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I see the moment he spots Emily, and he rises to his feet, heading in our direction. “Ah, fuck,” she mumbles under her breath, offering me an apologetic smile as he comes to a stop in front of us.
“Where have you been?” His words are blunt, but nowhere near as gruff as they were the other day, so I stay silent and let it play out before me.
“I was with Scarlett.”
His eyes flick to me, narrowing, as he purses his lips. “You’re supposed to fucking tell me if you see my sister.”
“And how am I supposed to do that? Through telepathy? I don’t have your number, and I didn’t realize it would be an issue. I didn’t get the memo in the short time I’ve been here,” I grumble, standing off with him.
To my surprise though, he doesn’t argue back. Instead, he turns on his heel and marches back to his friends.
“Wow,” Emily breathes once he’s far enough away, and I turn to glance at her.
“What?”
“Nothing, I’ve just… never seen anyone put my brother in his place so easily before. It’s impressive.”
Before I can offer a response, my name is called out. Maggie waves me over to where she has the tables laid out with food. Emily sticks with me as we cut through the crowd. I sense a few eyes on us, but nothing that makes me feel uncomfortable.
“Hey, you made it,” Maggie murmurs as I come to a stop beside her, wrapping her arm around my shoulders as she gives me a side-hug. I stiffen slightly in her hold, but she doesn’t utter a word about it as she takes a step back.
Clearing my throat, I point at Emily. “Someone didn’t really give me much choice.”
The two of them high five before Maggie looks back at me. “Please, she’s my secret weapon around here.”
I smirk at them before glancing around at everyone again. It’s bizarre as fuck how it barely feels like an MC right now. The barbecue burning in the distance, mixed with the chatter from everyone present and the casualness that has everyone relaxed just screams family. Normalcy. Or what I would imagine it is from what I’ve seen in the movies and tv shows I used to watch.
Everyone knows everyone, but there isn't constant bickering or arguing. There’s no tension stifling the group. They may be in their own little cliques but they’re still all present.
“Are you sure I should be here?” I finally ask, turning back to them. “Everyone knows everyone and I feel like I’m overstepping,” I add.
The scoff I get in response from both makes a bubble of laughter burst from my lips. “We’re not taking no for an answer, Scarlett. I invite who I like, and even Ryker wouldn’t overrule me,” Maggie states, pointing toward the Prez, and I follow her gaze, only to find all four of them looking in our direction.
Fuck.
Turning my back to them, I rub my hands together and attempt to redirect the conversation. “Tell me what you want help with, that will make me feel better.”
That snaps them both into action as Maggie flips the steaks on the barbecue and Emily leads me back inside to help prep a potato salad and a few other garnishes to go with everything. It’s distracting and exactly what I need. Taking each item outside, we add them to the table of food, including some of the other things Maggie had prepared earlier and stored in the fridge.
By the time all the food is ready, the sun has set and some big overhead lights have been turned on as the chatter from everyone grows louder.
“Girls, get something to eat before I tell the men it’s good to go because it will be devoured in seconds,” she says, taking a plate for herself and loading it up with what she wants.
Emily does the same, and I follow suit, reaching for the mac and cheese, chicken wings, mini pulled pork sliders, fried pickles, and potato salad. Those are the things that have been calling to me while we were organizing. There’s more I could try and grab later if there’s anything left, but those are the essentials I need for my survival right now.
“Ma, are my burnt ends and mac and cheese done?” Gray hollers as he approaches the table, and Maggie smiles at her son.
“You know they are. Now tell the rest of these assholes here to eat up,” she states, before waving for me to follow her.
“Ruthless Brothers!” Gray shouts at the top of his lungs, turning the entire yard into silence. “Grub’s up, motherfuckers! But let the women and children go first.”
Cheers ring out as everyone gets up, and I stick beside Maggie and Emily. When they take a seat at a table, I do the same, not realizing until it’s too late that they’ve sat at the one table I was hoping to avoid.
Theirs.
Emily takes the spot between Maggie and I, leaving me open as the guys grab their food. Trepidation overwhelms my senses as I try to eat quickly before they get back, but I fail miserably.
A plate is put down beside me, and I take a deep breath before I look to see who pulled the short straw, only to find Emmett. He doesn’t utter a word as he drops down into his seat, Gray taking the spot beside him as Ryker and Axel complete the circle.
