Chapter 22
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Doc
When the national president wants to go for a ride with ‘just the brothers’, you do it, which is how I find myself in the middle of the pack as we travel down some back roads until we get to the interstate.
Then, the throttles are opened wide, and I can hear quite a few of my brothers’ whoops and hollers as we maneuver through traffic until we’re one huge pack of bikes.
With everything that’s happened recently, my rides have been somewhat short, so having my knees in the breeze has the tension in my shoulders easing.
I know Gretchen is a little shy and unsure being around the women from the two other chapters, but she can hold her own. Plus, Issy will keep things from getting too overwhelming; she’s good like that and I know my woman’s in great hands.
Rio motions that we’re getting off at the next exit which is good because we’ve been riding for a bit now and I need to top off my tank and take a piss.
I may feel better than most of these assholes thanks to Gretchen hooking up a banana bag while I slept, but all the extra fluids have had me hitting the john more frequently than normal.
When I see where we’re pulling in, I nearly split my cheeks grinning.
We’re not in El Paso proper, but we have a lot of unique local places and that’s where we’ve brought our brothers.
Uncle Sal’s Salsa and Sombreros sounds hokey as fuck, but next to the spread that Constance and Maria put out the other day, it’s hands down the best fucking food I’ve ever tasted.
“More Tex-Mex?” Big Daddy asks.
“Brother, we could eat it every fucking day and that’s the truth,” Rio replies. “I promise you’ll find something to eat here that’ll blow your mind.”
“Then let’s see what you’re talking about,” Big Daddy says as he walks toward the front door.
During dinner, I find myself sitting next to Mongrel.
It’s his first ride in the lineup as a club brother; usually the prospects bring up the rear in a club SUV.
He may be a little overwhelmed, but if he is, I can’t tell.
“I see you were able to get Constance to hook you up,” I say, pointing at the flash on his cut.
He grins and nods. “Yeah, I told her I knew how to sew, but she said it was a privilege that she cherished because she had sewn on the patches for every single brother since Paps started the club. I told her she must have been a child bride because there was no way she was old enough to have done that all these years.”
I chuckle then say, “They got married as soon as they were old enough and came to the ranch then, so she’s been around that long and no, she’s not really all that old. I know we’ll have church and cover this, but is there anything you’re really good at?”
Shrugging, he says, “Numbers have always come easy to me. I was trying to get my accounting degree, but then I found the club and the rest is history.”
I don’t answer, just nod but I do file that information away to give to Rio later.
Because if Nerd’s taking over the IT spot, we’re going to need a new treasurer.
I know BamBam could assist for a little bit, and Nerd will as well, but there’s no reason to overburden another brother if there’s one who can be brought into that spot.
“Now, let me ask you about that shoulder you keep favoring,” I say, pulling out my doctor voice. “What’s going on with it?”
“I must have banged it harder than I originally thought. It doesn’t hurt all the time, but I’ve been having spasms, and sometimes, my arm will go numb down to my fingers,” he says.
“I’m not an ortho guy, but I can order the necessary tests to see what’s going on, so on Monday, you’ll come to the clinic,” I instruct.
“By then, I’ll have had time to reach out to one of my colleagues and see if he can get you in because I think you’ve got a tear or something in your rotator cuff. ”
“That doesn’t sound good,” he mutters.
“Fortunately, you’re on the insurance plan the club carries for all of us, so there are no worries about that in case that’s what has you concerned, Mongrel.
If you need surgery, it’s not a big deal, as long as you follow through with physical therapy so you regain your range of motion,” I reply. “Don’t forget, Monday morning.”
“I’ll be there, Doc, I promise.”
Once again, it’s late by the time we return to the clubhouse.
The women have all apparently retired for the night, but one look from Rio and I realize I’m going to be hanging around a little bit longer.
As the beer flows, the music gets a little bit louder and since the ol’ ladies aren’t down here, the few club girls we have are slinking around, looking for a single brother to spend some time with them.
Issy laid down the law some time ago, so they know not to fuck with anyone who has an ol’ lady. Otherwise, they’ll face her wrath and I won’t lie, she’s scary as hell when her crank has been wound and she’s angry. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen all that often.
Grabbing a fresh beer, I walk over to a table and see they’re about to start a game of poker. “Got room for one more?” I ask.
“There’s always room when money’s involved,” Richie Rich, or RR as we usually call him, jokes. “Ante up, brothers, the night is young and I’m feeling lucky.”
If Morgan Freeman was narrating the way this game went, he would intone in his deep voice, “But he found out that he was, in fact, not lucky this fateful night.” Instead, I pocket my winnings and call it a night.
Gretchen is still awake, watching television when I come in, grinning like a lovesick fool. “Guess what, baby? I just won big at poker.”
“Really? How big, honey?”
“Two grand,” I reply, tossing the folded bills on the top of my dresser. I should sort them out and then put them in my fireproof box, but I want to spend some time with my woman. “Gonna take a quick shower and wash off the road.”
True to what I told her, my shower is short and sweet and soon I’m crawling onto the bed. “I bet you’re wiped out after the past few days,” she says, curling against me. “I know I’m just about peopled out, Doc.”
I chuckle because she would get that way at the clinic as well. She’s the type of person who is content in her solitude, but she also likes being around people. “These past few days have been hard on you, I’m sure,” I reply.
“Just a little bit. I’m not complaining, but I barely know the old ladies who are part of this chapter, you know what I mean? So, adding two more chapters on top of that has my mind spinning in multiple directions.”
While she has a sponsor, I feel I need to ask to take her pulse. “How has that made you feel?”
“I don’t want to use, if that’s what you’re asking, and by the way, you can always ask me that, honey. It’s more that I feel like I have to always be on, if that makes sense.”
“It’s just a few more days, sweetheart. What do you think about getting a good night’s sleep tonight?”
“I feel like that’s a brilliant idea,” she says just as a yawn splits her face open. “Sorry, I feel like my energy plug has been pulled out of its socket.”
“You’re going to be more tired with the added hormones from the pregnancy,” I caution.
“Just pay attention to your body and if you need to nap, then go ahead and do so. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.
You’re growing our son or daughter and that takes a lot of rest. We will need to get some prenatal vitamins for you, too. ”
“Ooo, so bossy, yet I like it,” she teases, yawning again as her eyes droop closed.
Kissing her on her temple, I murmur, “Sleep, sweetheart, I’ve got you.”