Chapter 16 Where Happiness Resides #2
“I sure do. When you’re free at the clubhouse, we can go through some ideas and I can sketch it for you.”
Her face lights up. “Thank you, that would be amazing!”
Sophie sits beside us and we chat, but once Milly and Ava carry a wedding dress to the changing room, we all quiet down and watch intently. I’m excited to see what Milly looks like.
Milly gets changed while Ava takes a seat with us.
“Only one dress?” Sophie asks, looking disturbed.
Ava shrugs. “I think it’s the dress.”
Milly walks out . . . We gasp audibly. Sophie squeals, stomping her feet in delight.
Milly looks like the epitome of timeless beauty. The bodice with its intricate lace and shimmering beadwork fits her perfectly, the off-the-shoulder neckline is flattering, and the skirt cascades gracefully. As she walks out further, we see a soft train trailing behind her.
“Twitch is going to lose his mind!” Sophie giggles.
I look over and see Ava crying. Milly frowns and walks over to her; they hug. “You look so beautiful,” Ava says, her voice trembling.
Milly looks at all of us. “Thank you to all of you for coming.” She gives Sophie a pointed look. “And thank you for getting me out of my comfort zone. This dress is perfect.”
“You’re most welcome,” Sophie says with a wink. “You owe me money now,” she teases.
We all laugh.
We go home and continue the celebrations with Moscato.
Days pass, and Rage and I settle into a routine of exercising and him showing me self-defense moves. I look forward to it each day.
Everyone in the clubhouse just had a big lunch for the sweet butts, who are leaving. Cash and Rage help them down the stairs with their suitcases. I go to the front door to open it wide for them. Rage gives me a small smile as he walks past.
Trixie is holding out well, but poor Dolly is crying. Her eyes are red and her mascara is running. I see the longing look she’s giving Rage, but I don’t feel jealous. I just feel a sort of sadness for her.
I join the lineup out the front. The sweet butts are moving along, hugging the club members and their ol’ ladies. I smirk when they reach Demon, because he takes a step back. I gather he doesn’t like people touching him. They just give him a small smile and take it in their stride.
Cash goes over to the shed and reverses the truck out, stopping in front of Reaper.
Once the women reach Reaper, he says, “I’d like to say a big thank you to Dolly and Trixie.” There are claps and cheers. “Thank you for helping out around the clubhouse, and we hope you have enjoyed your stay with us.”
“Thanks for not causing drama and for making our lives easier,” Viper adds with a grin.
The other sweet butts must have upset a lot of people. I’m glad I wasn’t around to meet them.
“Oh yeah, girls,” Axle says in a seductive voice, “thanks for helping out.” Then he starts dry humping Elena. “Cash will be all alone with his hand. At least Rage found someone.”
Everyone laughs. I cringe. Elena whacks Axle. Cash is in the truck just shaking his head.
Dolly gives Rage one final hug, pulling him in tightly and holding on to him longer, but I turn away and let them have their moment, saying their goodbyes.
Dolly and Trixie get in the truck, and as they drive away Cash beeps the horn twice and everyone waves.
The men all go inside. The women all group together first. There’s light chatter around us.
Elena and I walk in together. “It’s the end of an era. No more sweet butts,” Elena says.
“What about Cash?” I ask curiously.
Sophie walks in line with us. “Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome will have no problems getting women. I could set him up with people I know.”
I chuckle at her nickname for him. He is handsome, though. He has a rugged charm about him. Thick black hair, dark brown eyes. He reminds me of an old soul.
I follow Elena, Ava, and Ivy out the back and help clean up after lunch, putting the paper plates and trash in the bin.
Ava pauses and looks thoughtful. “I hope Cash finds someone.”
“Oh, me too,” says Elena. “He’s a great guy. He walked me down the aisle on my wedding day. It was really special.” She lets out a huge sigh. “She would have to be pretty spectacular to meet Cash’s standards.”
“Has he never had a partner?” I ask, intrigued.
“Nope,” Elena replies, popping out the p. “He slept with Dolly and Trixie, but it was never affectionate. Axle told me he wouldn’t even kiss them on the lips. From what I gathered, his ex did a real number on him and is still under his skin. I don’t think he’s ever been able to move on from her.”
I frown, my heart sinking a little. The poor guy.
After grabbing the sauces from the table, I follow Ava inside and put them away in the kitchen. Ivy and Elena bring in the leftover food.
“If Demon and I can find one another, I have no doubt Cash will find someone,” Ivy says with a reassuring smile.
Rage and I are lying down, watching TV. I think about how much I’ve grown, but what about Rage? He stopped fighting, but is he healing? Does he need a professional to talk to?
I sit up. “I have a thought . . . now, don’t get mad.”
His brows curve in. “Why would I get mad?”
“Have you thought about”—I bite my lip—“talking to a professional about your childhood?”
A small, thoughtful smile plays on his lips.
“I don’t feel that I need it. I have you”—he leans over and presses a kiss to my cheek—“I don’t have the stress of having to win the fights anymore.
Even just helping you and teaching you self-defense has done more for me than I expected.
It brings me comfort that you can defend yourself, and I’m more at ease and calmer when you’re around. ”
I smile. “I’m pleased to have helped you.”
His eyes pierce mine. “You really have brought me peace.”
A profound feeling of contentment envelops me. “Can you promise you’ll see someone if you’re struggling?”
He nods sharply. “I promise. I know I’m not healed and over it as such, but I’m getting there.”
I expel a deep sigh. “Good, because holding on to that anger only hurts you, not your father.”
He looks deep in thought. “That’s a smart way to look at it.”
“Did you tell the club you’re not fighting anymore?” I ask gently.
“I told them today.” He frowns. “It was a hard conversation, but they all understood where I was coming from.”
A tiny smidgen of guilt hits me. But he’s better off not doing it. “Is there any fallout?”
Something crosses his face before he masks it. He puts an arm around my shoulders and brings me closer to him. “There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
When we get up, everyone in the clubhouse is putting up decorations for the next day’s wedding. I have a blast helping. Milly’s ring is all ready to go, so I give it to Twitch. It turned out to be more beautiful than I had imagined.
The orders for my shop keep coming in, so I’ve got a lot of work to get stuck into after the wedding, though I’m excited about tomorrow.