Chapter 28
Nikki
“I love this kid, but honestly, I can’t wait ‘til I can have a drink.”
“At least Nickel isn’t drinking either,” I pointed out.
We were sitting at a table by the pool table, watching Pipe and Nickel play. “Yeah, that is nice of him. Although I did catch him sneaking a beer the other night.”
I laughed and took a sip of my wine. “You yell at him?”
“Nah, he deserves it. He’s been doing a lot of shit for the club lately, and I know he’s stressed out.”
“You mean with Wren?” Who, by the way, we had yet to meet. When we had given Alice her tour of the clubhouse, Cora said she had a headache and had gone to lie down. She had promised that she would be out for the party tonight.
“No. I think there is other stuff going on. From what Nickel said, Wren is Maniac’s problem.”
That was news to me. Although I knew I wouldn’t always know what was going on with the club, I had hoped Pipe would talk to me if he needed to. “Have you seen Alice?”
Karmen laughed. “I heard she asked Wrecker to take her for a ride on his bike.”
“Shut up,” I gasped. “I think she might be barking up the wrong tree with Wrecker.”
Karmen nodded. “That you are right, sister. I think she’s more infatuated with the fact he’s the president.”
I shrugged and peeled the label off my beer. “Or, you know, they could be perfect for one another. I mean, did you really expect me and Pipe to hook up?”
“Well, I knew you wanted a biker of your own, but no, I never thought it would actually happen. I mean, come on, did you think Nickel and I would hook up and he would get me pregnant?” she laughed. “Anything is possible, Nikki.”
“What’s possible?” Nickel asked as he picked up his beer from the table.
“Alice and Wrecker hooking up.”
Nickel choked on his beer. “Yeah, that shit isn’t happening.”
“Why not?” I demanded. Alice was a bit cuckoo, but there wasn’t anything wrong with her.
“Because we’re pretty sure Wrecker has a chick on the side we don’t know.”
“What?” Karmen gasped. “And you’re just now telling me this? Who is it?” she demanded. “We could add another chick to our Girl Gang.”
“Girl gang?” Pipe asked. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the side of my head. “You good, sugar?” he asked quietly.
I looked up at him and nodded. “Totally good. We were just talking about Wrecker and Alice hooking up, and then Karmen mentioned a Girl Gang. Not really sure where she was headed with that one.”
“We’re never really sure where Karmen is headed with anything,” he snickered.
“It’s a good thing I’m pregnant and sober. Otherwise, I would totally kick your butt.” She looked Pipe up and down and took a sip of her soda. “Or have Nickel kick your butt.”
“Well, I’m glad to know my butt is safe tonight.”
I slapped him on the chest and shook my head. “Stop messing with her,” I laughed.
“Like shooting fish in a barrel, sugar.”
“Anywho,” Karmen said, ignoring Pipe. “I was talking about our Girl Gang. It’s me, Nikki, Cora, and Alice right now. It would be super cool to add Wren to it.”
“Speaking of Wren,” Nickel said, pointing over my shoulder. “There’s your latest recruit right now.”
I turned around and saw Cora walking toward our table with a short, curvy brunette. “Wow, she’s super pretty.” Her long brown hair had blonde highlights in it, giving it that sun-kissed look, and her skin was flawless. You know how guys say they like a woman with curves on her in all the right places? Well, Wren fit that description perfectly. She was wearing a pair of tight jeans that hugged her hips and butt, giving her the perfect silhouette. The dark plum shirt she wore looked amazing against her tanned skin, and well, she just looked hot.
Pipe pulled out the chair next to me and leaned close. “Poor Maniac thought the same thing until he had to watch her twenty-four seven. Pretty sure the poor guy is going to lose his shit before her troubles are over.”
“Hey,” Cora called. “This is Wren.”
Wren gave a small wave and looked down at the floor.
Hmm, now this was interesting. I thought for sure she was going to be talkative, but instead, she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.
I stood up and held out my hand. “I’m Nikki, it’s nice to meet you.”
She gently shook my hand and gave me a small smile.
It was crazy how she and Cora were best friends. Where Cora was loud, outspoken, and boisterous, Wren was shy, quiet, and rather introverted.
“This is Pipe,” I said, looking down at him.
He gave Wren a two finger salute. “Nice to meet you.”
She blushed and nodded her head. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Why don’t you guys have a seat? Pipe and Nickel were just taking a break from playing pool, but I think they were just about to start another game. You guys can play with Maniac.”
I looked past Wren and Cora and saw Maniac leaning against the pool table with his arms crossed over his chest. He did not look happy at all.
“We’ll keep an eye on Wren,” Karmen called to him. “You run along and play with the boys.”
It cracked me up when Karmen talked to these guys like they were a bunch of twelve-year-olds. Where Alice acted like these guys were all gods, Karmen treated them all like her little brothers.
Pipe pressed a kiss to my forehead and mumbled a warning to behave.
Cora sat down in the chair Pipe had left, and Wren scooted into one between Karmen and Cora.
Karmen had a huge smile on her lips, and she rubbed her belly. “This is going to be amazing.”
Cora leaned into me. “What the hell is she talking about?”
“I’m really as lost as you are. She was talking about a Girl Gang before you came over. I can only imagine what she’s talking about,” I whispered.
Cora sat back and looked at Karmen. “You’re crazy.”
“So subtle,” I mumbled.
“Subtle goes over the head of crazy.”
“I’m going to accept your crazy.” Karmen turned to Wren. “Crazy is fun. And besides, every crazy thing I do, I can blame on the baby. He may keep me from drinking, but the kid is a pretty good alibi for whatever I want.”
Wren laughed and looked down at Karmen’s belly. “I could see that working. Everyone wants Burger King at one o’clock in the morning now and then, so this way you can say you have no control over it because the baby wants it. Totally going to have to remember that if I ever have a kid.”
“Stick with me, and I’ll tell you all my secrets.”
I laughed and finished my beer. “If by secrets you mean crazy, then yeah, she can totally show you all of that.”
Karmen shook her finger at me. “Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side with this.”
I held up my hands. “I’m totally on your crazy train.”
“I feel this Girl Gang thing is very prisonesque. Do we have to wear stripes? I’m telling you right now, if it involves stripes, I’m out.” Cora held up her hands. “This body is not made for stripes of any kind.”
Karmen rolled her eyes. “Now who is the crazy one thinking we’re going to have uniforms. Although, we could totally get shirts made up.” Karmen tapped her chin and pulled out her phone. “I’m gonna google the price of getting custom shirts made.”
“And she’s back to being the crazy one,” I laughed.
“I don’t really understand what this Girl Gang is,” Wren replied.
“Basically we’re all friends who have each other’s back. Like if Pipe is riding Nikki hard, we can back her up.”
“Uh, am I the only who took that the completely wrong way?” Cora laughed.
“Yeah, if Pipe is riding me hard, then I really don’t think I need your guy’s backup or anything,” I giggled.
“Oh Jesus,” Karmen sighed. “You all know what I meant. I think your dry spell is affecting your brain, Cora.”
Cora shrugged. “I really can’t argue against that, because I believe you are completely correct.”
“I think I’m going to be joining you on that dry spell so you won’t be alone,” Wren laughed.
“Well, y’all can have the Dry Spell Gang then because I can tell you right now that is one club Nikki and I will not be joining,” Karmen said smugly.
Pipe came over to grab his beer in time to hear Karmen.
“What the hell are you guys talking about?” he demanded.
Karmen flicked her hand at him. “Don’t worry. The Dry Spell Gang is a division of the Girl Gang. Nikki isn’t joining that division.”
Pipe tilted his head. “I’m not really sure what you just said, but it sounds like I’m still getting laid, right?”
Cora and Wren busted out laughing, and I just looked up at the man who managed to make me fall in love with him.
“You’re still good, handsome.”
He nodded. “All right, then carry on, ladies.” He threw a wink at me and moved back over to the pool table.
Cora demanded to know exactly what Karmen meant by Girl Gang but I tuned them out and just watched Pipe as he lined up shots and talked with Nickel and Maniac.
I was one lucky woman to have that man in my bed every night.
The Dry Spell Gang was one I had no intention of joining, especially tonight.
*