Chapter 21 #2
I just had to wait on Viper to call with the brothers’ decision.
That didn’t come until days later.
I was outside cleaning out the shed when I got a call from Viper. “You got Billy.”
“Hey, man. How’s it going?”
“Good. It would be better if I wasn’t out here cleaning out this damn shed.”
“You just doing a clean-out?”
“Yes and no.” I sat down on an old timber as I explained, “Everleigh wants to get a couple of goats and maybe some ducks. Figured we’d need a place to house them.”
“Sounds like you’ve got quite a job on your hands.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Good deal.” He paused for a moment, and I got the eerie feeling he was about to hit me with bad news. Instead, he said, “We had our vote tonight, and the club has decided to patch you in as an honorary member.”
“Okay. What does that entail?”
“It’s exactly what you wanted. You’ll have the support of the club and carry the name, but you won’t be required to work for the club or do runs.”
“Sounds good.”
“I thought you’d say that.” Viper sounded pleased as he said, “We’ve planned a run on Saturday as a welcoming of sorts. We’ll head up to the Dragon’s Tail and grab a bite to eat before heading back. It’ll give you and the boys a chance to get better acquainted.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Be sure to bring Everleigh, too.”
“Will do.”
As soon as we ended the call, I went inside and told Everleigh the news. Like me, she was pleased with their decision to make me an honorary member instead of a full brother. It was a sweet deal. I’d basically been given the best of both worlds.
When Saturday rolled around, we both put on our riding clothes and headed over to the clubhouse.
As soon as we pulled up, several of the brothers came up and greeted Everleigh and me with a brotherly hug or a pat on the shoulder.
Viper gave me a rocker with an honorary member patch on the lapel, and I’d just started to slip it on when Lynch came up and gave me a quick once over.
“Holy shit. Jeans and a t-shirt? Damn, I didn’t know you owned anything other than a white dress shirt and khakis. And where are the glasses?”
“You serious?”
“I’m afraid he is,” Viper scoffed. “But you can’t say I didn’t warn ya.”
“True.” I turned back to Lynch and said, “That’s my work attire. I’m not planning on working today, so...”
“Yeah, that makes sense.” Lynch chuckled, then reached over and gave me a pat on the shoulder. “Good to have ya, Billy.”
“Right back at ya, Lynch.”
He gave me a nod, then went over and joined the others. Viper glanced down at his watch and said, “It’s gettin’ about that time. You ready to roll out?”
“Ready when you are.”
Seconds later, I was following Viper and the rest of my Sinner brothers through the gate, and it was quite the feeling.
I’d ridden with a couple of the brothers before, but this was something else entirely.
This was all of the brothers, and it felt incredible to be a part of such a massive group of riders.
It’s strange, but I felt connected in a way I’d never felt when riding alone.
As the group rumbled through the countryside, each of us was experiencing the same road conditions, the cool breeze, and unbelievable scenery, and it felt good to share that with not just one person but an entire group of brothers.
Needless to say, Everleigh and I both were enjoying the experience and continued to enjoy it when we all stopped for a bite to eat at the Tail of the Dragon.
All the guys gathered at one of the tables in the back, and after we placed our order, the brothers decided it was time to start drilling me with questions.
It started with random stuff that varied from how long I’d been riding to my favorite places to eat a steak.
I’d thought they’d covered everything when Axel asked, “How about football? Who’s your favorite college team? ”
“Is there even a choice?” I looked him straight in the eye as I told him, “My blood runs orange. I’ve been a Vol fan since the day I could walk, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate that Bama has a hell of a team.”
“Fuck Bama,” Axel grumbled under his breath. “You know what you do when you find one of their fans buried up to his neck in cement?”
“What?’
“You get more fucking cement.”
The words had barely left his mouth when the entire room erupted in laughter. When the guys finally settled down, Country looked over to Rafe and Lynch as he said, “See, I told you he was a good guy.”
“Yeah, but you were also the one who couldn’t believe the man had a daughter.” Lynch snickered as he added, “The way I remember it, you were pretty freaked out about the fact.”
Kiersten’s eyes narrowed as she turned to him and asked, “Why would you be freaked out about that?”
“I wasn’t.” It was obvious that he was lying as he said, “Lynch is full of shit.”
“Oh, I’m full of shit?” Lynch protested. “You really wanna go there?”
“It’s getting late, don’t ya think?” Country announced as he stood up. “We should be heading back before it gets dark.”
“Um-hmm.” Lynch shook his head. “Whatever you say, boss.”
With that, the boys paid our checks; then we headed out to the parking lot.
Knowing we wouldn’t be following them back to the clubhouse, Everleigh and I said our farewells there, then followed the guys back down the Dragon’s Tail. When we got back to Nashville, we gave them a final wave and broke from the group as we took our exit toward home.
When we got to the house, Everleigh got off my bike and removed her helmet, then waited as I did the same. As soon as I put the keys in my pocket, she stepped over to me and wound her arms around my neck. “I had a great time today.”
“I had a great time, too.” I gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “I appreciate you going with me.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have miss it.”
“You know, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell ya.”
“Oh?” Her eyes narrowed. “What’s that?”
“You know how you told me that you wished for me?”
“Hm-hmm.”
“Well, I wished for you, too.” My eyes drifted to the ground, and my heart nearly exploded in my chest as I admitted, “I wished for you more times than I can count, but I never dreamed you’d come. I thought my days for having something good in my life had come and gone, but you’ve proven me wrong.”
“Oh, Billy.” She eased up on her tiptoes and kissed me long and hard, then told me, “I love you so very much.”
“And I love you. Today, tomorrow, and always.”