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Rooster just laughs and holds the patch up closer, so I can take a better look.
“It’s this dumb challenge the Virginia charter came up with when we were visiting,” Jigsaw explains.
“It’s only dumb because you lost,” Murphy says.
“I got half my card punched.” Steer laughs. “I’m going for it again next year.”
“You remember the different color wing patches some clubs used to hand out to their brothers back in the day?” Wrath asks me.
“Yeah. Different colors for different sex acts.” I turn my head toward Rooster. “Don’t tell me you fucked a cat in the ass to get that patch, brother.”
Everyone at the table busts up laughing.
“No. What the fuck is wrong with you, old man?” Rooster laughs.
“It’s an excellent question,” Jigsaw says, saluting me with two fingers.
“Still looking a lil’ green with envy over there, Jiggy,” Wrath says.
“Envy, my ass. I’m not so homely I have to prove I can shove my tongue up my woman’s snatch for thirty days in a row by wearing some dumb pussycat patch.”
Everyone except Rock and Teller hoots and laughs it up. Rock just stares at the ceiling like he’s begging God for lightning to strike the table.
“You don’t have a woman,” Rooster reminds his buddy. “So your gripe makes no sense.”
“There was a patch available for single brothers too,” Steer reminds them. “But you had to work harder to get it.”
“It’s disrespectful to your girl,” Jigsaw argues.
Rooster chuckles. “Shelby thought it was hysterical. Disgusting but funny.”
“Trinity said it was about time I was awarded for my outstanding contributions in this area.” Wrath grins and crosses his arms over his chest. “That’s why they gave me a lion instead of a house cat.”
“Good Christ,” Rock mutters.
“Heidi’s take on the whole thing was that no one would have the balls to ask me what the patch was for, so she didn’t care,” Murphy says.
“Please stop,” Teller grumbles.
“And if someone asked,” Murphy continues, “she’s more than happy to tell them her man—”
“Don’t.” Teller holds his hand up over Murphy’s mouth. “We get it.”
“I guess Heidi has a point,” I concede. “Thank fuck it’s not obvious unless someone’s spending a lot of time staring at your patches in the first place.” I glance at Rock. “Things must be golden in Virginia if that’s the kind of shit Ice wastes his time with.”
“They didn’t give him much choice,” Wrath laughs. “He was probably the only one who would’ve voted against it.”
“Sounds like it ended up being a fun bonding activity for the Virginia and New York charters,” Z says, standing at the head of the table next to Rock and dismissing the conversation by plunking a heavy paper bag in front of them. “Let’s get to the important stuff.”
“This is for you, Grinder.” Rock slides the package my way.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.”
I untie the string and peel the wrapper aside. The scent of new leather hits my nose. I unfold the black leather carefully.
Property of Grinder.
Emotions tighten my chest. I wasn’t even going to ask for a vote until I got off parole. For some reason, I keep punishing myself and denying what I want because of some arbitrary deadline set by people whose opinions don’t even matter.
My brothers trust me and that’s what’s important.
I turn the vest over. Grinder’s Buttercup is stitched on the front left side. My padlock symbol with a key and some added yellow flowers embroidered around it. “Embroidery has come a long way since I went inside,” I say absently, touching the fine threads. “Nice detail.”
“Yeah,” Z says slowly.
I tip my head and find him and Rock watching me carefully. “Thank you for this.”
“You got it, brother,” Rock says.
I drape the vest over the table, spreading it out to see the patches stitched on the side. Rock’s, Z’s, Wrath’s, Teller’s, Murphy’s, and Dex’s are all there. Jesus, they got together and took a vote on this already? Did Z tell them we’re having a baby? Rock knew I was planning to propose. Is that why they did this now?
“You don’t have to give it to her today,” Z says, recapturing my attention. “But I have a feeling you two are headed in that direction, so I wanted to be proactive.”
“Just in case you want to have her wear it when you guys visit downstate,” Wrath adds.
Steer barks out a laugh. I glance his way and he bites on his fist, still shaking with laughter.
I nail him with a hard stare. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” Steer swipes a finger under his eyes. “Can’t wait to see the look on Tawny’s face when Serena shows up wearing that.”
“Fuck Tawny,” Jigsaw seethes. “She better not say a fuckin’ word about it.”
“Easy, Puzzles.” Steer snickers at his little joke. “She’s still a brother’s old lady.”
“An ol’ lady who causes a fuckton of problems every time she opens her big mouth,” Rooster answers.
