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“I didn’t even know she’d ever held a gun.” I have a feeling this has something to do with the past she doesn’t like to talk about. It makes me wonder if she’ll ever be comfortable opening up to me. The idea sends a small pang of sadness through my chest when I think about what my best friend must have been through.
“I have to admit,” Linc starts, “I feel a little ill-equipped to teach you now. It looks like Lucy has me beat on the skills level.”
We both look at Lucy as she turns the page of her magazine, pretending not to hear a word we’re saying. The satisfied smile on her face tells me she heard him loud and clear.
I turn to Linc. “You’re doing just fine,” I reassure. “Besides, I don’t think she likes guns very much.”
“Could have fooled me.” Linc looks back to the targets. “Let’s keep practicing.”
Two hours later, I’d shot every one of the guns they had out for us. I can’t say I’m much better than when I started, but I’m definitely more comfortable. And I did manage to hit the target a couple times. Not the actual body printed on it, just the white paper around it.
The afternoon passes with Lucy and me hanging out in our room and Linc and Jude doing whatever it is bikers do. My stomach growls around dinner time, so Lucy and I decide now’s a good time to head to the kitchen to scrounge up some food. I know the bunnies do most of the cooking around here, but there’s something about eating the food they make that doesn’t sit right with me. It’s apparent from Stacia and a couple of the other girls, they aren’t exactly thrilled with us being here. Even though they’ve been anything but welcoming, I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage.
When we enter the kitchen, there’s an older woman at the oven taking out a dish that smells absolutely heavenly. She looks over to me standing in the doorway, and I contemplate whether we should stay or leave. I’ve never seen her before, but the last thing I want to deal with is more attitude.
“Hi there. You must be Charlie and Lucy,” she greets, setting the pan on top of the stove and removing the flowery oven mitts. She reaches out to shake my hand. “I’m Tanya. Linc and Knox’s mom.”
Relief, followed swiftly by embarrassment, runs through me. I can’t believe I thought Linc’s mom was a bunny.
“Hi, nice to meet you,” I reply, shaking her hand before Lucy does the same. Then guilt hits me. This woman lost her son for six years because of me. I brace myself, waiting for her to bring it up like Jude did, but she does the opposite. She leans in for a hug.
“Linc told me your situation way back when he went to prison. I’m so glad my son was able to help back then, and I’m thankful he’s able to be here for you now. There’s nothing worse than thinking you have nowhere and no one to turn to when you’re in that situation.”
The tone in her voice tells me she’s lived it, too. I want to ask more—like how do you ever trust someone not to hurt you again or how can she not hate me for being part of the reason her son went to prison—but I settle for her warm embrace instead.
“Now,” Tanya says, breaking the hug. “Would you ladies mind helping me out with getting all this into the dining room? Those bunnies seem to make themselves scarce whenever I come around.”
“Probably because the last time you were around one, she tried to sit in Trick’s lap, and you almost pulled her out of the clubhouse by her extensions,” Linc says, coming into the kitchen.
“Oh please, that was years ago,” Tanya says, waving her hand.
“What can I say, Mom? Your reputation precedes you.” Linc walks up to his mom and gives her a huge bear hug, lifting her off her feet.
“Put me down, you brute, and help your mother. I made you boys’ favorite, meatloaf with all the fixings.”
He sets her on her feet, gives her a loud kiss on the cheek, and turns around to inspect the pan.
“Sometimes you just have to show these women who’s boss, right?” Tanya asks, giving me a conspiratorial wink.
How do I tell this woman the only man I’ve ever been slightly possessive over is her son, who I barely know and have no right feeling that way about? The only other relationship I was in was with Jace, and there was no way I would ever care if another woman flirted with him. If she wanted him, the only thing I would have told her was she could do better. Hell, I could have done better myself, but there was no one around to warn me back then.
Instead of word vomiting all over Linc’s mom, I give her a small smile of agreement.
Thoughts swirl in my head. What would it be like to be in a relationship with someone you actually wanted to lay claim to in front of everyone? The urge certainly wasn’t there with my ex, but he always made sure everyone knew I was his. Not because he loved me or cherished me, but more like I was his property, and he wanted to make sure everyone was aware. There were no soft touches or lingering smiles. It was all about exerting his control in front of everyone.
The idea that I would be in a position to do something like Tanya did and not get slapped or kicked for overstepping is completely foreign to me. The desire to want to is even more so. But if Linc and I were together, I wonder if he would have a problem with it. Last night, he didn’t seem to like the idea of being tied to one woman or feeling the need to answer to anyone. He also didn’t like anyone else flirting with me or vice versa. It’s all so confusing.
I look over at the man in question and smile at the way he’s inhaling the scent of the meatloaf. The groan that reverberates deep from his throat makes me laugh.
“For the love of everything holy, son, could you not make those noises while you stare at the food like it’s your last meal?” his mom chastises. “You’re liable to scare poor Charlie over here.”
“I don’t think Charlie minds my groans, do you, Charlie cat?” he replies with a wink.
“The groans, I don’t mind. The nicknames, on the other hand…”
Linc’s mom watches her son with a keen eye while I try not to blush furiously over the sounds that just came from him.
“You love them,” he tells me.
