Chapter Eight
Lizzie
Now that Ashton and I have started over I’m actually enjoying being at the clubhouse whenever everyone gathers. We’re having a BBQ today and I’m enjoying the fact that not only is our charter here but the Templeton one as well. Rainey even brought her family along and they fit in nicely with our merry band of misfits. We’ve shared with all the Ol’ ladies from their charter about the old ladies club site and they’re anxious to join as well, but not today, today is about family, friends and a good time.
I’m sitting here, listening to the banter and watching the guys as they all fuss over the right way to cook a damn hamburger. It’s hilarious to see them all argue over how long to keep it on one side before flipping. The girls are talking about kids, and I can’t help but rub my lower belly, I can’t believe with me being on birth control I still managed to get knocked up. It shouldn’t surprise me any though, because my man is insatiable in bed. All I have to be is present in the same room as Justice and he’s ready to jump my bones. He says it's my fault for being so sexy...whatever, I never felt sexy or beautiful until he came into my life. Honestly, considering how we started out, I feel exceptionally blessed that our relationship is the way it is at all. I get lost in thoughts about how he tackled me to the bed before we left as I was attempting to dress and a smile forms on my face.
“Lizzie, hello, anybody home?” I hear, I look over and see all of the women staring at me.
“Sorry, I was just thinking about something,” I say, waving my hand in the air, trying to get the blush that I’m sure covers my face to go away.
“Uh-huh,” Sadie says, “and that’s why you’re beet red right now I take it.”
“Yep,” I reply, “a lady has to have some secrets.”
“Huh? I don’t see any ladies in present company,” Rainey says, and I playfully smack her arm. “What?” she asks, “seriously, we’re not. We’re hot badasses married to alphaholes.”
“Alphaholes? Where on earth did you pick up that word?” Skylar asks, “and why didn’t I come up with that one on my own,” she ponders.
“That’s what one of the women on the site calls her Ol’ men,” I tell them, “we loved it so much we had to start using it on our men as well.”
“It’s a good word, describes all of our men to a ‘T’ that’s for sure,” Kori says.
“When are they going to stop fighting over how to cook the perfect burger? I’m starving!” Ashton asks us. Several of us agree with her, life has been good for me since Ashton became a permanent fixture in my life. She even had the occasion when my father showed up, unannounced, to sweetly inform him he’s a shitty father. It was in one of those ways where you didn’t know for sure if you were being insulted. She has a way with words that’s for sure, and I couldn’t love her more if I wanted to. No one has ever stood up to my father when it comes to me besides Justice, and she got major kudo points in my book for caring enough about me to even say anything...even if it was in a kind way.
“Go show them how it’s done, Mom,” Sadie says to Ashton.
“I think I will do just that,” she says, getting up and sauntering away. Those guys have no idea what they’re in for when she gets this way. We all watch as she makes her way towards them and basically starts her inquisition, which has Tic handing over the spatula to her and before we know it, dinner is ready.
“Wow, she’s good,” Rainey states.
“Yes, she is,” I reply, getting up and running for the grill, I’ll be damned if my baby doesn’t get fed before these overgrown boys do.
“Watch it, boys, you’ve kept us women waiting forever...I need food!” I holler out, elbowing my way between them. They all stand aside and let the women get their food first, not because they’re gentlemen, but because they know better than to keep food from us. We like our food!
Rainey
I always have a blast when all the women and men get together. The banter and closeness we all have is mind-blowing. I’ve never felt so comfortable in my own skin as I do around this group of people. My father, rest his soul, if he was still around would be so happy that Wasp has become a part of our lives. They were friends when he was still alive, best of friends if you want the truth. When Wasp left all those years ago, after his family had been taken from him, my father was lost for a bit, but they kept in touch throughout the years. My father even put up a reward for information on Ashton and Riley, they were just a town over, but with new identities and a new group of friends. I can’t believe that it took Skylar befriending the girls before everything came to light. I’m just happy he finally found his peace in his girls’ arms. He even got introduced to his daughter he didn’t know he had...Sadie, she’s an amazing person and so much fun to be around.
I was young when it all happened, just a toddler, so I never knew that we ran in the same circle of friends. My sisters, Ariel and Emory, we sat and talked about it one night, and felt guilty that we never knew. The thing is, Ashton dyed her hair and looked completely different than that of the picture on the missing persons flyer we had, and Riley was just a baby when taken, so she obviously looked nothing like it either. No one ever saw Ashton at any of the games, or events the schools held, so none of the guys ever put two and two together. I’m just glad it had a happy ending for all those involved...just wish Dad had a chance to know. Damn rain storm caused our dad and uncle to pass away in a car accident. No one knows if he just lost control, or if something else happened. Mom told us he was needed for something more important from the big man above, and that’s how we all got through our grief of losing him. Being called home to take care of something is more important than the work you’re born to do. Mom says his work on earth was done, by bringing the three most important people into her lives. Anyways, enough of this down in the dumps shit, I’m here to have a good time and enjoy the company of some pretty amazing people.
Bristol
I watch as Rainey gets lost in her head, and by the look on her face it isn’t something good. I hope that she’s not thinking of all the Babes that caused so many problems for her and her men. I could’ve throttled them all, but Ashton and Kori took care of them, and we have never seen their faces since. I didn’t ask any questions, because honestly, they’re the VP and President’s women, and it’s not my place.
“Rainey, are you okay?” I lean over, and whisper in her ear.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just thinking of my dad and how happy he’d be.”
“Sorry he’s not here, from what you and your sisters have shared, he sounds like he was an amazing person.”
“Oh, he was the best man I’ve ever known, until my guys that is,” she replies.
“My dad hated me from the day I was born. You’re lucky you had a good one, and at least you got to experience that kind of love and devotion,” I tell her. I don’t feel sorry for myself, Brady fixed that for me a long time ago when he made me his Ol’ lady and never gave up on me enjoying life.
“Your mom’s still around though, right?” she asks me.
“The only reason that bitch is still alive and kicking is because she was my pop’s sister,” Skylar says. My eyes widen, because I knew they hated her, I just didn’t realize how much until I heard the venom in my cousin’s voice just now. My mom was just as much of a snake as my dad. They were willing to trade me for Lila Rose to get one over on my uncle, but before that happened, my uncle was murdered at my parents’ hands, or better yet orders, and Lila and I were rescued by these men here.
“Sorry,” I mumble, feeling the guilt of the situation, and hold my head down in shame.
“The fuck are you sorry about? I hate the fact that my so-called aunt killed my father, I’ll hate her for that until my dying day. What I’m sorrowful from is the fact that I had a cousin out there suffering abuse, and I didn’t know and couldn’t do a damn thing about it,” Skylar states.
“But we have each other now, and everyone has more than made up for all those years I suffered at my parents’ hands. The things I didn’t understand about family are now ingrained in me. Those years taught me to live life to the fullest and never take love for granted.” Skylar squeezes my knee, and looks to the side. We all still hold some guilt over the situation. I didn’t know I had any other family, or I would’ve found a way to reach out and warn them about my parents...then maybe King would still be alive and enjoying a beer with his family and friends. The family is still healing and I hope my uncle is looking down on us and is proud of all we’ve accomplished.
Later that night, I’m laying in Brady’s arms and I can’t help but asks him, “Are you happy?”
“The happiest I’ve ever been,” he says, rubbing my patch on my shoulder. It proudly states...Property of Ghost. At first, I was appalled that he wanted me to get that done...I mean, who gets branded like cattle? When I figured out how important it was to him, I jumped on it and had it done. Now, I don’t regret it and I show it off as frequently as the weather allows. My tank tops and sundresses get used quite a bit in the summer and fall months.
“I love you, Brady. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me.”
“I love you too, darlin’, and ditto,” he says, smiling brightly down at me. “Have I told you lately how fuckin’ sexy you are?”
“Every single day,” I reply.
“And I’ll keep tellin’ you, until we’re old and grey and are watching our grandkids play with the other club brats.”
“That’s a pretty picture you just painted me.”
“It’s the truth, now, enough talkin’, give your man some love.” That’s code for, ‘fuck my brains out’ in true Brady fashion. We make love all night long, in between we talk about the future and what we both want. It’s something we’ve done since day one, and it’s a tradition I hope never changes.