“No fucking secrets in the club.”
“Never,” Kenna confirmed, perched on the edge of the bed. “So, we were thinking about moving some things around on the first floor. I don’t think you’ll want to climb up and down the stairs when you’re discharged.”
“I’m moving in with Hatchet,” I said casually, my gaze shifting between the three women while I waited for the inevitable reaction.
Eva’s face split into a grin. “Damn, you guys move fast.”
I raised a brow at her.
Eva held up her hands. “I know, pot meet kettle. I honestly can’t believe you guys didn’t get caught.”
I snorted. “Especially considering the time he fucked me against the tree outside the clubhouse.”
Rhetta gasped. “When?”
I smirked. “The night of his birthday party.”
“You dirty girl,” Eva said. “Last night, Reaper spread me out onthe picnic table like a spatch-cocked chicken and ate me like I was a gourmet dinner.”
Rhetta cackled while Kenna covered her face with her hands.
I held my side and tried to hold back a laugh. “Please don’t make me laugh that hard. I’m never going to look at him the same again.”
Kenna shook her head but stayed silent.
Eva glanced at her and scoffed. “Don’t act like you haven’t fucked in the great outdoors. Your first time with Merrick was outside after a picnic.”
Kenna’s pale cheeks flushed.
I covered my ears. “La-la-la. I do not need to hear about that.”
Eva laughed. “Right. Now that you’re going to be an old lady, we’ll have to watch what we say in the group chat.”
I pursed my lips pensively. “I don’t think I’ll ever be an old lady. Hatchet handed in his cut.”
“I already ordered Merrick to give it back,” Kenna stated simply.
“YouorderedMerrick?” I asked, skepticism bleeding through my voice.
“I believe my exact words were ‘Pull your head out of your ass, stop the patriarchal bullshit, and be happy for them.’”
“What does Thane think?” I asked Rhetta, already knowing the president’s inflexible stance on the code.
“I believe his exact words were ‘If it were my sister, no one would ever find Hatchet’s body.’ And then he and Don debated on the ideal order for body part removal.”
I grimaced. I’d expected as much.
“If it helps, Reaper’s on your side,” Eva said. “He says there’s a difference between the intent behind the code and the reality. The code was intended to make sure brothers weren’t endlessly pursuing sisters and daughters like they were sweetbutts. You and Hatchet are textbook ‘friends-to-lovers.’ Honestly, I’m disappointed I didn’t call it sooner.”
I laughed and glanced at the small library she’d brought. Her gaze followed mine.
Eva smirked. “That entire stack of books includes friends-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, and age-gap romances. Thought you might enjoy them.”
After they left, I settled in with a book until I fell asleep. When I woke, the light was dimmer. Hatchet sat by my side, flipping through the novel I’d been reading, with Jessa in the corner on her phone.
“Hey,” I croaked, my throat still sore.
Hatchet set the book down on my lap and poured me a glass of water.
