Chapter 2
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Jack
Usually, I’d sleep late on a Saturday morning, but not today. Coty and I checked out of the hotel early this morning and were having breakfast at a Waffle House by 8 am. We planned to ride easy today and be home by the middle of the afternoon.
We called our families while we waited for our food. Nana and Coty’s mom were already at the clubhouse. They shouted the happy news that we were on our way home to everyone. Our families and club members shouted so loudly the customers sitting near us gave us dirty looks. One lady was seriously unhappy. She huffed, rolled her eyes, and grumbled under her breath. Maybe she wasn’t a morning person. I ignored her. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a homecooked meal and sleep in our own beds. My tummy growls at the thought of a real meal. No one cooks as good as my mom and grandmother.
We pull up at the gate in front of the Viking’s Den around four in the afternoon, just like we planned. The parking lot is packed with cars, trucks, and bikes. Wow. Mom and Nana have been busy today.
“Looks like we’re having a party,” Coty says through the radio in our helmets.
“Wonder what the occasion could be.” I can’t help but laugh. This is the biggest welcome home party I’ve ever seen.
“Well, well, well.” Ross walks out of the guard house with a huge grin on his face. “Look what the cat dragged in.”
Roscoe Barnett has been a Viking since before I was born. He’s a big man, standing over six feet tall—all muscle. Of course, he has a full beard. Most of the older guys take the Viking image seriously.
I take off my helmet and clasp hands with him. “Ross, good to see you.”
“I don’t like cats,” Coty grumbles as he takes off his helmet.
“Too bad. Deal with it.” Ross stomps around my bike to Coty. He stares Coty down for a moment before grinning again and clasping his hand. “Welcome home, Rodeo.”
“Thanks, man.” Coty nods toward the clubhouse. “All that for us?”
Ross turns toward the clubhouse and nods. “Your moms and Jack’s grandmother organized this after you boys called this morning.”
Boys? We’re almost thirty-year-old grown men. The old guys don’t believe a man’s grown until he’s forty. Got a way to go for that status.
“Mom, Nana, and Mrs. Michaels did this?” I’m no fool. All three ladies are great, but they didn’t put out a call this big.
Ross chuckles. “The moment your dad heard you were on the way, our Pres demanded the biggest party in history for his son’s return.”
I knew it. Mom and Nana may have all the ole ladies’ numbers, but they don’t have the entire club’s numbers. From the looks of things, half the town is here too. Dad definitely had a hand in this.
“Well, let us in, old man. Let’s get this party started.” Coty has talked nonstop for the last two hours about everything he’s missed about Willow Creek.
“Alright, alright,” Ross grumbles as he heads back to the guardhouse to open the gate.
“Sorry, you’re stuck out here.” I feel bad for Ross. He loves a good party.
“I ain’t stuck, boy.” Ross hits the switch, and the gate rolls open. “Got a couple of prospects taking over at six. I ain’t missing nothing.”
“See ya later, Ross.” I toss a couple of fingers up in a little salute.
The two front spaces near the door to the Den are waiting for us. I mean, literally waiting. Welcome home signs with our names are staked in the ground, reserving the spots for Coty and me.
“Our sisters did this.” Coty stares at the signs covered in glitter.
“Yep.” When I find my little sister, I’m dumping pink glitter in her hair.
Before we make it to the door, it flies open, and my little sister runs out. Maci launches herself into my arms. Seriously, I literally have to catch her.
“You’re home,” Maci squeals. “You’re finally home.”
“I am, Lil Bit.” I squeeze her tightly. Oh, how I’ve missed her bouncy personality. She’s still getting pink glitter dumped in her hair before tonight’s over.
“Come on, Big Brother. Let’s get inside.” Maci grabs my hand and pulls me toward the door.
Squealing from behind us has me looking over my shoulder. Coty’s twirling his little sister, Ember, around. Maci and Ember are the same age. Like Coty and me, they’ve been best friends practically from birth. These two girls are in their third year of college. We left Tennessee not long after settling them into their dorms for their freshman year. I should have been here to watch over her the last two years. College guys can be jerks. I was always a phone call away, though. If she needed me at any time, I would have been on her doorstep handling any problem she had.
The moment I step inside the door, one of the most important women in my life slams into me so hard we almost fall. Holding her in my arms fills a hole in my chest that I didn’t realize was there. I was an idiot to stay away for so long.
“Oh, my sweet boy. You’re here.” My grandmother rocks us side to side. She hurt her back years ago and can’t bounce around like she used to. It doesn’t stop her from being loud, though. She steps out of my arms and faces the club. “Jack’s home!”
The room erupts in shouts and whistles. I shake my head. Nana’s the only woman I know who could command this room of rowdy bikers. Well, Mom does, too.
I drop an arm around her shoulders as we walk toward the bar. “I’ve missed you, Nana.”
“Good.” She slaps her hand against my stomach. “Maybe you won’t leave again.”
I laugh. “I’m not leaving again. Promise.”
She smiles and nods. The tears in her eyes almost undo me. I never meant to cause her pain.
“Jack!” Granddad hops off his chosen stool on the right side of the bar and wraps his arms around me.
“Hey, Granddad.”
“Bout time your tail came dragging in.” Dad grabs my arm and pulls me away from Granddad. He wraps me in a bear hug.
“Glad to be home.” I really am.
Dad narrows his eyes. “This for good?”
I chuckle. “Yeah, Dad. I’m home for good.”
“Best news I’ve heard in two years.” Dad slaps my shoulder and turns to face the club members staring at us. “My boy’s home! Let’s get this party started!”
Shouts and whistles go up around the room again. People start lining up at the buffet-style tables with food along the wall closest to the kitchen. Just the smell of the food has my mouth watering.
“Jack!” Mom shouts as she runs out of the back hallway.
I run to meet her. Oh, how I’ve missed her. She and I talked every day while I was gone.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Don’t you do this again.”
“I won’t, Mom.”
Nana instructs the ole ladies on what food to set where in the line. No one cares as long as they get what they want. Nana just likes order. Being the first ole lady in the club and the former Queen, no one argues with my grandmother. Well, Granddad will. And trust me. The entire clubhouse will clear out when those two argue.
“Come on, boy. Let’s get a beer.” Granddad pulls me over to the bar and pats the stool next to his.
Two bottles of beer magically appear on the bar in front of us. It’s how things are around here when you’re a McLeod.
“Good to see you, Jack.” Kayla twists the tops off the two beers. She nods to me but doesn’t smile.
“Thanks.” I nod back.
Kayla moves to the other end of the bar and pours a couple of shots for some members. When did Kayla Chambers start bartending at the clubhouse?
I look across the room to Coty. His mom and sister hover around him with drinks and plates of food. Has he noticed Kayla yet? I don’t think so, but she’s noticed him. Kayla glances at Coty when she thinks no one is watching. I’m watching. I watch until plates of food magically appear in front of Granddad and me.
For the next hour, I enjoy food and drinks with my family hovering around me. This kind of attention makes me nervous. I’ll let them make a fuss over me tonight. I understand because I’ve missed them more than I thought I would.
Dad disappeared down the hallway half an hour ago. A couple of club officers followed him. That can’t be a good sign. Club business doesn’t care if we’re celebrating. I watch the hallway until the man I’ve missed the most walks out. I was wondering where he was.
One side of Jay's mouth lifts when he sees me. Before I’m off the stool, he’s standing in front of me.
“Glad you’re home. Sorry I couldn’t go with you.” Jay wraps me in a bear hug. The men in our family hug hard.
“Sorry I stayed gone so long.” I motion to the stool next to me. “Join us?”
Jay’s lips form a tight smile. He nods once to our grandfather and meets my eyes. “Can’t. Got some AA work.”
Oh, man. I knew something was up.
“I’ll go with you.” I turn to say bye to Granddad.
“Nope, boy.” Granddad pulls me onto my stool. “Jay’s got it. You can’t leave your own party.”
“They may need help,” I insist.
“Look.” Granddad points his finger in my face. “I’m not fighting with your Nana or your mom for losing you tonight.”
Oh, good grief. I drop my head back and groan. Nana appointed him my watchdog tonight.
Jay laughs and clamps his hand down on my shoulder. “Granddad’s right. Don’t make your mom and Nana mad. They worked hard on this party. You can ride with us next time.”
“Next time,” I agree.
I watch as my cousin leads about ten Vikings out the door. He has more than enough help tonight. I won’t miss the next one. AA work is the most important thing we do here at the Den. But he’s darn right. I’ll be there next time. There’s always a next time.