Chapter 14
CREW
After having Serena to myself last week and this weekend, coming in to work today three days in a row to a Serena-less office is fucking terrible.
The only things holding me together are the rare glimpses I’ve had of her through the week.
I’ve never roamed around the building as much as I have until this week.
I’m pretty sure Mary can see straight through my farce, and if she has, then I’m sure the other employees here have, too.
“Are you heading out for the day?” Todd asks from the doorway. I’m in the middle of sliding my arms into my suit jacket, a habit from the many meetings I’ve had through the years, plus it beats the hell out of carrying it when I still need to grab my keys, phone, and tablet.
“I am meeting up with the group. Everyone is going in different directions, so Sundays have gotten even busier.” I shrug my shoulders, turn off my computer, the do the same to the lamp in the corner of the office.
When Serena was working with me, there was no use of the overhead lights.
She’d put on every lamp in the office and open the blinds to let light in.
Now, I’ve been doing similar, it’s a hell of a lot easier on my eyes, that’s for damn sure.
“I know how that goes. It seems Serena is busier than ever now, too. Between her neighbor across the street and working for the firm, by the time she’s home, well, she’s more into staying home.” I cover my smirk with the back of my hand and clear my throat.
“It tends to happen that way. It’s why I try to make time for my parents on Saturdays.
” Last weekend was the exception. I had every intention of keeping our day together and bringing Serena with me.
Then Mom texted to tell me they were going out of town for the weekend with a few of their friends from the Moose Lodge.
“Yeah, it does. I won’t keep you. Thanks again for talking to HR about Serena’s check.” Todd knocks on the wooden door. He’s unable to stand or sit still for longer than a few minutes today.
“No problem. See you tomorrow.” I pick up my things, he takes his leave, and I do the same shortly after, making sure to close my door on the way out.
Jude was here first thing Monday morning, supervising, so to speak, how maintenance was replacing the lock.
Todd’s office even got the same upgrade to keep everything looking normal.
Jude made a few comments, and when I walked him out of the building, he got a look at Serena, let out a whistle under his breath, and commented that kismet didn’t need to work for us.
Not with the way we can’t keep our eyes off one another.
Serena: See you soon. I’ll wait to walk to Luke and Shae’s with you once you’re home.
Me: Walking out the door now. You’ll probably beat me there.
Serena is meeting everyone at Luke’s tonight.
She hasn’t met any of them yet, not even Luke, Shae, and Coralynn.
Only talked to the girls on the phone or by email for clarification purposes.
As for Jude, she saw him but didn’t get the chance to be formally introduced.
After tonight, I know one thing for certain: we’re done hiding this relationship.
I feel too damn much for the blonde bombshell to keep her in the dark.
The thought of being unable to take her to dinner, go for a walk around her block, or anything else out in public is weighing heavily.
And I don’t fucking like it. Neither does she.
“I’m not sure why my nerves are setting in.
I feel like I already know your friends from you talking about them.
Plus, you met Talia, and she’s a tough nut to crack.
” Serena holds my bicep as we walk to Luke and Shae’s place.
They’re on the other side of our building. Close enough yet far enough, too.
“Sweetheart, you’ve got nothing to worry about. These people on the other side of the door already love you, and it’s purely because you make me a better person.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to spill my guts to her, but I clamp my mouth shut and leave the subject for a later time.
“Damn it, Crew. I did not expect that, and now I’m nearly in tears, happy tears.
Meeting your friends looking like a raccoon isn’t helping matters, you know.
” She stops a few paces away from Luke’s, and I stand with her, no matter what.
Usually, everyone would bring something to a dinner of this size, but with most of the women having children, being pregnant, and working long hours, catering our dinner is the only option.
We’re all more than okay with this, we each chip in some money, and a company will deliver the food and set it up.
All we have to do is pick everything up at the end of the day.
“Tears, smiles, laughter, they wouldn’t mind either way.” Serena takes a few deep breaths to gather herself, and while I’d like to say fuck it, take her back home, and keep her to myself, I know that’s not an option.
“Okay, I’m good.” The smile she sends my way, it’s full and bright, and her worries have disappeared. Thank fuck. The last thing I want to do is have her be a bundle of nerves and feel like she has to fake it till she makes it.
“Alright.” I place my hand in hers, give it a reassuring squeeze, and we finish our trek to Luke’s place. We’re barely at the door when Briar, Kennedy and Trent’s daughter, opens it for us.
“Finally, you’re here.” The sass is in full force, a lot like her mother.
“Briar, my girl.” She flings her arms up in a dramatic flair, expecting a hug and getting it the minute I’m able.
“I want you to meet someone really special to me.” While Briar is getting closer and closer to double digits, she’ll always be the baby of the group.
The first kiddo we all had a hand in helping raise in some sort of way, and it’s not easy watching her gain more independence every time I see her.
“I already know her name, Uncle Crew. Geesh, that’s Ms. Serena.
Mom and Dad told me. Plus, all the aunties did, too.
It’s so cool that there are more girls than boys in our family now.
” I’ve lifted her up in my arms, and now she’s wiggling to be put down.
What I don’t expect is for her to move right toward Serena and say, “It’s so good to meet you.
Come with me, please.” Briar takes my woman’s hand and guides her through Luke’s apartment, leaving me in the dust.
“It’s like that, is it?” I tell Jagger as he comes up to me, patting me on the shoulder as I shut the door.
“It is. She’ll be fully entrenched, added to the group chat, and the girls will have her roped into some kind of vigilante kick like when Shae had that issue at Luke’s office.”
“Christ, don’t bring that up again. The girls will look for their next victim.
” Luke comes up. Shae was with him, but she veered off the path to join the girls.
They’ve invaded the kitchen, rounding the tables full of the tex-mex food that’s been catered in, an array of dips, salsa, queso, and guacamole with chips are set up.
I imagine Briar is looking for the desserts, a treat she’ll see later with the hot fudge sundae bar Shae has at the ready for the sweet tooth girl.
A gift she gets from her mother, and it’s only expanded throughout the group.
“Lennie is always up for a good time.” Asher comes over with his twin girls. They’re able to sit up a bit more now, and it doesn’t take us any time at all to relieve him of Lily and Rose.
“Time for some practice,” Tysen states. His woman is the next one up as far as delivery dates go, then it’ll domino to Winnie, Johnny’s wife, Kenny, Trent’s wife, and Shae, Luke’s future wife.
As for Lyric, well, I think she and Jag are still trying.
The rest of the group hasn’t said either way what they’re doing in the children department.
I do know Jude adopting his younger sister, Rory, hasn’t been easy, but he’s made it as seamless as possible.
Of course, that probably has a lot to do with his woman, Ronnie.
She and Rory are two peas in a pod and have no problem ganging up on him in order to get what they want.
“Same goes over here. It’s been a long time since I held a little one besides when I’m on the job and have to do the hard shit.” Trent works as a police detective, and he’s seen some shit on the job.
“No kidding,” Johnny states as Sebastian, his and Winnie’s adopted nephew turned their son, comes up to him, a harmonica in his hand, a hat on his head, and looking like a rock and roller with a band shirt, jeans, and Chucks on.
“What’s up, little man?” I pump knuckles with Seb once he’s settled in Johnny’s arms. It won’t last very long. He likes to motor around like the Energizer bunny after he shows off his new musical instrument Johnny picked up for him.
“Hi, can I play?” Sebastian asks, looking at his Uncle Asher for reassurance.
“The girls are wide awake. The floor is all yours.” The kid has talent when it comes to music. His preferred is classic rock dabbled in with some of Jude’s favorites.
“Cool.” Jude’s head pops up the second he hears the gentle hum floating through the room.
I can’t figure out what the song is at first, and it isn’t until Serena slides her shoulder beneath my arm that I do.
“Journey?” she asks the group. Johnny nods his head in answer, and the song comes together when I realize it’s Who’s Crying Now. Poor Winnie, she’s more of a country music girl, and Seb has taken to Johnny’s still, for now.
“I hope with all of the children the group will have, we’ll get a little garage band action,” Shae adds in.
“I have no doubt we will. Johnny’s already looking at houses. We’re slowly outgrowing the penthouse apartment.” Winnie takes a sip of the non-alcoholic margarita in her hand.
“Aunt Lettie and I can be the backup singers,” Briar offers up Lettie, and from the look in her eyes that are as wide as saucers, it’s clear Bri knows more than Lettie has told the group. Interesting, very interesting.
We spend the rest of the evening chatting, drinking, and eating.
When it’s time for us all to say goodbye, it takes twice as long as usual, and everyone is prolonging the process.
The girls are already planning a brunch without their male counterparts, and I’m more than happy my woman is enjoying our group.