Chapter Thirteen
Katie
ABOUT A WEEK after my run-in with the Spiders, Hatch reluctantly allowed Rooster and I to make our courthouse date.
And I was allowed to get ready at home. Cricket arrived early (way too early, in my opinion) to do hair and makeup.
I pulled open the door, and she walked in with Maisie, Grace, Dani and my mom in tow.
“Mama?” I hugged her extra tight. “Are you sure you feel up to this?”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, baby.”
“You know, I was happy to meet at the courthouse, ladies,” I lamented.
“Kathryn Elizabeth Samuel Beelzebub,” Cricket ground out, and I rolled my eyes.
“You’re a Kathryn?” Maisie asked.
“No, never,” I said at the same time my mom said just a simple, “No.”
“But she is Satan when she talks like an idiot,” Cricket retorted. My mom laughed, sliding into a coughing fit.
“See what you’ve done?” I admonished.
“Are you okay, Jan?” Cricket asked.
“I’m good, honey,” she assured her. “Let her be, Katie, she’s kind of right.”
“Why do I need to do hair and makeup? I don’t even have a dress,” I hissed.
“Oh, I have that,” Dani said. “Let me grab it.”
“What?” I squeaked.
“She’ll get your dress while we take care of your hair and makeup.” Cricket took my hand and led me back to my bedroom.
For the next hour, I was subjected to my best friends poking, plucking, and prodding me before they stripped me almost naked and poured me into the dress Dani had brought with her. Then, I was shuffled in front of my full-length mirror, and I let out a quiet gasp.
The stunning white, satin halter gown featured a plunging halter neckline that highlighted my shoulders and hugged my curves like it was made for me.
The bodice was wrapped and cinched at the waist with a soft sash tie, hiding my little pooch and the skirt flowed into a dramatic high-low hemline trimmed with cascading ruffles that rippled with every step.
There was also a slit up the leg that once again gave me length and Cricket had given me a natural makeup look, while Maisie had styled my hair in beachy waves.
“Oh, my baby girl,” Mom exclaimed.
“Wow,” I breathed out. “I look totally different.”
Cricket scoffed. “No, you don’t.”
“Babe, this is a hell of a lot different than scrubs and a messy bun,” I countered.
“You could wear a stack of recycled shopping bags and you’d be stunning,” Dani said.
I rolled my eyes. “You are so good for my ego, my friend.”
Dani grinned. “Just speaking the truth.”
I grabbed my phone and glanced at the time. “Shit, Rooster’s late.”
“No, he’s not,” Grace said.
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“He’s meeting us at the courthouse,” Cricket explained.
Grace nodded. “Flea and the boys have it all planned.”
I took in a deep breath. “But he’ll be there?”
“Of course he’ll be there,” Cricket avowed. “Minus will make sure of it.”
“Well, don’t say it like that,” Maisie admonished.
“Yeah,” Grace piled on. “Rooster loves her. He’ll be there for that reason alone.”
“Or he’ll be there because he said he would,” Dani added. “He’ll be there because he always keeps his word.”
“I helped raise that boy, baby, if he says he’ll be there, he’ll be there,” Mom agreed.
“Might I remind all of you, he left her without a word for years?” Cricket hissed. “And might I specifically remind you, sister-in-law, that you hold a grudge especially if it matches your handbag. So, please excuse me if I allow myself to let the dust settle a little on the return of Toucan Sam!”
“I thought Toucan Sam was Remington’s name for Finch,” Grace said. “We can’t have two of them.”
“Fine, he’s Threecan Sam, then.”
“Enough!” I squeaked with a wave of my hands. “All of you take chill pills and let me have a few seconds to process.”
Before I could take even one second, my phone rang and I snagged it off the counter, answering it without looking at the screen. “Hello?”
“Hey, baby.”
I nearly burst into tears at the sound of his voice. “Hi,” I rasped.
“You okay?”
“Hold on.” I left the girls standing in the kitchen and escaped to my bedroom, closing myself in. “Did you know about any of this?”
“No.” He sighed. “I can shut it all down right now, honey. Just say the word.”
I blinked back tears. “I just want to know you’re going to be there.”
“You wearin’ your ring?”
I nodded, glancing at my hand. “Um, yes, of course.”
“That’s my promise to both you and the world that I’m in this forever, Kate. I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I love you.”
“You promise you won’t disappear on me again?”
He let out a quiet chuckle. “I’d rather have my dick cut off without anesthesia.”
“Well, that’s graphic.”
“I will seriously shut this shit down and head over there right now, KitKat, you just say the word.”
“No, it’s okay.” I bit my lip. “I’ll see you down at the courthouse.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.” I pressed my lips together in a thin line. “Why? Aren’t you?”
“Honestly? I was hoping you’d tell me to blow this popsicle stand and come over.”
I smiled. “I love you.”
“Love you too, honey. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay.”
We hung up and I headed back out to the kitchen.
Cricket turned from her place at the island with a frown. “Everything okay?”
I smiled. “It is now.”
She clapped her hands. “Great. Time for food.”
“I can’t eat, Cricket.”
“Oh, you’re going to eat, sister of my heart. Even if I have to shove it down your gullet.”
My mouth dropped open of its own accord. “Rude.”
“We don’t want you passing out, love,” Maisie said gently.
“I just wanted to run to the courthouse, get married, and be done with it all.” I speared my best friend with a look I hoped might kill. “Not make such a goddamned fuss.”
“You would regret that for the rest of your life,” she countered. “You’re fucking welcome. Now, what do you want for breakfast?”
“Nothing,” I insisted. “I’m already dressed. I don’t want to risk spilling anything on this dress.”
“Toast it is.”
“Would you mind popping a piece in for me as well, please, love?” Maisie asked.
Cricket frowned. “Are you okay?”
“Tummy’s a bit crook, but I didn’t eat this morning, so I’m sure that’s all it is.”
Cricket shook her head. “Did you tell Hatch?”
“Hell, no,” Maisie hissed out. “I’m just a little tired and nauseous. It’s nothing. He’s got enough on his mind without worrying about my stomach issues. It’ll pass.”
The nurse in me kicked in and I took her wrist in my fingers. “Any pain radiating on your right side?”
“No.”
“Vomiting or diarrhea?”
“No. Really, love, I’m fine.”
I released her wrist. “Your pulse seems fine.”
“Because I am fine,” Maisie pressed. “I’m sure it’s just all the stress with this Warlock business.”
“You’re just trying to distract,” Cricket admonished.
“Not if Maisie’s really sick.”
“I’m not,” she assured me.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything other than butter?” Cricket asked.
“Fuss,” I hissed, jabbing a finger at my best friend. “Fuss.”
She responded by shoving a piece of toast in my mouth. “Eat.”
I managed to finish my toast, then we rushed out the door, lest we be late.
* * *
Rooster
Flea and I waited outside the courthouse, along with Hatch, Booker, and Cricket’s man, Minus.
I’d met Minus several years ago, long before he’d been exiled and I’d exiled myself, and I liked him.
Kate, Cricket, Minus, and I’d gone out a few times together, but our young couple’s dates and thoughts of growing up together, had been dashed by choices and circumstances we didn’t see coming.
“You doin’ okay?” Flea asked.
“Yeah, why?”
Flea chuckled. “Because you’re wearin’ away the cement.”
I stopped pacing and dragged my hands down my face. “Just never thought this day would come, and now I’m not sure it’s really happenin’ to begin with.”
“It’s happening, brother.” Flea laid a hand on my shoulder. “Never fear, Katie’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Before I could respond, I heard pipes, then Hatch, Booker, and Minus joined us just as Cricket pulled her car to the curb, followed by a half a dozen Burning Saints.
But then Katie was stepping out of the car, and… fuck.
Jesus.
My heart stopped.
“Easy, tiger,” Hatch warned with a chuckle as I started toward her. “Let her have a moment.”
Kate maneuvered herself out of Cricket’s car, her wedding dress something out of a princess movie, and I suddenly couldn’t breathe.
I watched in awe as the women made sure she was safely away from any dirt on the ground before handing her flowers wrapped in white ribbon.
It was then she looked my way and her face lit up like a pinball machine and all was right with the world somehow.
We weren’t rushing to get married because war was imminent, we hadn’t made irrevocable mistakes as young people keeping us apart for years, and we didn’t waste too much fucking time pulling our heads out of our asses to come back to each other.
Well, that last part was all me, really.
Katie’s eyes crinkled at the corner as she smiled and bit her lip. “Hi.”
“Hey, baby.” I closed the short distance between us. “You look stunning.”
“So do you,” she breathed out, leaning into me.
“Don’t you dare kiss that man,” Cricket ordered.
Katie scowled and turned toward her best friend. “Rude.”
“Save it for after your vows,” Cricket said with a smirk.
Katie let out a quiet huff and I grinned, stroking her cheek before gently kissing her forehead. “We’ll give them a show as soon as we say I do, yeah?”
She grinned. “Yeah.”
“Love you.”
“Love you more.”
I took her hand, and after I hugged her mother, we followed our little entourage into the courthouse.
* * *
Katie
After giving our family ‘a show,’ my new husband led me out to his truck, kissing me again before holding the passenger door open and helping me inside, careful not to crease my dress.
We’d taken a few quick pictures, but the Northwest skies had turned moody, and we could see the clouds coming in, so Rooster wasn’t taking any chances with the weather.
“I’ll grab her bag really quick,” Cricket said.
“What bag?” I demanded.
“We’re gettin’ out of town for a few days,” Rooster said.
“We are?”
Cricket opened the back door of the truck and dropped my overnight bag into the backseat.
“Ah, where’d you get that, Christina?” I asked.
“From your closet.” She grinned.
Minus opened the opposite door. “Groceries. From the Saints.”
Mom leaned in and kissed my cheek, grinning like she’d just won the lottery. “Love you, baby.”
“What about your chemo?”
“Flea and Grace have me under their watchful eye, sweetie. I’m good,” she assured me. “Go. Take the time with your man. I will call you if anything comes up.”
“Love you too, Mama.”
“Everything’s in there,” Cricket said. “All your skincare, haircare, and a week’s worth of clothes.
If you need anything, wash it or buy it.
Don’t come back until late Sunday night.
I mean it. I’ll check on your house and make sure everything’s locked up and things are shut off.
Gina said if you come back any sooner, she’ll maim you. ”
“I have patients,” I hissed, as she moved to the front door and leaned in to hug me.
“And she will see them,” Cricket said. “Go. Have lots of sex. Make a baby. But don’t come back for six days, bestie. Got it?”
“Are there underwear in that bag?” I sassed.
Cricket gave a sly shrug. “Maybe.”
I squeezed her hand and smiled. “Love you, Cricket.”
“Love you too, honey.” She looked over at Rooster. “Take care of her.”
“I will, sweetheart,” he avowed.
Cricket closed my door, and Rooster started the truck, pulling away from the curb as our family hooted and hollered, waving us onto our new life.
Rooster linked his fingers with mine and lifted my hand to his lips. “How ya doin’ there, Mrs. Cahill?” He grinned. “Or do you prefer, ‘wifey’?”
“I’ll take it all.” I chuckled. “And I’m doing well, hubby.”
“You are so beautiful, Kate.”
“Thanks, honey. You clean up nice, too.”
He’d completely ditched his Primal Howlers’ garb, replacing it with black fitted jeans, a pair of dressy cowboy boots, a dark blue button up, and a leather jacket completing his ensemble.
Hatch had given the order that no one wore their colors for the time being, and the fact that none of them were wearing their cuts, Dogs nor Howlers, broke my heart, but unless they were traveling in groups of four or more, they had to cover up.
Rooster grinned. “Can’t wait to peel you out of that dress.”
“Well, how long is this drive, husband of mine?” I asked in a sing-song voice. “You know, the sooner we get where we’re going, the sooner you can do that.”
“Not telling you.”
“What?” I gasped. “Why not?”
“Because then you’d guess where we’re going and I want it to be a surprise.”
“You know how much I hate surprises, right?”
“Yeah, but I also know how much you love the coast.”
“We’re going to the beach?”
“We are, but I’m not telling you which one.”
I smiled. “Can I guess?”
“No.”
“Sisters Rock?”
“No.”
I frowned. “Really?”
“Are you hungry?”
“No.” I cocked my head. “Depot Bay?”
“No,” he said. “You sure you’re not hungry?”
“Harris?”
“No.”
“Mars?”
“Yes.” He chuckled. “We’re going to Mars.”
“I knew it.” I huffed. “I hate it there. The food’s great, but there’s no atmosphere.”
“Don’t try to dad joke your way into me telling you.”
“Rude.”
“Baby, we’re gonna be there in a little over an hour, so do you want to stop to eat or wait?”
I bit my lip. “Cannon Beach?”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “Hug Point to be exact.”
“Hug Point?” I let out a quiet squeak. “Oh my god, you’re so ’mantic.”
Rooster laughed. “Does that suddenly surprise you?”
“No, I think I just forgot.”
“Don’t go there, KitKat.”
“I’m not,” I rushed to say, turning to face him. “Promise.”
“Okay, baby.” He kissed my hand again. “You haven’t answered my question.”
“Yes, I did.”
“My beautiful wife,” he started. “You did not. You hedged. And if you’re being honest, maybe even lied a little. You are always hungry, and you admitted to me you had one piece of toast this morning, and that’s it. Do you want to stop for lunch on the way down, or not?”
As if to betray me, my stomach growled, loudly and Rooster laughed.
“Fine,” I bit out. “Just a drive through or something, though, okay? I want to get there sooner than later.”
“You got it.”
“Because I want to peel you out of your clothes just as much as you want to peel me out of mine,” I rasped.
“Jesus, Katie, you wanna dial back the sexy a little while I’m driving?”
“Um, no, no I don’t.” I grinned. “Need to light a fire under that ass so we can get naked.”
He grinned and hit the pedal a little harder.