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Maggie steps away from me, wrapping her arms back across her middle before following her son out of the room.
“Do you want some of the cake Lilah made for you?” Trigger asks softly, pointing to a table set up in the corner filled with mini bundt cakes.
I nod, making my way over to the table next to him. He hands me a piece of the cookies and cream cake, and I thank him with a smile.
Bones and Tank stop next to us. Tank shakes his head as we all watch Trigger shove the entire mini cake in his mouth.
“What? They’re fucking good,” Trigger says with a full mouth and shrugs.
Bones hands me a thick yellow envelope. “Don’t open this til later when you’re at home, but I think today’s the perfect day to give you this.”
“Thank you?” I look at the envelope, searching it for any clue of what it could be holding inside.
Bones' weathered hand covers the front. “Don’t worry, it’s good. But seriously, don’t open it til later. Have Tank hang onto it til y’all get home if you’re going to be tempted,” he chuckles. “You always were a curious kid.”
I hold out the envelope to Tank and he takes it immediately. We all laugh, knowing damn well there was no way I would’ve been able to wait that long.
“Thank you guys,” I say softly, looking to two of the men I’ve considered my uncles my entire life. Back before my dad passed away, it was the four of them always. Now my heart hurts at the thought of it only being Bones and Tank. I pray to whoever will listen that Horse wakes up and is okay.
Trigger has his pocket knife in his hand and clanks it against a beer bottle.
“I just wanted to thank everybody who had anything to do with helping us get all this done for Pebbles.”
Ghost stops beside him and claps a hand around his shoulder. “A lot has happened within our family recently, and I just want to comment on how there is no other family I would ever want to go through hard shit with. I want to echo Trigger’s thanks, but also thank everyone who has helped out with Horse and Maggie. You’ve made sure our entire family is being taken care of, and I’m in your debt.” Ghost holds out his arm for me. I take timid steps towards him and let him wrap his muscular arm around my shoulders. “We can all agree that no one in the entire world deserves this more than Pebbles. I for one am so damn proud of the woman you’re becoming, Pebs.”
Tears blur my vision as Ghost’s unruly beard moves as he talks.
“We all can’t wait to see what you do with this place.”
“Thank you, Ghost.” I wrap my arms around his thick waist and squeeze.
He lets me go before turning to everyone gathered in the large room. “Now let’s drink! It’s fucking Wednesday, so let’s go party.”
Trigger chuckles as mostly everyone follows Ghost out of the room to head over to the club.
“Do you want me to take you home?”
“Can we stay for a few minutes after everyone leaves?”
“Of course, babe. Whatever you wanna do.”
I want to stay for a while. But really, I want to stay hereforever.
It’s perfect.
12
TRIGGER
The House
It takes a while until everyone slowly trickles out, but once Tank and Maria leave it’s just Pebbles and I.
I stand back and watch as she moves around the studio looking at every detail with fresh eyes.
“This is really mine?”
“It’s all yours, babe,” I say with a smile and nod.
