AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He chuckled. “Kids.”
I shook my head with a wry grin. “She eventually outgrew that shit, but the nickname stuck. While I was prospecting up in Colorado, she called me and my sponsor overheard her call me Royal. The rest is history.”
“Nice,” he said with a laugh. “So when do you want to start at the shop?”
“I can start today if you need me to,” I replied.
“Nah, that won’t be necessary. Take a week or so to get situated. We don’t have anything pressing since we just started advertising your services. I’ve had a lot of calls, and the few that have committed made deposits but haven’t scheduled a drop off. I can let them know you’ll be starting in a week, if they ask,” he explained.
“Thanks. I really appreciate that, but are you sure? I can help with oil changes and shit on the bikes,” I offered, but he waved me off.
“No need. Lock, Truth, and Clay have things under control for now. I’m sure they’ll take you up on that offer come early spring, though. Unless you’re swamped, which I’m hoping you are. Royal, I appreciate your expertise and the ideas you have. The chapter was happy to go into business with you on this.” He leaned back in his chair with his hands laced behind his head.
“I am too. I’ll start making lists of everything I’ll need. I also had an idea. I’m thinking about maybe expanding the shop to have a separate workspace. Thought I’d see what you all thought about that,” I explained.
“We can discuss the details in church. Depending on the numbers and what everyone thinks, we might be able to make that happen. No guarantees since I can’t speak for everyone.” He dropped his hands and leaned forward to rest his arms on the desk.
“Not a problem.” It was no less than I expected.
My phone vibrated in my back pocket, but I ignored it.
“On another note, my daughter Mattie will be home for Thanksgiving break, and we’re going to have a big dinner. All the brothers and their families are invited. If you want to bring your sister, you’re more than welcome.”
“Thank you. I’ll let her know. I’m sure she’ll be glad that we won’t have to go to Denny’s for dinner.” I snorted a laugh.
“Anything you need? We have a lot of spare furniture in the storage shed out behind the clubhouse.”
“You got a bed bigger than a twin?” I asked with a chuckle as I imagined sleeping in the bed at my sister’s.
“That’s probably the one thing we don’t have.” He winced apologetically.
“Prez, I was just kidding. I’ll get one and have it delivered.”
For the next forty-five minutes, Smoke showed me around and reintroduced me to the brothers that were there. Lock, Styx, Lock’s brother Jax who went by Gunny, Truth, and the VP Straight. Radar was installing a security system in Georgetown and Slice was out of town but was supposed to be back the next day.
Finally, I said my goodbyes and headed back to my sister’s. I stopped and grabbed burgers on the way, putting them in my saddlebags. Then I got back to the small house and went inside.
Lacie and I sat down to eat after she grabbed us each a Dr. Pepper from the fridge. We ate in comfortable silence. Once we were done, she crumpled up the wrapper from her burger and fries and then took mine with it and tossed them in the trash.
“I have studying to do. I have an exam this next week, and a bunch before Thanksgiving, but I don’t even want to think about those yet.” She kissed my cheek.
“Hey. Speaking of, we got invited to my prez’s place for Thanksgiving dinner. You down with that?”
“I don’t have to cook? Hell, yeah. I can make a dessert, though.”
“I’ll let him know tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.” She went to her room and closed the door. I heard her turn on some classical music. It had always been her go-to when she had schoolwork. The familiarity made me smile.
Standing, I stretched and went to my room.
I flipped on the light as I closed the door. Then, leaning against the cheap hollow-core wood, I sighed. Though I’d consciously made the decision to move back to Texas, I felt like an alien in a foreign world.
I’d left after high school and joined the Army. It had been hard, but I had to leave Lacie with our elderly neighbor. Once I finished AIT—Advanced Initial Training—I brought Lacie with me as my dependent. Our mother didn’t bat an eye when I said I wanted guardianship over my sister.
I spent seven years active duty. It was rough being in the Army, essentially as a single dad. Thankfully, Lacie was a good kid. Though I’d listed our old neighbor from back home as my family care plan, it was a lie. During my deployments, she stayed with my battle buddy’s wife the first time, and with her friend’s family during my second one.
The last duty station I was at had been Fort Carson. When I got out, we stayed because Lacie was finishing high school. But after she graduated, she ended up with a full ride scholarship to the University of Texas in Austin.
