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I thought for a moment if there was anything else to say to my friend who was six feet under.
“Oh, and your ex, Dylan. He’s out on parole. He’s been trying to become a prospect with the Royal Bastards, but I told Kingpin, no way. He still might bring him on because our tech guy Bull put in a good word, and my ol’ man says I shouldn’t really have a say about club business. Sometimes I wonder if he thinks I’m getting too big for my britches… No, there’s no trouble in paradise… I’ve never been more content. Anyway, my next stop is Bootsie’s. Celie wants to talk. Hell, if I know what about. It’s been years. Viv, I suppose. Why am I going? I ain’t seen her in a month of Sundays. Hell, since Grady’s funeral. I guess I want to make amends.”
First, I dropped Angel off to Connie over at the Eagles’ Nest, where families in the club usually lived except for the officers. Lately, all the officers were settling down, so Royal Road was becoming more like the Eagles’ Nest every day.
Dawg’s wife, Connie, had become one of the many I trusted with our babies. Besides, there were so many folks at the Eagles’ Nest who wanted to see the baby. And I could get the rest of my running out of the way.
Connie, Allie and I had some coffee and a chat before I left. I told them all about my plans for the day. “I’m heading to Bootsie’s to talk with Celie.”
“Oh, your old supervisor there. Hasn’t it been years?” Connie asked.
“She called me out of the blue,” I said as a way to explain.
“You figured out where we’re having your bachelorette party yet?” Allie asked, changing the subject.
“Kingpin’s having his bachelor party at Royal Road, of course.” So, that was out of the question. “I don’t want to be anywhere near there.”
“How do you feel about that?” Allie asked. They were both all ears.
That was one thing. The ladies at the Eagles’ Nest were starved for gossip and drama from the clubhouse, I realized, but I also needed those ears.
“None of it makes any sense to me. We’re already married with two youngins. But if I’m getting the wedding of my dreams, I ain’t gonna demand that his brothers not throw him a proper bachelor party.” I lifted both my shoulders. “Y’know, I couldn’t really care less. It’s just one night,” I said, a total fib.
Connie warned me, “You let them shannon once they gonna shenanigan.”
Her words highlighted my fears. “But what do I do? I expect Kingpin to behave himself. I shouldn’t have to warn him, but I feel like saying something.”
“Oh, I don’t know what I’d do. Falling for Prez was your first mistake,” Allie said bluntly.
Allie had always been on team Hallow. She was one tough lady that rarely said the right or helpful thing. But I never took her too seriously. She meant no real harm.
Rolling my eyes, I quipped, “I didn’t fall for Kingpin. His third leg tripped me.”
Thankfully, Connie spoke up. “Prez would be an idiot to mess things up. I’ve never seen the biker happier than he is now.”
Allie surprised me. “I agree, honey. That biker is smitten with you and his babies. But…”
Crap. A but. I waited for the other shoe to drop.
“What’s the president of the Royal Bastards gonna do with all those bikers from so many of the other chapters at that party? Not take part in the fun? Look like some pussy whipped, lovesick loser? Not our Kingpin. He’s got a reputation to worry about.”
And there it was. The honest to god thing that worried me the most. Whether Kingpin cheated on me at his bachelor party had little to do with our relationship, but more to do with his pride. I put on a mask of apathy, although I was dying inside. “It’s just one wild night, though. And we’ll have our own fun. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
“Wherever you want to go, honey,” Connie said.
Her and the ol’ ladies had been trying to settle on a place to take me for ages, and I’d just been so ho hum about it all. But I was adamant I wouldn’t have it at the Eagles’ Nest. After all, I’d already had a bachelorette party there when I was engaged to another biker. I wanted no reminders of him.
“Gonna be any fighting?” I remembered last time they had some ritual to initiate me into being an ol’ lady, establishing a pecking order. I decided to stay the lowest on the totem pole so as to not have to fight any of them and show up at my wedding with a mangled face.
Allie promised, “No honey, there’s no need. You’re already married to Prez. This is just a technicality.”
I blew out air. That was another issue. This wedding was just a technicality. Sometimes I wondered why we were even bothering. When Kingpin said he wanted a big bash to celebrate with all the chapters, I got my heart set on finally having the wedding of my dreams.
“Whatever and wherever’s fine. You know we’ve got Bubba’s wedding first. This weekend. I agreed to sing. Kingpin and I have just gotten so busy we’re like headless chickens, running all over.” I checked my watch. “And I’ve got to run.”
I kissed Angel goodbye and headed downtown Nashville to meet with Celie.
Chapter 4
