Chapter Twenty-Three
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
DRAVEN
I ’ve enlisted the help of Atticus, Delilah, Maggie, and Harleigh to ensure this dinner runs as smoothly as possible for McKinsey.
I know she’s a lot more nervous about being here than she will ever admit. But I also know that once I can get Royce and McKinsey to realize that the other can be trusted, we can return to the dysfunctional family of loveable assholes we’ve always been.
I sandwich Kins between myself and Harleigh on one side of the table. That leaves Delilah to my right, in her usual seat, serving as an additional buffer between the doc and Royce. Across the table from us are Atticus and Maggie.
I’ve been bringing Atticus around McKinsey’s house a little more as a way to help her gradually wade into club waters. She’s finally gotten to a point where she can joke around with him a little, but she’s still treading lightly.
I’m hoping her facing him and Maggie during dinner will ease some of her apprehension about being here. She fought hard to get out of coming tonight. I had to be firm with her, telling her she didn’t have a choice. In reality, if she would have told me she was too afraid, I wouldn’t have forced her into it. But I know she can handle it and has the guts to go toe-to-toe with Royce if it comes to that.
I really hope that doesn’t happen, though.
“On behalf of the club, I want to officially welcome you to our home. We’re happy that you’re here.” Delilah smiles genuinely at McKinsey. She’s transitioned gracefully into her role as matriarch of this club. Even if she is the youngest of us all.
“Thank you for having me.” Kins looks around the table, meeting everyone’s stare—including Royce’s—like the courageous little tiger she is.
No one moves until I see Delilah nod her head out of the corner of my eye. Then the normal flurry of sound and activity descends on the table as everyone begins loading their plates with food.
Grabbing Kins’s plate, I fill it with chicken, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole before putting it back down in front of her. She smiles in appreciation before picking up her fork and digging in. As I make my plate, I silently beg someone to start talking. To make this feel like a normal dinner with family would. I don’t think the doc is the only one who’s nervous about this dinner.
“So, Doc.” Zephyr is the first to break the awkward silence. “Are you coming on the ride with us to Pittsburgh next weekend?”
Shit. I haven’t even mentioned it to her yet. Her expression doesn’t change; she hides the surprise from her face well.
“I don’t know.” She looks from Zephyr to me as she finishes chewing. “It’s the first I’m hearing about it.”
Before her mind tries to tell her I didn’t tell her about it for a specific reason, I speak up.
“I was going to ask you, but I wanted to see how this dinner went first.” Winking, I smile at her.
“That’s smart.” Taking a sip of her water, she turns her attention back to Zephyr and continues. “I’d love to go, though. As long as I’m welcome.”
Looking at me again, she pins me with a stare, and I can see the sincerity in her eyes. My chest twinges with appreciation at her willingness to spend time with my family and get to know them, no matter how uncomfortable she may be.
“Of course, you’re welcome.” Atticus tells her between bites of food before nodding to me. “Especially with the way you’ve been helping this fucking knucklehead. It’s safer for him to have you close.”
“Ha. Ha.” I roll my eyes at Atty, but he’s actually got a point.
Turning my attention to the head of the table, I notice Royce’s attention is fixated on his food. My eyes shift from him to Delilah then back. I don’t notice her moving, but she must nudge him under the table or something because he finally looks up and clears his throat, joining the conversation.
“Yes, we’re all very appreciative of the work you’ve been putting in to help us get back the Draven we all know and love.”
Jesus, did Delilah make him memorize a notecard for tonight or something? That doesn’t sound like a statement Royce would make. And his cold, monotone voice does nothing to support the words he just spoke.
“Okay.” Kins snorts as the word leaves her mouth wrapped in sardonic laughter. The room falls silent with all eyes on her. “If you say so. I don’t know much about you, but I know you didn’t write that line yourself.”
Everyone’s eyes shift from her to Royce as though they’re watching a high-stakes tennis match. When the tension in the room feels like it can’t get any thicker, Royce delivers the next shock by breaking out into a fit of laughter.
“No, I definitely didn’t. She made me say it.” He points to Delilah as he talks. “I don’t even want you here, but I was forced into that as well.”
Anger burns my apprehension away as Royce lobs disrespect at McKinsey. I’m about to speak up, but she beats me to it.
“Well, at least we have one thing in common.” Kins picks her water up again, tilting her glass in Royce’s direction.
The two of them exchange the most awkward, hatred-yet glee-filled laughter with one another I’ve ever witnessed. From that moment on, Royce and McKinsey are the only two people in the room who appear at ease, leaving the rest of us to worry that this will be yet another dinner that erupts into a fight.
* * *
“Can I help with anything?” McKinsey hands her plate over to Maggie as the girls clear the table.
“Not this time.” Maggie winks at her. “You don’t get to fulfill the noble role of kitchen wench until after you fully pledge your life to the club. Or unless you’re lucky enough to be the spawn of Satan.”
Her smile drops, and she shoots daggers at Royce before carrying the stack of dirty dishes into the kitchen.
“I think she likes Royce even more than I do.” Kins whispers so no one else can hear.
I laugh at her sarcasm, nodding in agreement.
“Trust me, the rocky relationship you have with your mother couldn’t hold a candle to theirs.”
“Let’s go, gentleman. Church.” Royce grumbles as he stands.
I catch him, briefly glancing at McKinsey, before he looks at me. Breathing in deeply, he sighs as though he’s conceding. It almost seems like progress was made tonight. They weren’t exactly laughing together in enjoyment, but they did find they have at least one thing in common.
The barest of tolerance for one another.
But his disrespect toward her won’t be tolerated, and I plan to address it.
“Are you going to be okay for a little? We shouldn’t be longer than thirty minutes or so.”
Maggie answers for Kins before she can speak.
“Oh, we’ll be fine. I’ll keep a good eye on her.”
McKinsey stands, and Maggie throws her arm around her shoulders.
“Tell me, Doc. How do you feel about chocolate fudge brownie ice cream?”
Maggie shoots me an evil but playful smile as Kins watches our exchange.
“Hey, you’re playing with fire now, Mags. You better leave me some.” Locking eyes with McKinsey, I flick my fingers from my eyes to hers. “You keep an eye on her for me, Doc.”
Her eyes twinkle as she rolls them, laughing softly.
I give her one last wink before walking down the hallway and into the chapel.
Taking my seat next to Royce, my stare is less than friendly as I wait for him to acknowledge me.
“What?” he spits without looking at me. The room grows quiet.
“You fucking know what. If any one of us would have spoken to Delilah the way you spoke to McKinsey, you would have had our balls on a platter.”
Finally looking at me, his jaw tics as he thinks about what to say. But he’s got nothing. He knows he was wrong. And he knows I lost some respect for him because of it.
“This couldn’t have waited until after church, when we had some privacy?” Royce looks around the room, clearly uncomfortable with being challenged in front of everyone. He’s right, though, and I may very well pay for it, but I don’t let that keep me from my tirade.
“It’s safer for you if we do this here. With witnesses and people to pull me off of you if I fucking snap.” Royce’s lips snarl in anger at my threat, but I ignore it and continue. “You had a chance to bury the animosity between you and the doc. Two people who didn’t want to be at that table tonight came to dinner. But only one of them had enough balls to put their differences behind them and find a way to move forward.”
In a huff, Royce stands so quickly, his chair is thrown backward and crashes to the floor.
“I don’t fucking trust her.” His voice leaves him in a roar as he slams his fists—knuckles down—onto the table.
Matching his fury, I mirror his stance from my place to his right. Everyone else in the room is on their feet in no time, ready to charge us both if needed.
“Well, I trust her. And if you trust me , then that should fucking be enough.”
We’re nearly nose to nose for what feels like forever, neither of us willing to be the first to back down from this standoff. Finally, I see the muscles in Royce’s face relax a fraction—the only sign that he’s given in.
Nodding harshly, I accept his surrender and take my seat.
“First order of business. Since we were just talking about it, next week’s ride to Pittsburgh is for CHOP.” Royce pauses, dragging a hand down his face before looking at me and shaking his head with a scoff. “Draven, get the doc some leather to wear since it sounds like she’ll be joining us.”
I have to fight to hide my smile. The order I was just given is as good of an apology from Royce as I could have expected at the moment.
I nod to him, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. But I hold his stare, giving him the respect he deserves as my president. Proving to him that I do still know my place and want to follow his rule.
And it’s the truth.
I want nothing more than for everything to go back to normal around here once and for all, but he has to realize that I need Kins by my side in order to do that. She’s been the missing piece, the key to my happiness and survival that I’ve lacked this whole time. Now that I’ve found her, I’ll see to it that she doesn’t go one more day feeling unwanted or unfulfilled.
I’ll stop at nothing to ensure she has everything she’s ever needed and desired.