Page 65 of Found Through Fire

I give them a smile and nod my head towards the barstools at the island for them to join me. They walk over and take their seats that are in view of the camera while I continue the prep work for dinner.

“They are here, so they can answer all of the questions that I’m sure you guys prepared before calling me,” I say while smiling in the camera. They can be overprotective assholes sometimes, but it’s how they show that they care.

“Boys,” Uncle Mark grunts at them through the screen, and I hold back the laugh when I see Grey and Knox tense up in irritation. Knox can’t really say anything, but Grey is holding back his response to someone calling him “boy.” Not sure why he’s holding back, but I appreciate him not being a dick to my family.

“Blitz. How’s it going in Tennessee?” Knox asks, probably trying to ease the tension. I feel like he heard what Uncle Mark said, but doesn’t mention it. I decide to just let them have their standoff, trying to keep focused on dinner.

“Same as usual. Not too happy to hear what’s going on with Will, though. Especially now that I know that your chapter is involved. How do Red and Griz feel about you stayin’ with Will?” Uncle Mark asks in his tone that I call his “MC voice.” He is always so sweet when he is talking to Jaz, Sophia, and me that it throws me off.

“The MC isn’t a part of this. Smoke and I decided that this is a private issue, and that Willow wouldn’t appreciate them knowing her business,” Knox replies. Grey is still glaring at the men on the screen. This is moving into club business, so I keep my opinions to myself.

“You’re choosing a girl over the Knights?” Uncle Mark asks. If I didn’t know that he loves me, I would have been offended. Uncle Mark would never speak about me like that, so I know this is a test for Knox. I keep my eyes on the chicken that my knife is now slicing through while I wait for Knox’s response.

“How I see it, the Knights made their choices when it came to Willow when they fucked over her mom. They don’t get a say,” Knox says in a matter-of-fact voice. Uncle Mark and the rest of the officers stay quiet.

“Okay…” from the other end of the call is what finally breaks the silence. He asks Knox about what they found when they did the walkthrough today and what his plan is. Surprisingly, Grey starts to join the conversation as I cook. It’s kind of cute that all of them are “getting along.”

When dinner is finished, I cut Ruger off mid-sentence and say, “Okay boys, dinner is done, and you know how I am about eating it while it’s hot. But before I hang up, I have some updates for you to give your women. Ruger, I have Christina’s baby shower planned and booked. It’s still a surprise, but I have the day blocked out at the clubhouse, and all the brothers know to be there, or they will have to deal with me. Murphy, Annette’s bridal shower is all taken care of, and I will have transportation come to pick her up by 6:30. Uncle Mark, don’t forget your anniversary is on Sunday, but I have a gift for you and Aunt Jaz. You will get it on Friday, and you guys will be gone for the weekend. I already found someone to watch Sophia. I also need someone to tell Willy that I planned a weekend fishing trip for him and Talon. He needs a break, and he’s refusing to take one whenever I call him. I know he’s worried about Tammy, but he needs to take care of himself before he can give the best care to his wife. I set up a caregiver for her while he’s gone for the weekend, even if I have to drive there and drag him to the damn lake myself. I interviewed eighteen people before I picked one totake care of Tammy after her chemo and for the two days after. They are perfect.”

No one responds when I am done with my rant. I look up from the plates that I was loading up for me and the guys. Knox and Grey are staring at me like they don’t know what to do, and the five men on the screen have gone quiet, but they are all looking at me with smiles on their faces.

Uncle Mark is the first to speak, even though I gave instructions to everyone, so I’m not sure what the holdup is. “We will make sure to send the messages, honey. Thank you, Will,” he says in his soft voice. My skin starts to feel tight with everyone being quiet and staring at me again, so I just push on and pretend not to notice.

“It’s no biggy, but please give Willy the warning. I wasn’t kidding about dragging him to the lake. That old man needs to get out. He was as pale as I was the last time I saw the geezer,” I add in my firm voice. We say our goodbyes, I tell them that I love them again, and finally get off the call.

I walk back to the counter by the stove, grabbing the plates that I already filled, and set them in front of the guys that are still sitting at the island, staring at me. I’m over the attention being on me. “Okay! Eat the food! Stop staring! It’s creeping me out. That says a lot since I currently have a stalker, and you guys are making me more uncomfortable than that,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood and get them back to normal.

Last time Grey started acting weird, I Googled the signs of a stroke, so I know they’re fine. They start to glare at me, and I mean, it’s progress, so I’ll take it.

“We are not joking about the sick fuck taking pictures of you,” Grey says.

Surprisingly, Knox agrees, adding in, “Yeah, too soon for that, babe.” The fact that they agree on something is weirding me out even more, but I keep that to myself.

“Guys, it’s a joke, not a dick. Don’t take it so hard,” I deadpan. They looked surprised for a second, then shocking the shit out of me, they both start chuckling.

When they stop laughing, we eat our dinner and go through the schedule for “Willow duty.” Apparently, I’m a full-time job for two men after we finish going over my calendar for the next two weeks.

“You guys thinkthisis busy, imagine if I had a social life,” I say and chuckle at my own joke, because I’m hilarious. Well, I think I’m funny, and so does Ben, so if it’s at least two people, then it’s a thing. Just like denial.

After dinner is done, the guys go to clean up the kitchen without saying anything. I stay at the island while they clean, but work on my laptop. The kitchen is silent, but it’s comfortable.

I look up from the spreadsheet that I am working on when a cup of coffee is being placed next to my computer; I follow the tattooed arm up and meet beautiful hazel eyes that are not glaring at me for once, but almost seem soft.

“Thank you,” I say, smiling at Grey while picking up the coffee and taking a sip. I’m not sure what has changed between us, but this non-asshole Grey is making it harder to avoid how hot he is. When he was a dick, it would help cancel out the fact that I wanted to climb him like a tree.

Movement to the side of Grey catches my attention, and I look over his shoulder to see Knox glaring at the coffee cup in my hands like it wronged him. When he notices me, he gives me a small smile and turns back to the sink to finish the dishes.

I have no idea what is going on with Knox and I. We are still getting to know each other, and I know there is something there. We just haven’t had time to talk.

Then again, I don’t even know if we should start anything in the first place. Knox is my brother’s best friend, and he is set totake over an MC that ditched my mom and has my piece-of-shit sperm donor as a member. Someone who I never want to know.

I have been around an MC long enough to know that if you are with a Brother, you have to have blind loyalty to the club. How could I ever support the people that took Jackson away from Mom? I mean, it worked out in the end, since my parents were able to build our family out of the ashes, but the casualties were my brother and mom. Even if Jackson can forgive them because of his loyalty to the club, it doesn’t mean that I have to. I will never tolerate someone hurting my family, even if I wasn’t alive when it happened.

“You’re welcome.” Grey’s voice breaks me from my almost-spiral and I turn back to face him. I got lost in thought, but looking into his eyes, he doesn’t look annoyed. He takes a breath and says, “It’s an apology coffee. I was a dick for assuming you were an entitled, reckless brat, but I see that all you do is care about other people’s feelings. Even over your own.” I’m shocked, and for a second, I don’t respond—just stare at him with wide eyes.

After an awkward silence, he starts to turn away, and I snap out of my daze. I grab his giant arm to stop him.

When he turns back to me, I look him in the eyes. “Thank you. I mean, you could have added that I was a sweet badass somewhere in your apology, but I will take it.” I smile up at him, still holding his arm, because I’m a little worried that if I drop the contact, nice, sexy Grey will go away, and jackass, hot Grey will come back.