Everlyn #2
“What made you want to be an environmental engineer?”
“It’s complicated and ties in a way back to part of my ancestry.
On my mom’s side, I’m American Indian, as you can clearly see.
Being in harmony with plants, animals, and the planet is a key concept.
I grew up being told about that, and it made me want to help protect nature in some way.
And knowing that isn’t always possible, to be able to do something when accidents happen.
I didn’t know what that looked like until after I met Jeremiah.
He was the one who gave a name to what it was and helped steer me in the direction I went. ”
“You miss him a lot.” It wasn’t a question.
“I do. And it’s doubly hard on Allegra since she had him her entire life. I only did for sixteen years,” I confessed.
“What about your dad’s side? Did you get any of your drive and love of nature from him?” Zephyr asked.
I took a deep breath before I answered him. “You know I never knew my dad because he left Mom before I was born. She didn’t like to talk about him much, but from what I was told, no, I’m not like him.”
“If he would do that, you’re better off not knowing him or being anything like him.
Not everyone is fortunate to have good blood family ties, so if you’re lucky, you end up with a good found family.
The club is like that for several of us.
And you have Allegra. It’s always better when you have a best friend. ”
“It is better. Do you have a best friend?” I slipped in.
“I do. I get along with all my club but one brother, Fenrir. He’s been the closest. He lives in the house past mine, headed further down the street. The one you saw to the left of mine belongs to Invader, our enforcer.”
Time flew by, and before I knew it, I had to say goodbye.
I had dinner I couldn’t miss tonight. Willis was coming over to help hash out more of the business end of things for Moore Enterprises.
I was planning to attend the upcoming board meeting.
I had to be prepared. I was taking my time getting to know the people at the company before deciding whether to take over or appoint someone.
“Zephyr, I had a wonderful time. I can’t thank you enough for showing me all this and sharing so much. It’s been fun and relaxing. I hate to leave, but I have to. I’m expected at dinner in an hour. Willis is coming over.”
I stood as I explained. For a moment, I swore Zephyr’s expression changed from kind to cruel. But when I blinked, he was smiling back.
“You’re welcome anytime. I like being able to sit and talk about things I’m interested in. The club tries, but it’s not the same. If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep checking out the site and talking about remediation with you.”
He said this as he walked me out to my car.
“I’d like that. Here, take my card. My cell phone is on it. Call me before you come to the worksite because I’m not always in the field. I spend part of the time in my office.”
He took it and tucked it in the front pocket of his cut.
“You should jot down my number in case you need it. For example, you need help digging the hole to hide Bishop Reeves’s body,” he replied, smirking.
I laughed. “I may take you up on that. Hang on a second.”
After I found my phone, noted his contact information, and reluctantly said goodbye, I got into my car.
I declined his offer to guide me out. He stood there in the driveway as I drove away.
How I wish I didn’t have to meet Willis tonight.
The drive home was filled with thoughts of Zephyr, not my upcoming work dinner.
Zephyr: Chapter 6
Seven days, that’s how long I made it without being able to see Everlyn.
I kept reliving the day she came to the house and the time we spent together.
When she said she had to leave to have dinner with Willis, I wanted to bar the door and tell her she had to stay.
That he wasn’t the man she should be with.
However, somehow I restrained myself and calmly walked her outside.
Since then, we’ve been texting each other most days. I asked her more questions about her work and how she was doing. Everlyn asked me the same and wanted to know more about Norway. I shared the website where she could order the saft.
When I wasn’t doing that or working, I spent time riding and hanging with my club.
At night, I dreamed, but those dreams were mainly of her.
And they were the hottest dreams I’d ever had in my life.
I woke up hard and was unable to sleep without jerking off.
Once a day wasn’t enough. However, no matter how desperate I was for sex, I wasn’t tempted to visit the hóror.
On Friday and Saturday nights, they’d come hang out with everyone.
On other nights, it was by individual invitation.
Two different ones offered me sex, but I firmly but politely turned it down.
At our chapters here and in Uppsala, Alabama, where our other chapter was, the hóror were called by gemstone and precious stone names.
It was our way of giving them a club name.
Onyx and Ruby were the two who tried to interest me in sex.
When I said no, they’d gone off, disgruntled.
I caught them later sitting across the fire pit, watching me.
I pretended not to notice them. After seeing me turn away those two, the other three—Diamond, Coral, and Topaz didn’t bother to try.
All I cared about was getting to today, Sunday. The reason was that Everlyn was coming to the compound. And this time, she was going to meet the rest of the club. When I brought it up to everyone during Thing on Wednesday night, everyone but Raider, Pirate, and Fenrir was surprised.
Thing was an Old Norse word for the governing meeting where law, politics, dispute resolution, and decisions on communal matters were made. Most MCs called it “chapel” or “church.” We had to be different, but it served the same purpose.
My mention of her sparked a flurry of questions about who she was, why she was coming, and how we had met. Others asked, but I only said she was a previous customer with whom I shared a common interest and whom I wanted to introduce to them.
Raider had shut them down when he said he and Pirate had met her and that she was cool.
And that she and I spoke the same language when it came to my interest in reusing materials.
Hearing that, they calmed down and dropped it.
I had warned them to be on their best behavior.
She had never been around a motorcycle club before.
This time, I wouldn’t meet her at Passages. She knew her way to my house and would meet me here. Fenrir came over to wait with me.
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
“No, why should I be?”
“Come on, it’s me you're talking to. I know she’s more than what you told the rest of the club. And Pres and VP know it too. It’s fine to be, and nothing to be ashamed of. Hell, I’m nervous to meet her.”
“Why would you be?” I asked.
“Because a woman who’s capable of ensnaring your attention as she has is tough, smart, and dare I say, intimidating.
You told me how she was when that asshole treatment plant manager got mouthy with her.
And you said she’s unbelievably gorgeous.
What if I fall in love with her at first sight?
Will that end our friendship? Or will you bury me next to Reeves?
” His grin made me shove him, causing Fenrir to cackle.
“I should kill you for even asking,” I muttered.
“Hey, I had to ask. It might happen. Okay, all jokes aside, I’m happy for you, Zephyr. You decided to listen to what I said,” Fenrir was suddenly all solemn.
“I did, but I still don’t know if I’m doing the right thing. It could turn out to be a disaster. I might hurt her, she might hurt me, or both of us might get devastated. But you were right about the inability to go an eternity without companionship and maybe even love.”
“What can I say? I’m a fucking genius,” Fenrir announced proudly.
“If you’re a genius, the rest of the planet is doomed,” I replied.
My remark got us into a back-and-forth mock argument.
I knew he did it to distract me from my nervousness.
It worked. We were at it when her car appeared on the street before ours.
We called the roads within the compound streets, so they all had names we’d given them.
Barbarian had even ordered signposts for them all.
We chose names of Norse gods and goddesses.
There was Odin Blvd, Loki Rd, Thor Pass, Forseti Lane, Aegir St, and Baldur Pike. I lived on Forseti Lane.
No surprise, Fenrir remained where he was. He wanted to meet her. I whispered, though she was too far away to hear us, “Behave.”
“I will. I’ll cut back on the charm so she doesn’t fall in love with me…right away,” he teased.
I drove my elbow into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
The oomph sound he made gave me a perverse feeling of joy.
He scowled at me as he rubbed his stomach.
By then, Everlyn pulled into the driveway like last time.
I headed over to get her door. The wolf with me stuck to my heels. Maybe I should consider neutering him.
Her smile was radiant as I opened the door. I held out a hand, which she took as she got out.
“I swear, it’s as striking out here as the first time. And it’s so peaceful.”
When she finished speaking, Fenrir stepped forward. I knew if I didn’t introduce him, he’d do it himself. I hoped that after I did, he’d get lost until later. The actual cookout we had planned wouldn’t start for a couple of hours. I asked her to come early so I could have private time with her.
“Glad you could make it. This is my friend and club brother, Fenrir. Fen, this is Everlyn.”
He held out his hand, and when she gave him hers, he gave her his best smile. And the bastard wasn’t butt-ugly, so he usually made conquests.