Chapter 41 Gabe
GABE
OCTOBER PRESENT DAY
Nik and Shane are getting married. That’s a sentence I never thought I’d be saying. It took Shane and I some time, but eventually we worked out our shit. I’m not saying there aren’t still times I resent him for the years I lost, but I’m learning to let it go.
Ash was worried about letting Maggie come to Ravens Ridge for the wedding. For good reason, but I was dumbfounded when she asked my opinion on it. For the first time, I was a part of the decision.
When she was here before, I was na?ve to think I could protect her from everything all by myself.
That’s not how this works. But I’m no longer blinded to what can happen.
There will always be issues with other clubs, but luckily things have been fairly quiet lately.
With that being said, we’ll have club members keeping an eye on things from the parking lot.
Even if someone decides to start shit while she’s here, Maggie will be out of here before they get anywhere near the place.
I’m not taking any chances with her. It’s all mapped out already, and the wedding’s not for a few weeks.
I also put extra guys in place for tonight because Ash’ll be at the clubhouse for their bachelor/bachelorette party. Maybe I’m paranoid, but after our fight at the gas station, everyone knows our business.
I’m outside smoking with JT when Nik’s car pulls into the lot. The moon shines high above, reflecting off the black paint. Music and chatter erupt from inside when Theo slips out to join our party.
“Fuck, man. How many people did they invite? It’s already packed.”
Ash steps out of the car, dragging all the air from my lungs.
I swear I have no idea how my legs manage to stay under me because she’s never looked better.
Her pale legs look a mile long in that short black dress that hugs every curve.
The strappy black heels she’s wearing click against the concrete as she practically glides across the parking lot.
But the thing that catches me completely off guard is her hair.
It’s fucking straight. For the record, I’m a huge fan of the big curls, even more so now that I have a daughter with them.
But straight, she has an edge that might actually do me in tonight.
JT takes notice too. He might as well be standing there with his damn mouth open. “Holy shit!”
“Stop gawking, you fucking creep.” I smack him on the back of his head.
“Brother, any man with eyes would gawk at her. She gets hotter every time I see her.”
“If you don’t stop, you’ll be a man without eyes.” I put out my cigarette on the brick building and go inside. If I have to pretend not to want her all night, I’m going to need a drink.
Or ten.
I weave through the crowd as loud rock music blares overhead. At the bar, I order a beer and find my spot for the night. If I don’t put myself in timeout, I’m going to drag her upstairs like a caveman.
“Hey, stud.”
I spin around to find Lily standing behind me in a green dress that ties at the back of her neck. Pulling her in for a hug, I say, “Lil.”
“I hate to break it to you, but I think you fumbled that one.” She nods toward the door just as Ash strolls in.
You have no fucking clue.
She gets a smart-ass grin on her face, and I know I’m not going to like what comes out of her mouth. “You know, it really is a shame you wouldn’t share her back then.”
“Lily,” I warn.
She cackles. “Does she know?”
“What?” I grumble, turning back to my beer just before bringing it to my lips.
Sliding onto the barstool beside me, she flips her hair over her shoulder. “That you’re still in love with her, you doofus!”
Closing my eyes, I let out a long exhale. It’s almost as if Lily doesn’t know when to shut the hell up. “How did you become the world’s most annoying human? Was there like an application process or…”
The whole time we’re talking, I can practically feel Ash moving around the room behind me. Like I’m just painfully aware of where she is at all times.
“Ha ha. Listen, you can act like you don’t care all you want, but you’re just as in love with her as the day she left. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”
And this might be the first time Lily’s voice of wisdom has ever been wrong. I’m more in love with her than I’ve ever been. And it’s eating me alive.