Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Delaney
The longer lockdown goes, the more stir-crazy everyone becomes. To make matters worse, it’s only been a few days with no end in sight. I’m not sure we will all survive another week of this.
While everyone complains about missing out on things they had planned, I keep my mouth shut.
I still feel like this is all my fault. It makes me feel worse that this lockdown didn’t exactly interrupt my life.
I’ve already been fired from my job. All I would have been doing is hanging around my house looking for more things to repair or clean.
I didn’t get to finish everything I wanted, but I will have time after this.
At least my baseboards are clean.
“What are you thinking?” Jane asks as she comes over to sit down next to me.
“That at least I managed to clean my baseboards before lockdown.”
Sloane groans as she flops onto the couch. “You’re one of those people?”
“What do you mean?” I turn to her.
Sloane turns her head and sighs. “It means you’re one of those crazy clean people who clean things no one actually pays attention to. They are baseboards. Aren’t they supposed to be scuffed and shit?”
“Be nice,” Kelly says as she joins us.
Sloane looks affronted. “Me? I’m always nice.”
I can’t help but laugh. “For the record, I never clean them. I was just bored.”
“I don’t even want to know what else you did,” Sloane says.
“If you get bored, I have an entire laundry basket of socks that need folded. One of the tall ones,” Jane teases, making us all laugh.
“See, the key is to buy socks that all look the same. No matching required,” I quip.
Jane sighs. “I wish. Emily likes her socks being all sorts of colors and patterns. Tanner goes between white and black, it just depends on what he’s wearing. Someone in school convinced him that white socks smell worse than black after gym class.”
Sloane and Kelly look at her in shock.
“That’s so random,” Kelly says after a minute.
I tip my head side to side. “Eh, it’s not the weirdest thing I’ve heard kids saying. I mean, kids still think that brown milk comes from brown cows and white from white cows.”
Sloane’s lips twitch. “My mom used to tell me that if the dome light was on at night while she was driving, she would get pulled over.”
“I’m pretty sure every adult has used that at one point or another,” Jane says.
Kelly laughs. “Smoke was riding with me about a year into our relationship and turned on the light to look for something in my purse. I turned it off so fast that he thought I didn’t want him to see something I had in my bag.
I had to tell him I didn’t want to get pulled over. He looked at me like I was crazy.”
“You poor sheltered thing,” Sloane teases.
“Maybe I should confess to the kids that you won’t actually get pulled over if it’s on but that we just don’t use them unless we have to,” Jane muses.
“Nah, wait until they are older. Have fun pulling one over on them while you can,” I tell her.
“It’s so quiet in here today. Where are all the guys?” Jane asks.
“Oh, they are working out in the yard. Smoke decided that this would be the perfect time to build a chicken coop for the chickens I want to get,” Kelly says.
“Do you want to start a little homestead?” I ask.
She tips her head from side to side. “I’m playing with the idea. Chickens are an easy choice because I already get farm-fresh eggs from someone, so I might as well do it myself. I’m not sure about a garden, though. I like the idea, but I’m a little intimidated.”
“That’s something I always wanted to dabble in, but my ex would never let me. He said it was beneath us to do things like that,” Jane says with sadness in her voice.
“So why don’t you now? It’s definitely trial and error, but it’s not that hard. Are you interested in food or flowers?”
“Both?” she asks rather than tells.
“Oh god. This means we are entering our farm girl era, huh?” Sloane groans.
Kelly nudges her. “You don’t have to participate.”
“Oh, I’m not going to. I’ve seen enough videos. One second you’re cool, and then the next second you are sitting out by your garden telling plants that you believe in them. No thanks, but I’ll support you guys,” Sloane says, making us laugh.
“I actually saw this really cool method where people in snowy climates start their seedlings, both flower and vegetable, in milk and soda jugs. They cut them in half and fill the bottom with three or four inches of dirt. Then when it’s time, they are easy to transplant,” I add.
Kelly looks between all of us. “Are we planning this? Are we really going to tell the guys we want a garden?”
“Might as well. I mean, they are already building the coop. Might as well go full send,” Jane says, excitement bleeding into her voice.
Kelly claps. “Yay! I’m so excited.”
“What are you excited about, Dollface?” Smoke asks as he walks toward us.
Kelly throws him a smile. “I didn’t even hear you come in, but we just decided we want a garden on the grounds.”
Smoke leans over and kisses her before pulling away. “I’ll go tell the guys to start plotting where to put it.”
“Thank you,” she tells him softly.
“Anything for you, Dollface. You know that.”
Once he’s back outside, I shake my head in amazement. “It was that easy…”
“What do you mean?” Kelly asks.
“You just asked, and he jumped right in.”
“Of course he did. That’s the thing about these guys. Anything we want, within reason, they make happen. No questions asked,” Kelly says.
“And they don’t get pissed if we change our minds halfway through the project,” Sloane adds.
“It honestly took me a long time to get used to it. Mac’s the type to take the trash out right when I ask. He doesn’t wait, but my ex? Yeah, he would put it off to the point I would just do it myself. It’s so refreshing,” Jane says.
“Has Tank told you no?” Kelly asks.
I shake my head. “No, he’s always jumped on board with anything I’ve asked. I guess I just didn’t realize how deep it went.”
I blush a little. Truth is, he doesn’t tell me no because he enjoys obeying me. They don’t need to know that, though.
“Get used to it, girl. These guys like to spoil their women. Use it to your advantage,” Sloane quips.
“No wonder Gunner calls you ‘Trouble’,” I tease.
Sloane winks. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Tank
I walk into the clubhouse, sweat dripping down my back, and come to a stop at the sight before me. The girls are sitting around the coffee table, with Acid, looking at something on their phones, tipping their screens toward one another so they can see.
I can’t help but rub my chest as I watch. Delaney has a smile on her face, one that’s been missing for a minute thanks to the work bullshit, and it’s good to see. Not only that, but she seems to be settling in with the other old ladies.
I can’t believe I get to call her mine. I knew I wanted her to take the title, but I wasn’t sure she would want it. In a way, it is my claiming of her, but she turned it around and made it a way she claims me. The way I want it and the way she needs it.
“Why are you standing here blocking the door?” Gunner mutters.
“Look.”
We watch as Jagger walks over to them and joins in on the conversation, sitting on the arm of the couch next to Delaney, beer in hand.
“You know, I never understood the hype around old ladies until I met Sloane, and now…”
“Now you can’t imagine your life without her,” I say quietly.
He nods. “So have you told her about the old lady party? The one that she gets since she claimed you.”
“I can’t believe you let her claim you. She wears the pants, huh?” Jagger jokes.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I say honestly. “I will tell her, but we can’t have one until this shit is solved. I don’t want it hanging over our head.”
Gunner slaps me on the shoulder. “You just have to hold on a little longer, and it will all be over. Then you can move forward.”
Sloane looks over and smirks. “What are you two doing over there creeping?”
“I don’t creep,” I protest as Gunner pushes me forward.
Delaney looks over at me and smiles. “Hey you.”
I lean over the back of the couch and kiss her. “Having fun?”
“Oh yeah,” she says.
“Did you know that Acid is secretly a garden whisperer?” Sloane asks.
I look at the man in question who shrugs. “My mom and grandma are all about this kind of shit. When you’re the only boy, it rubs off.”
“Yeah, apparently you can’t put certain plants by others because they fight each other. Like tomatoes and potatoes can’t be next to each other,” Jane says.
I raise an eyebrow as I look at Acid. “What else don’t we know about you?”
“So much,” he mutters, making the girls laugh.
“I can’t wait to get started. With you guiding us, this is going to work out,” Kelly says.
Acid raises his hands. “Whoa, I never said anything about helping. I’m just here to remind you that you need space and that some plants don’t mesh. That’s it.”
“You say that now, but I see the twinkle in your eye. You’re into this shit and are excited,” Jagger teases.
Acid gives him the middle finger. “Fuck you.”
“Not my type,” Jagger quips, making the women groan.
“What is your type?” Delaney asks.
“If you say my sister-in-law, my husband might kill you,” Jane adds.
Jagger winks. “He’d have to catch me first.” He turns toward my girl. “I don’t kiss and tell, but you guys will know once I have the woman of my dreams locked down.”
Delaney hums, eyebrows raised. “You’re trouble.”
“Oh baby, if only you knew.” He smirks.
I hit the back of his head. “No pet names. She’s mine.”
“Okay, caveman, calm down.” Delaney laughs.
She raises her hand and rubs my arm. Moving quickly, I link my fingers through hers and hold her hand.
“What about you, Acid? What’s your dream woman look like?” Delaney asks.
“Yeah, you know I’ve never actually seen you with anyone. Are you straight?” Sloane asks.
Gunner groans. “Trouble, you can’t just ask that shit.”
“What? He knows I’m not asking to cause trouble. I’m genuinely curious, and seriously, no judgment.”
“The kind of women I like don’t hang out with guys like me.” Acid smirks.
“Okay, now you have to explain,” Kelly says, leaning forward.
“I like my girls with high IQs. The prim-and-proper type.” He shrugs.
I shake my head. “You and Bear. He loves the forbidden, preachers’ daughters, good girl types.”
“That’s so funny to me. All of you guys are brothers and similar in so many ways, but your tastes are all different.” Jane laughs lightly.
“We all like our own things,” I murmur, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
“Really? What is your kink then?” Sloane asks, sitting forward as if she were really interested.
“He likes to wear panties,” Jagger jokes.
“Projecting much, Jag?” Delaney pipes in, raising her brow.
Everyone laughs, making Jagger glare at us.
“Fine, maybe not panties, but I know he likes when you wear the pants,” Jagger says, daring us to deny it.
Fucker pays closer attention than I’d like.
Then again, this is my family. I trust them.
“Jagger,” Delaney starts, about to defend me, but I pat her leg.
“He’s right. I enjoy being dominated. Specifically by Laney,” I admit, waiting for the group’s response.
“I knew it,” Jagger whispers, almost to himself.
Sloane smiles wide. “Wait, so you like her taking control? Ordering you around? Like tying you up and shit? Oh fuck, that’s hot.”
“Trouble,” Gunner growls.
“Oh hush, it is. Will you give me some tips?” she asks Delaney.
“You aren’t dominating me, Sloane. Keep talking, and I’ll be the one tying you up.”
“I wonder if Mac would let me.” Jane looks over to where Mac is hanging with his two kids along with Kelly and Smoke’s toddler.
“You could ask him to wear panties in the middle of downtown, and he would gladly do it. screaming how much he loves you,” Jagger says on a snort.
“You’re right, but I would never,” she says. “I just think maybe tying him down might be something fun. I agree with Sloane. A girls’ night where we can talk this out. We need some help.”
Kelly nods. “I was pretty innocent when I met Smoke. I’d like to spice some shit up.”
“Oh god, look what you caused,” Jagger hisses. “You aren’t allowed to talk to my old lady when I get one.”
Delaney smirks. “But Jagger, honey. We are besties, so that means your girl is going to be my bestie too. There’s no backing out now. You said it.”
He groans. “I’m out of here.”
He leaves us all sitting there laughing in his wake.
“Seriously, though. No judgment, bro. You like what you like. That’s okay.” Gunner nods to me.
“Yeah, and I’m glad you found a girl willing to be in that space with you. I told you that you were perfect for each other,” Acid adds.
It reminds me why I joined the Saints. It’s more than a club. It’s a family.
One I can’t live without anymore.