“Hey! My girl has somethin’ to tell us. Let’s listen up ’cause you know Ma won’t feed us till we do.” Everyone looks at me, and Pa winks. I grab what I’ve got hidden in my pocket and keep it in my hand at the ready if needed.
“I’ve got a lot to say, so let me get everything out before any questions or anything, okay?” I take a fortifying breath and feel Shane’s hand on my back in support. I start at the beginning, with my innocent night at the bar, and give an abridged version of what transpired, including me leaving while the mystery man was asleep. I tell them about the different pregnancy tests all being positive. I can see the eyebrows rising at that. Mads mouth hasn’t been able to close since I started the story. Then I start with my first day working at the shop, running into Shane, and us both realizing who each other was. This I can tell is getting a reaction from all three of my older brothers. Jon is just staring at Shane. I don’t stop ’cause I need to get this all out. Plus, I think once they hear everything, we have a better chance of them not committing murder on Ma’s patio. I tell them about us getting to know each other better and how we are both going to be very active parents, and also in a relationship with each other.
“I hope you realize that Shane makes me happy. It wasn’t his decision to wait to tell you all. It was mine. Well, mine and what my doctor said most people do.” I finish talking and I swear you could hear a pin drop. Not one person says a fucking thing.
I start to turn to look at Shane when Juan speaks up. Of course he’s got something to say and gets louder as he talks. “I get the whole out-of-town thing. What I don’t get is you sneaking the fuck around for the last month here. What the fuck?”
Jon slowly and deliberately stands up to his full height. The fucker is taller than necessary.
“So, you lie to us for weeks, then you fucking get my sister fucking knocked up, out of wedlock?”
Jane pipes up and kicks him in the shin from where she’s sitting. “Hey! You three did the same fucking thing to me, and don’t even act like it’s any different.” I knew I loved that gal for a reason.
Jon looks at her. “Babygirl, there’s a big difference there. We’re in fucking love with you, and he’s just playing with her.”
Oh, he fucking didn’t go there. I stand up and yell at my brother who’s currently wearing the crown of the king of the assholes. “Hey!”
Ror decides to weigh in to this shit. “Now, Sis, what he means is that we’re committed to Jane and—”
Shane stands and speaks for the first time. “And I’m fucking committed to her. She’s it for me. No one else could ever compare. She’s an amazing person, inside and out. It’s a bonus that she’s the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Ry, the ass, makes a gagging sound at his last confession. I can see out of the corner of my eye Nicky smacking him in the stomach.
King of the assholes would have steam coming from his ears if people could actually do that. He starts moving toward us and I move in front of Shane. Before he can do anything, I grab what I have in my pocket and aim it at Jon. I don’t get the chance to say anything. Grant is in front of me, trying to move me out of the way, but I get around him.
Pa stops the movement of everyone by yelling, “Stop!” He hasn’t even gotten out of his chair, but everyone listens.
“Everyone, sit the fuck down right now, and I mean everyone.” He’s got the cane he still uses occasionally in his hand and is staring down all three of my older brothers.
Juan, the one who loves to stick his foot in his mouth, has the nerve to speak. “Doesn’t some of this fall under club fucking business and should be taken care of with just the club?” Oh, he didnotjust try and cut me out of this.
“Fuck that shit. This involves me,your sister.You’re not going to come after Shane when I’m not around. You wouldn’t let Jane and I have it out without you there, would you? While we’re at it, dear brothers of mine, if you so much as come to hurt a hair on his fine-ass body, then I will not hesitate to use these.” I pull out the tweezers and flash them toward my three stooges of assholes. I can tell Ror is trying not to laugh when he asks.
“Just what are ya threatening to do, dear Sis?”
I give him my most psychotic smile and inform him, “Well, you see, I can’t possibly beat you enough to show you how in the wrong you are. But I can make you tear up by promising to pluck a hair from each nostril before I give these to your woman and have her pluck a hair from each of your balls, which, after your out-of-wedlock comment, I think she’d be more than happy to do.”
Nicky chimes in, “I’ll get Ry’s for ya, girl!” Yup, he’s awesomeness right there.
I watch my brothers all squirm the second Jane chimes in. “Abso-fucking-lutely, I will gladly do that.” She’s currently staring daggers at Jon. I feel Shane at my back.
“Gorgeous, as much as I love that you want to stand up for me, if it’s deemed I deserve a punishment in the club, I’ll take it. It wouldn’t have changed anything, ’cause I would never go back and do anything differently if it put me ending up with you in jeopardy.”
Pa decides to wade back into things. “Boys. The lot of you all sit down for real this time. My girl, you sit too.” He waits till we all sit.
“Now, sons, I know I ain’t your pres anymore, but I’m still your father and in this instance, more importantly, I’m hers too. Now, I get your anger at being kept in the dark for a bit and about one of your club brothers seeing your sister behind your back but take a second. Think about what they’ve both said here. Those are two people in love. You know that look you three get on your face when you look at Jane? He’s got that same look when he looks at Kierstie. I bet you anything, he’d do just about anything for her.” Jon decides to ask a question, still sporting that glare on his face.
“If that’s true, have you told her why you’re always gone on the weekends?” Seriously? Does he think we don’t talk? Shane answers him. “Yeah, she knows. She also knows I haven’t gone since I found out she’s pregnant. That’s why I’ve made the last few family barbecue days at the clubhouse. I’ve been here for her and our baby. I may go and look still on occasion, but most likely just a day here or there. I’m not going to be away from my family. I won’t give them up for anything or anyone.” He feels that strongly?
Rory, the calmest one of the stooges, asks Shane the next question.
“You’re really in love with her?” Shane looks at me, and I swear everyone else disappears.
“I’m not just in love with her. I’m completely lost in her. I love her smile, her laughter, her passion, even what people see as a temper, but it’s really passion about people she cares about. If I could, I’d marry her tomorrow to tie her to me forever, but I know she deserves a proper proposal and wedding. If I have my way, I will marry her before we become parents.”
I can’t stop myself from standing up and walking in front of him. He grabs me and sits me on his leg.
“You wanna marry me? Like for real?”
