Page 102 of Goose

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Goose

I’d been in a handful of relationships. One of them turned into a botched marriage.

At the time, I believed marriage would provide stability in my life. A sense of balance that I felt was lacking in the lop-sided life of an outlaw. I eagerly searched for someone to provide that balance.

In no time, I found a woman whose mere existence tugged at my heartstrings. Divorced and with children in tow, she needed a man in her life. I believed I could provide her—and her children—a better life. I could provide for her children what I wasn’t able to have as a child.

Fixing her life, I was sure, would fix mine. So, I began building what I believed to be a more stable foundation for us all. We moved forward, both eager to see what our future together held.

I feared being truthful would jeopardize the club’s anonymity. I found out that hiding club business from my spouse caused that very foundation that I was building to crumble into a pile of rubble.

What we had promptly ended in divorce. It was for the better. It happened for all the wrong reasons. I knew I never loved her. I loved the thought of having a family. A group of people to cook for, care for, and provide for.

Looking back on that failed relationship, I can safely say that until I met Ally, I’d never been in love. Love found me when I wasn’t looking. The hand of life slapped me in the face, waking me from a life-long slumber.

When I opened my eyes, love was looking back at me.

With my eyes wide open, I eagerly looked back.

“I don’t think I love you anymore,” I said.

Her eyes bulged. “Huh?”

“I know I love you,” I said. “I know it.”

Her blue eyes blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I know I love you.”

She leaped from her bar stool and held her flattened hand over the center of the island. “Fuck yes! I love you, too.”

I glanced at her hand and then met her blue-eyed gaze. “You want a high five?”

She grinned. “A little slappy to make Ally happy?”

I stared, wondering what in the hell I’d gotten myself into.

The look on my face must have scared her. Her hand lowered a little. “I’m guessing you didn’t see the movie?”

“What movie?”

“Trolls? Justin Timberlake and Anna what’s-her-name. Kendrick, or whatever. Animated movies are a close second to old feature films.”

I slapped my hand against hers. “No, I haven’t seen it.”

“We’ll watch it together, sometime. Soon. You’ll do that with me. Wanna know why?”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because you love me,” she said. “And when two people are in love, they make sacrifices for each other.”

“Is that how it works?” I asked.

She nodded “Uh huh. I’m going to make one for you. A sacrifice.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Everyone deserves a second chance,” she said. “I’ll stomach Cash’s bad attitude until he accepts me. However long that takes.”