Dex
Standing in front of the mirror, my reflection finally matches what I’ve been wanting to see for the past year. When Cas said the vote didn’t go my way, I was on the verge of begging. I would’ve dropped to my knees and out right begged. There was no way I was ever going back and I couldn’t see a future without the club being a part of it. I truly would’ve been lost.
Grabbing my phone and my smokes, I take one last look in the mirror and satisfied my new patch is real and still in my reflection, I head down to the bar and join my brothers.
Walking over to the bar, it feels good to be ordering a beer rather than serving it. I sink half the bottle before I turn and look around. It’s been a while since the club has had anything to celebrate and by the looks of it, they’re making up for lost time. There isn’t a single soul without a big ass grin on their faces.
Downing the rest of my beer, I order another one and make my way through the brothers and take a seat next to Ricky. He’s too busy nuzzling into Kyla’s neck to notice me. Most of the old ladies went home a few hours ago, they couldn’t wait to leave the cabin when Cas gave the go ahead to go home.
“I guess I’m gonna have to remember your name, can’t keep calling you prospect anymore,” Sparky calls across the table.
“Guess I can call you what I like now I’m not a prospect,” I throw back at him with a smirk on my face.
He remembers my fucking name. Everyone around the table erupts into laughter and he throws his beer mat at me.
“I didn’t realise you were so funny, Daz,” he grins. He’s going to do this on purpose now.
I shake my head and take the hits as they come. It’s not like before, throughout my prospecting I got used to the jibes and jokes, sure they were aimed at me but it wasn’t the same as it was at school. Closing my eyes to the past, I open them to the future and swig my beer. The conversation soon turns to our prisoners in the basement and I lean on the table to hear better. The beauty of the patch is not having to listen in from the side-lines, or being sent away out of ear shot.
“He hasn’t said a word since he came around,” Slade says.
I was surprised how long he was unconscious, Cas’s boot must’ve had lead in them.
“Who gives a fuck? We’re not interested in what he has to say,” Pope grunts, meeting no one in the eye.
Pope hasn’t said much to me over the months I’ve been here, but from what I’ve heard from the others and seen for myself, he isn’t one for talking, although when I do see him talking, it’s to Cas, Sparky and mainly Ricky. It’s just how he is with everyone. I don’t take it personally.
“All I care about is Bonnie has a lot less to say now she’s home,” Sparky happily tells us, “and talking about my wife, I’m out, I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed with her.”
“I can’t wait for sleep,” Slade mutters, sarcastically.
Even though the club is celebrating, it is tinged with tiredness. It’s been a long, emotion filled few weeks and it’s taken its toll.
He fist bumps Cas and tips his chin to the rest of us before leaving.
“I want you back here first thing tomorrow morning,” Cas yells after him. He raises his hand letting him know he heard and walks out of the door.
I don’t have a home to go to, for now I’m staying at the club and I’m more than happy with that. My phone vibrates in my pocket. There isn’t anyone who is important that isn’t here who I need to talk to so I ignore it. I have a pretty good idea who it is and I don’t need the grief tonight.
Slade is the next to leave and Pope and Sally soon follow him out. Ricky and Kyla are still in their own bubble and Cas moves around the table and sits next to me.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, signalling for another beer.
“Good,” I grin.
“I’m talking about Melissa as well, you went far beyond the call of duty for the club, I’d be surprised if it didn’t leave feelings of some sort.”
“I’ve already told you, I used her to get Danny. We’ve got him now and I have no need for her.”
“I know what you’ve said, I heard it, it don’t mean I believe you.”
This is why I haven’t been answering my phone. I’m cutting Melissa off and the club will never see whatever connection she thinks we have.
“I played my part for the club, it’s not my fault I played it too well.”
“So, there’s no chance she could become a permanent fixture around here in the future?”
I can do without this right now, I wanted to celebrate tonight, not think about Melissa.
“Did you plan a future with every chick you sweet talked before you got with Alannah?” I retort.
He smirks, “Point taken.”
“I saw a way to get close to Danny and I took it, that’s all,” I say, hoping this is the last time we speak about her.
“Okay, I believe you but I’d watch out for her. I saw the way she looked at you earlier, and she doesn’t seem the type of woman who will let you get away with playing her.”
The eighteen missed calls tonight are starting to prove he has a point.
“Anyway, make sure you get your drink on tonight and be fresh for the morning.”
Two beers land in front of us and he pushes his towards me, “Beers are on me, brother.”
He stands and slap the back of my shoulder.
“Welcome to the brotherhood.”
I wasn’t in any of the clicks at school, but fuck them all, I’m in the only club that’s worth anything substantial now.
As Cas walks away, Shannon catches my eye. I’ve fucked her countless times, she’s good to go any time of the day.
I tip my head back and the smile that covers her face as she saunters over should have me twitching, but nothing is happening.
“Hey, Dex. Congrats on the patch,” she purrs.
“How are you gonna welcome me into the club?” I grin.
She falls onto my lap, after I pull her down and she nestles against my groin. Still nothing.
My phone begins vibrating again and we both feel it, a giggle escapes her and she raises her eyebrow at me.
I still feel nothing. What the fuck is going on?
“What can I do to put a smile on your face?” she asks, lightly running her finger along my jaw.
“I’m going to let you figure it out,” I grunt, standing us both up.
My hand finds hers and I lead the way up to my room. Her perfume quickly fills the space and she falls back on my bed and spreads her legs wide, making herself ready for me.
I’m about to take a step towards her when all I see is Melissa lying there. I lied to Cas when I said nothing happened between us, the way she smiled up at me the first time we spent the night together still takes my breath away, when I allow myself to think about it.
“Dex?”
Blinking my eyes, Shannon comes back into focus and I definitely don’t feel like climbing on top of her. I couldn’t be any softer if I were thinking about my grandma.
“Dex?” she snaps, climbing onto her knees, “I can’t put a smile on your face if you’re stood over there.”
My pocket flares up vibrating again and this time, I pull it out and Melissa’s number flashes up.
“You need to go,” I mumble, turning my back to her.
“Huh?”
“I said, you need to go. I gotta take this.”
Luck is on my side today, she gets up and leaves without an argument and I slump down on the end of the bed.
I tell myself she’s only calling because we have her brothers, after finding out what I done to her, she’d be crazy to call just to talk to me.
The call ends and I throw the phone behind me on the bed. If she wants to talk about her brothers, she can call Cas. As far as I’m concerned, we’re done, not that we were anything in my eyes.