10. Willow #3
“Don’t worry, I got a good lecture about what will happen if I’m a dick to you. I didn’t realize how close you guys were. I thought you wouldn’t want to be involved with a MC after what happened to Mom,” he says in a careful voice, like he’s worried about upsetting me.
“Well, when I first met Jaz and Mark, I knew Mom and Dad didn’t like MCs, but I didn’t know why.
They didn’t tell us kids until we were older and could understand the story, but even then, Mom never told us that you were the same MC.
But by that time, Jaz and I were attached, and their club became family.
Mom took a while, but when my cancer came back, Jaz was there for not only me, but our entire family.
That’s when they became best friends.” I put the finishing touches on dinner when I see the notification for the gate again.
My idiots have the remote to get into the house, so I don’t need to let them in.
“Shit! I forgot to tell them you were coming over.” I give him an apologetic look.
Dealing with me is one thing, but my idiots are an entirely different shit storm.
“Who?” he asks, looking at the door from where he’s sitting.
He stands up like he is getting ready to fight.
As the door swings open, three of my favorite people in the entire world come in.
“My idiots,” is all I say in an apologetic tone.
They are always hit or miss when interacting with people they think are mean to me.
“It’s probably a new bike that she bought. You know Will doesn’t like anyone outside of the family,” I hear Ben say as they walk in the entry hall.
“Yeah, it’s not like she has friends. She would be lost without us,” Tell replies.
“She has friends,” Gig argues, claiming the spot of favorite brother for the day…until he keeps going. “They are just the ones that we make for her, or the ones that know to be afraid of her.” That’s it.
“Seriously? You know, I’m sure Dad wouldn’t mind if I suddenly became an only child now that he has had time to remember how annoying it is to live with you again!
And you guys just came from a job! Take off your damn shoes!
” I yell as they walk into the kitchen. They stop when they see Jackson, crossing their arms and staring him down.
“Guys, this is Jackson. He came over for a redo of the first talk,” I say in a tone that I’m hoping reminds them to mind their manners. It’s silent for a second before Ben decides to be Ben.
“Hi, big bro! What’s up? Cool bike. I knew it was too big for Will to touch the ground if she tried to ride it,” Ben says, walking up to Jackson and giving him a hug like they are reuniting after years apart.
Ben is the friendliest out of the four of us; Mom always said that Ben had never met a stranger.
He’s like a golden retriever…that kills people for money sometimes.
Jackson gives him an awkward pat on the back when Ben doesn’t release him for a minute.
I just shake my head and make the introductions.
“Jackson, these are my idiots: Bennett, Gideon, and Teller. Idiots, this is LL,” I say, waving my arms. Ben finally releases Jackson, walks over to the stove, and starts to try to pick at the dinner that is now done.
“LL?” Jackson asks, taking a step away from Ben, giving himself space.
“Don’t worry about it,” I reply and quickly move on.
“Jackson, do you want to stay for dinner?” I ask, mostly to be polite, but also because I was actually enjoying our talk.
I know that he may be overwhelmed by our motley crew, but I’ll give him the option.
He hesitates for a few seconds, and I think that he is trying to find a way to say no.
I open my mouth to give him an out, but he shocks the shit out of me and says yes.
Dad shows up not long after the idiots. Another round of awkward introductions takes place, and we all sit down for dinner.
Jackson is quiet, taking in the loving shit show that is our family.
At first, confusion etched itself on his face, like he couldn’t grasp how our family worked.
But by the end of dinner, the confusion is replaced by a look of amusement and a hint of longing.
We mostly make small talk, then it turns into talking about their job from today, my mini job today, and finally, the job that I am leaving for. At the end of dinner, everyone stands up to leave after the idiots do my dishes for me.
Jackson stops on his way out. “Will, do you need a ride to the airport tomorrow?” I’m shocked for a second and snap myself out of it. Is this his way of asking to hang out more before I leave? I usually drive myself, but this is him wanting to spend some time with me, so I take it.
“Sure, that would be great. Thanks. If you could be here by 9, that would be awesome. If you are here ten minutes early, there might still be coffee,” I say with a smile.
I guess LL-Not-Cool-J will get an actual name in my phone if I decide to claim him in my tribe.
Or I’ll keep it, since it is growing on me; I’m sure he will find the humor in it when he figures it out.