the presidents agreeing to make the change, but ultimately, it will be up to Drifter to request the move.”
“Drifter?” I muttered. “That’s what they call him?”
“I think it has something to do with him being on the road for so long.” Jenna’s eyes narrowed. “He hasn’t mentioned it to you?”
“No, apparently there’s a lot he’s failed to mention.”
“Well, it’s early yet… I’m sure he didn’t want to overwhelm you with everything.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t know how. I was already a little overwhelmed. The club stuff was a lot, and it was clear by the way Walker interacted with them that these men meant something to him. I wanted him to have that, but I couldn’t deny that it felt like I was dealing with two different men.
One made me feel like I was already a fixture in his world, that he wanted to make me and the boys happy; the other was there but not entirely, like his mind was a million miles away.
For a second, no one said anything. The swing creaked, and girls giggled, and somewhere behind us, the grill hissed as one of the guys turned the steaks.
I glanced back at the guys and watched as Grim muttered something low.
Goose nodded once, serious in a way that seemed to go against his nature.
Skid leaned in and said something to Grim, and then they all fell quiet.
Walker wasn’t talking. He was just standing there, taking it all in, and then his gaze lifted and found me.
It only lasted a second, but in that brief moment, something passed between us. Something quiet and steady, like he was checking to make sure I was okay. I smiled, and he gave me a nod, and that was that. He turned his focus back to the guys.
Soon after, Presley said, “I’m still pretty new to all this club stuff, but I gotta say, it’s been kind of nice. It’s a little like an instant family, and I have friends I never knew I needed.”
‘Yeah, that’s the best part,” Jenna sighed.
“It really is.” Presley grimaced. “I wish Lila Kate had something like this… The whole mess with Nikolai has really done a number on her.”
“What’s the latest on that?” Jenna asked.
“I have no idea.” Presley shrugged. “He won’t return any of her phone calls or messages… I have to give it to her, my sister has the worst luck with men.”
“I’m sorry… I really hoped it would work out.”
“Me, too, but maybe it’s for the best.”
Laken gave me a mischievous smile as she asked, “So, you think you’re gonna stick it out with Drifter?”
“It’s still early yet… I’m not sure how things will play out, but I really do like him. More than I probably should.” I let out an audible sigh. “I’ve fallen pretty hard, but I’m not sure if he feels the same.”
“Oh, I think he does.” Jenna smiled. “He wouldn’t have brought you here if it didn’t mean something.”
My chest tightened. I hadn’t thought of it like that. I hadn’t really let myself. I glanced back over at him, and while I knew there were a lot of obstacles to overcome, I didn’t want to run.
If anything, I wanted to hold on to him even tighter.