Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Lilly
Iwake later on in the day, shivering. We were hot and heavy when we went to sleep, but once our body temperatures had leveled out, it got a tidbit chilly.
I found myself curling further and further into Cass in an attempt to stay warm.
I’d doze off and wake up shortly thereafter shivering again.
When I could no longer fall asleep because I was so cold, I ease my way off of Cass.
I tug on my pants and tiptoe to the door, easing it shut behind me.
I let out a breath at my escape. I know Cass has to be worn out and I want to let him rest as much as possible.
I’m not sure what last night consisted of, but I’m sure that lives were lost. I’m also sure that Cass was in some sort of altercation based on the gash on his arm.
The house is quiet as I make my way down the staircase.
Once I’m downstairs, I hear movement and chatter.
The size of this house is still baffling to me.
It is surreal that this place is mine to call home.
I follow the smell of food to the kitchen where I find Mindy and Linc sitting at the bar with Lucy, Shorty, Leo, and Carrie, who’s cooking something on the stove. Mindy’s eyes light up when she spots me, making everyone else stare in my direction.
“Good morning!” Mindy beams.
“Good morning,” I smile, my voice throaty and still laced with sleep.
“What time is it?” I ask. I’d forgotten to charge my phone last night and it’s somewhere in my ‘office’ likely deader than a door nail.
“Eleven thirty. Lunch time!” Carrie chirps.
I lean in Carrie’s direction to get a better look at what’s in the pot on the stove behind her. “Whatcha cooking? And better yet, where’d you get it to cook it? Cause, we lack groceries for the moment.”
“You were lacking groceries, but not anymore. Leo and I went out earlier and filled the fridge, freezer, and part of the cabinets for you. I’m cooking a chicken and sausage gumbo, and the potato salad is done already and, in that bowl,” she points to a red bowl on the counter that had a piece of foil wrapped on top of it.
“Oh my God, I haven’t had a gumbo since the last one my mom made…shit!” I curse.
“What’s wrong?” Lucy asks, looking at me with a worried frown.
“My mom. I haven’t talked to her with all this madness going on and she’s gotta be worried sick. I’m not good at juggling this shit, in case you couldn’t tell.” I sigh and rub my temple with my right hand.
“Just go call her and kind of fill her in.” Mindy’s reassurance is always just what I need.
“It’ll have to wait. My phone’s dead. What’s another few hours added on to the last week?” I ask sarcastically. Hanging my head, I take a seat at the bar beside Mindy.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I got run over by an old, rusty train.”
I lean forward and give Linc a glare around her. “You better not be letting her engage in any strenuous activity.”
I glower at him unwaveringly. He doesn’t even attempt to hide the laugh that bubbles up after a few seconds beneath my glare. “I don’t let her do anything, you should know that. She does what she wants.”
Mindy’s cheeks redden and I realize that although I was joking with them, it appears I was accurate. He and Mindy had been doing some ‘strenuous’ activity.
“You better be careful, you’re going to end up hurting something if y’all keep trick-fucking,” I tell Mindy, quietly, since the rest of the room has resumed their own conversations.
“We aren’t trick-fucking. Calm your tits. But a girl does need dick every now and then…”
“Trust me, I understand. Just try to be careful. I worry enough about you already.”
“I got this.” Mindy smiles.
I rest my head on my hand as the rest of the room is filled with chatter. I haven’t seen the other out of town prospects nor have I seen Raven, Brock, Ryan, or Gater.
“Where’s everybody else? Did they leave?” I ask.
“Ryan and Gater left right after Cass and Scott got here last night,” Linc says.
“Raven’s still in bed,” Mindy points over her shoulder toward my bedroom.
“Brock too,” Leo chimes in.
“Bobby left for the clubhouse a few hours ago. His charter is heading out tonight and they wanted to make sure he was taken care of before they took off on their long trip home,” Shorty says a little loud from across the room.
Everyone is returning to their normal lives outside of all of this mess and that makes me a bit too giddy.
The war is ending. I won’t have to worry about Cass’s safety anymore or anyone else’s for that matter.
Of course, there’s reason to be concerned daily because they do ride motorcycles after all, but at least there will be a little bit of calm.
Hell, maybe I’ll even be able to go back to work! I can hardly contain my excitement.
“So, it’s over then?” I ask, looking at all the guys standing around.
“I think so,” Leo beams.
“We’ll know for sure soon,” Linc said.
Cass comes into the kitchen, and I know he’s overheard our conversation by his comment.
“It’s over. There isn’t a Moccasin left in the whole state, baby.”
The guys cheer, raising bottles and cans of beer in toast. It’s finally over.
The war is over. I’m ecstatic and I can see the same excitement in the faces all around the kitchen, including the extra sleepy one that was walking in behind Cass.
Raven’s hair is pulled into a ponytail and her face is red from just washing it.
“What are y’all cheering about?” she asks as she maneuvers through everyone, headed straight for the refrigerator.
“It’s over. It’s finally fucking over!” Mindy shouts, throwing her hands up and wincing as she eases them back down.
“Fuck yeah. Where’s Micah and the guys?” she asks, looking around.
“They should be getting here soon. He just called me a few minutes ago saying they were done and on their way here. That’s what woke me up.”
Raven smirks. “I’m so ready for him to be here so we can go home. No offense, guys. I’ve enjoyed being here and all, but I got shit to do back home at our clubhouse. We have a party coming up, which means I’ll be doing everything for it.”
“None taken, love. I’m ready for all of you to leave, no offense, because I need to christen my house…and that’s frowned upon when other people are in it.” I smile at Cass whose face mirrors mine.
“Must not have been too frowned upon a few hours ago…” Carrie mumbles, gaining laughter from the entire room.
“Oh, that? That was just breakfast, guys. Tonight, we’re having a four-course meal,” Cass grins and wraps his arm around my shoulder.
“That’s it. We won’t be here when dinner time rolls around,” Lucy says, smiling.
The air in the room is filled with ease.
Tension is no longer present and for that, I am utterly grateful.
It’s about time we can breathe easily. Though Cass said the war was over, I can’t help but wonder if it is truly over or not.
What if they had other charters that were going to seek revenge?
What if Keith knew too much and passed that information on to someone else?
I push those thoughts to the back of my mind as best I can.
I don’t want to think of the bad things that could happen, especially since I’d just been able to see such great things this morning.
“Quit worrying,” Cass whispers, his lips grazing my ear.
“I’m not.”
“You’re also not a very good liar. Quit worrying. It’s over, baby. Now, the only thing you need to be worried about is how I’m going to fuck you seven ways from Sunday for dinner tonight. And don’t even get me started on dessert.”
***
Two months later…
“Babe! They’re here!” Cass shouts from the living room.
I’d made him sit in there to watch for them since I couldn’t.
My mom and her husband David had finally made it in to see the new house and meet Cass.
I have been a nervous wreck all morning as I ran around the house like a hummingbird in a cardboard box.
I’m stressed out trying to make sure everything is perfect for their arrival.
I’ve been cooking all day, after I cleaned and ran around like crazy.
Now they’re finally here. When I’d told Cass about my mom coming down, he insisted we cook a nice dinner and have them over.
I even put on a dress and some make-up. I hear the front door open and the warm sound of my mother’s voice as she greets Cass.
I untie the apron around my waist and hang it on a hook.
I nearly run through the short hallway that separates the kitchen from where the front door is.
There she stands. My mother. In a low-cut v-neck that’s different shades of blue and green with a black neckline and white in between the colors of the design and a pair of faded blue jeans on.
Her black, high-heeled ankle boots complete her outfit.
David stands next to her in a blue plaid shirt and jeans, with his own cowboy boots and hat to match.
They aren’t even all the way inside the door when I barrel into them.
“Momma!” I pull her into a hug, inhaling the familiar scent of Obsession perfume and cigarettes. One of the most comforting smells on the planet. I haven’t seen her in months and now that’s she’s finally here, I want her to stay.
“Hey, honeys!” She hugs me in a vice-like grip for a few moments too long, but I don’t mind.
“Mom, this is my boyfriend Cass. Cass, this is my mother, Margie and her husband, David,” I say, motioning between them.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you!” My mom hugs Cass in greeting. While they get themselves acquainted, I give David a quick hug. He has been around for a few years, but they travel so much that I had hardly gotten time to get to know him deeper than just in passing.
“I’m glad y’all are home,” I say warmly as David shakes Cass’s hand. They begin talking and I turn to my momma.
“How long are y’all in town for?”
“Well…David took a job down here! So, we’re home for good.”
I squeal at the news. “Oh my god! Mom, why didn’t you say something sooner?”