29. Char
CHAR
One Week Later
I’d never seen anything like it. What started out as a small ceremony for Bait quickly grew into a county-wide party with grills and crews from neighboring cities.
All of Layborn seemed to turn out for the memorial service, and there were so many donations taken up that the guys would more than break even on what was spent over the course of the past week to put things together.
Dr. Agemon brought his grandkids to pay their respects.
Nielson and his wife came out, along with the rest of the precinct.
As word of Bait’s death traveled, and especially how he died, people rolled in from all across the county.
We all listened to Rat and the guys tell stories of the heroic man I’d never have the pleasure of knowing.
From sunup to sundown, we commiserated. We cried together, rejoiced together, laughed together, and fellowshipped together.
Crews rumbled in with their bikes, honking their horns and revving their engines in respect.
Friends from all across the county connected for the first time in years, and I watched as the men I loved exchanged numbers with other men from other crews that I knew would soon become family.
I’d never seen anything like it. In some ways, I couldn’t even imagine the kind of family bond all of these men had with one another.
I sure as hell hoped to be educated all about it, though.
As the sun began to set, it was time for me to kick in my contribution to the day-long ceremony.
I walked around, finding my men long enough to kiss them on the cheek and whisper that I was headed back to Bottle Grounds.
You know, since I was in charge of making sure we were all beautifully fed and liquored up for the night.
I swear, it felt like ages since I stepped back into that place.
“Char!” M.J. exclaimed.
“M.J.!” I yelped as I walked through the front door.
“Char! You’re back!” DeShawn yelled from the kitchen.
They both came running out to me and I captured them in my arms. It had been a long, grueling time without them, and I broke down in their arms. I cried against their shoulders as my best friends held me close.
I shivered in their grip as they walked me into the backroom to get me out of earshot of some of the patrons that were already sitting and waiting for the second round of festivities.
And the second the darkness blanketed us, I tried my best to control my tears.
“There’s so much to tell?—”
I cupped my hand over my mouth as DeShawn and M.J. placed their hands on my shoulders.
“The sheriff already explained things to us,” M.J. said.
I slowly turned my gaze to her. “What?”
DeShawn snickered. “I mean, did you think we’d stay on vacation forever or something?”
I shook my head softly. “I feel like I completely abandoned you guys. Like—like I just ran off and fell off the radar and?—”
“Girl,” M.J. said as she swatted me playfully, “the second you wanted to figure out those dudes, I knew you’d get yourself into trouble.”
“You act like we haven’t known you for years or some shit,” DeShawn said with a smile.
I shook my head. “This was so much, though. You know?”
“And you got through it, right?” M.J. asked.
I sighed. “Nielson really told you guys everything?”
DeShawn nodded. “When I got back into town with Mom and the bar was still closed down, I went looking for some answers.”
“He really did,” M.J. murmured.
I grinned. “Sounds like you took a page out of my book.”
He shoved me playfully. “You’re damn right, I did. And when M.J. had the bright idea for me to go talk to Sheriff Nielson, he pretty much sat us down and told us what was going on.”
“I can’t believe the nerve of that bitch,” M.J. hissed.
I sighed as my back fell against the wall. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m almost glad that I don’t have to recount it. I’m so tired of fucking recounting it.”
“We know,” M.J. said as she slid her hand up and down my arm.
“Feeling any better?” DeShawn asked.
I drew in a deep breath and dried my tears. “Please tell me you guys got pictures from your vacations.”
“Oh, come on,” M.J. said as she held out her hands and twirled around for us. “I mean, who the hell do you think I am?”
DeShawn barked with laughter. “I don’t have a lot of pictures, but Mom pretty much stole my video camera the entire time. So get ready for five and a half hours of legit nonsense.”
I giggled with delight. “That sounds amazing. Can we watch all of it tomorrow? Just kick back somewhere, veg out with shitty food, and just watch it?”
He wrapped me up in a tight hug. “Sounds like a plan.”
M.J. rubbed my back. “Now we need to get a move on it. We’ve got about an hour before this place floods with people.”
She was right, too. With as many people that turned up over the course of the day for the memorial ceremony, there was no telling how many people were about to pour into the bar. I plucked a few liquors off the shelves in the backroom before making my way behind the bar.
God, it felt good to be back.
I focused on the muscle memory returning to my arms. I flipped liquor bottles around and filled up drink coolers that I sat on the edge of the bar top.
If people wanted to place individual drink orders, they could.
But Bottle Grounds was booked out with unlimited everything, so I spared no expense.
I placed ice buckets full of glass beer bottles on every table and booth.
I filled up every single drink cooler I could find and filled them with all of the basic drinks everyone loved.
We had a margarita cooler and a Long Island iced tea cooler.
We had a jungle juice cooler and one filled with straight vodka with mixers surrounding the cooler that anyone could grab for any reason.
By the time I was done filling and labeling those things, we had ten of them set up on the bar.
I made sure both of the ice chests were ready with fresh scoops so that I could divvy up ice as necessary.
And then, the clock struck seven.
“All right, everyone! Listen up!” I exclaimed as I cupped my hands over my mouth. “We got a lot of grieving people headed our way! Stay out of their way, keep their tables clean, and keep your mouths shut!”
“What about music!?” DeShawn called from the kitchen.
I looked over at M.J. “Music, but down low?”
She nodded. “I think that would be appropriate.”
I cupped my hands back over my mouth. “Keep the music low and you’ve got yourself a deal!”
“Hell yeah!” DeShawn exclaimed. “On it!”
He barely got the music down to an appropriate level before people slammed their way through the door. I placed my finger to my lips, signaling to the staff that we really did need to keep it down. If everyone wanted to get rowdy, that was one thing. But I didn’t want to start that way.
If they wanted peace, I wanted to give them peace.
Because all of us deserved a slice of that after the hell we traversed.
“Well, well, well,” Dallas said as he strolled up behind the bar, “don’t tell me you’re here to make my evening.”
I giggled as the phrase ripped me back to the first time me and him had ever met. “Only for the lucky guy.”
He slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me close. “Ask me again.”
I remembered the interaction like it was yesterday. “What’ll it be, handsome?”
He dipped his forehead to mine. “Whiskey neat for me.”
“Glass bottled beer,” Deac said as he came up and rubbed my back. “Don’t care which.”
I leaned my head back and found his upper arm as I smiled. “And what’s Mountain Man going to have?”
Gauge chuckled as he perched against the bar with his arms crossed over his chest. “Mountain Man down here will have a Jack and Coke.”
My gaze volleyed between my three men. “How are you guys doing?”
Deac pulled me out of Dallas’s embrace and held me close. “Better now that we’re here with you.”
I giggled. “I’ve only been gone a few minutes.”
“And it’s a few minutes too long. My turn,” Gauge said.
I pulled away from Deac and threw my arms around Gauge. He picked me up in a hug that squeezed me so tight, I almost couldn’t breathe. I knew it was a long day for them. A very long day. For all of us.
“Come here, all three of you,” I said softly.
I wrapped them up as much as I could, even though it wasn’t nearly what I wanted it to be like.
They all squeezed in, though, wrapping their arms around me and holding me close.
I felt eyes on us, but I didn’t care. I felt people staring, but it didn’t matter.
If they saw us, oh well. It wasn’t as if we were hiding anything.
Not any longer anyway.
“Sorry to barge in,” Rat said as he rapped his knuckles against the bartop, “but I was wondering if I could grab?—”
I pointed at him and pulled away from the guys. “Ice cups, coming up. Who wants some ice!?”
And as the entire bar lifted their hands, including the staff and those in the kitchen, I giggled as I shook my head.
Home. Things finally felt like home again.
I had a family, albeit a non-traditional one.
I had men who loved me, friends who cherished me, and a job that I loved.
For the first time in my entire life, things felt complete.
I felt content with where my life ended up.
I had my three men to thank for that, too.
“A room full of ice cups, coming right up!” I called out as I grabbed the ice scoop.
“Here, let me help,” Deac said as he walked over to the other ice chest and grabbed the scoop.
Dallas picked up a tray. “I’ll run drinks. Where you seated, Rat?”
Gauge thumbed over his shoulder. “I’ll go see what the kitchen needs.”
And as I flashed all of them a smile, I settled in for the long night ahead.
A long night of music, drinks, food, closure, and love.
“Hey! DeShawn!” Mace exclaimed. “Crank that fucking music! Bait fucking loved music!”