Page 8 of Life In General
“Well, I did.”
“When?”
“Christmas Eve.”
“This last Christmas Eve? Like three months ago?”
“Yup.”
“Are you sure you called me?”
“I called the number you put in my phone. I asked for General, and the snobby voice on the other end said you were busy. I didn’t know what to do.”
“That was a crazy day. I was at the clubhouse because six of my Brothers were getting married that day. The place was all Christmas trees, those small twinkle lights, and flowers mixed with leather, lots of booze, and inappropriate dancing once the kids went to bed.”
“Six weddings? How does that work?”
“Well, technically, six grooms but only five weddings. Two Brothers married the same woman.”
“I will make you tell me that story, but not right now. We’re getting off topic.”
“Right. You say you called. The only time I was away from my phone that night was when I left it sitting on the bar when I went to the bathroom. Someone must have answered it when I didn’t notice.”
“That would explain the ‘cheers to the bride and groom’ I heard in the background. There was a lot of background noise. It sounded like a ton of people.”
“Oh, it was.”
“I thought maybe that woman was your new wife and that’s why you never called me again. I heard bride and groom and thought you moved on, so I had to, too.”
“You thought I was getting married?”
“I didn’t know what to think. She was talking, there was lots of noise, and I was super emotional. It was just too much, so I hung up.”
“I was showing some of my club Brothers pictures from my ride through the Grand Canyon last fall. I actually went there right after I left here.”
“I wish I had tried calling again.”
“Me too. I can’t apologize enough for the confusion. I hate that I missed out on finding out you were having my baby. All this time, we could’ve been together. I’m so mad at myself that you had to do everything alone.”
“I don’t have to be alone anymore, do I?”
“Never again.”
Pulling her close, I steal a real first reunion kiss. This time, I don’t settle for her forehead. I dive straight into her lips and steal every breath she gives me. Her hands rest on my chest, gripping my t-shirt like she doesn’t ever want me to go.
“What did you mean by club Brothers?” she asks when we come up for air.
“I don’t know if you saw my cut, but I’m in a motorcycle club.”
“I noticed it but didn’t really pay much attention to what’s on it.”
“The Rebel Vipers MC clubhouse is in Tellison, which is just shy of four hours north. It’s pretty much smack dab in the middle of Wisconsin. I’m a Nomad, which means I ride around to visit other clubs we’re friendly with, helping out when I’m needed, but that’s my home base. Everyone else lives either in the clubhouse, on the property, or close by.”
“Do you do illegal stuff?”
“Do you want the truth or the sugar-coated version?”
“What can you tell me?”