by Ryan Michele
I tried for about five seconds before I was a blubbering idiot rambling on about having a daughter finally.
I was a nut, but I was one happy nut.
10
Lo
Meg walked with Remy down the aisle without crying.
She managed to only shed a few tears when he kissed Harlyn.
But when it came time for the mother/son dance, she lost it.
Remy danced slow circles with Meg while she sniffled, babbled, and stroked his cheek from time to time.
And, Remy let her.
“Hey, Lo.” Turtle sat down next to me. “You’re still okay with watching Jonas for us tonight?”
I nodded my head and smiled. “Sure thing, brother.”
Turtle sighed. “Thank god.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “Take a deep breath. You and Mal are perfect for each other.”
“I think that and so do you, but does Mal?”
“She would have left you long before now if she didn’t.”
“Dada!” Jonas ran across the dance flow with Mal chasing behind him. “Can we dance now?”
Jonas shouted it loud enough and just as the music faded out. Everyone laughed and Turtle scooped him up in his arms. “Yeah, twerp,” Turtle laughed. “We can dance now.”
The DJ announced it was time to party and the floor was swarmed with people ready to dance.
Meg fought her way through the crowd and collapsed into my lap. “I’m dying, handsome.”
“No, you’re beautiful, babe.” I hadn’t had much time with Meg alone since I had seen walk down the aisle with Remy. She may not have been in black, but she looked absolutely stunning in the dark plum dress.
She hiked up her dress and lifted her foot. “These things are what’s killing me. I don’t know how Gwen manages to wear them for an hour, let alone eight.” She toed them off and sighed. “Freedom,” she moaned. She dropped the shoes on the floor and wiggled her toes. “Torture devices,” she mumbled.
She leaned back in my arms and sighed.
“Uh, I forgot to mention something to you.”
“Lay it on me, handsome. I’m about to drink a six pack of wine coolers and dance my ass off. Nothing is going to phase me.”
“I promised Turtle we would watch Jonas for him tonight.”
Meg dropped her head back on my shoulder. “Lo,” she moaned. “How am I supposed to drink a six pack of Jamaican Me Happy when I’m supposed to be an adult?”
I brushed her hair back from her face. “You don’t have to worry about watching him. He’ll be running around with the rest of the kids all night and crash out before you know it.”
Meg rolled her eyes. “You are such a man.” She sat up and turned to look down at me. “Why does Turtle need us to watch Jonas for him and Mal?”
I smiled and pointed to the side of the dance floor where Turtle and Mal were dancing with Jonas.
Meg turned and gasped when Turtle got down on one knee. She glanced back at me with tears in her eyes. “You knew this whole time he was going to ask Mal to marry him and you didn’t tell me?”
I shrugged. “You had a lot of things going on. Figured you would find out about it when Mal did.”
“Liar. You just didn’t want me to ruin the surprise.”
“That too,” I drawled.
Jonas came running over with Mal and Turtle trailing behind.
“Mama Meg!” Jonas yelled. “Dada said I get to stay with you tonight!”
Meg scooped him up in her arms and hugged him close. “You do! We’re gonna dance our butts off and then we’re going to have a sleepover.”
Jonas scrambled out of her lap and back onto the dance floor.
“Are you sure you’re okay with Jonas staying with you?” Mal asked.
Meg stood up and shook out her dress. “Girl, I am more than okay with watching him. You and Turtle just got engaged!”
Mal screeched and held out her hand. A large stone gleamed on her finger and Mal’s bright smile rivaled the shine of the diamond. “Finally!”
Meg and Mal hugged then gushed over the ring.
Turtle sat down next to me.
“Told you she was going to say yes. You had nothing to worry about.”
Turtle nodded his head. “You always do seem to be right, brother. I guess that’s why you’re the president, right?”
“Been around for a while. I know the love of a good woman and I can see it when someone else has it. You’ve got it, Turtle. Don’t let it go.”
Turtle looked at Mal and smiled. “I don’t plan on it.”
Meg came over to hug Turtle and congratulate him. “It’s about damn time,” she scolded him. “Who would have thought you were going to be the last one to finally take the plunge.”
“I watched all of you guys fall. Was trying to figure out the right way to do it without all the drama you guys had.” Turtle reached for Mal and put his arm over her shoulders. “You guys good with us taking off now?”
I nodded my head. “All good. Meg is going to get drunk and I’ll keep an eye on the kids.”
Meg slapped me. “I am not going to get drunk.” She turned to Mal. “Just tipsy.”
Mal and Turtle managed to grab Jonas off the dance floor and give him a hug and kiss.
I pulled Meg into my arms and buried my face in her neck. “I think all of the original members of the Devil’s Knights finally found their happy endings, babe.”
She glanced over her shoulder at me. “You think so?”
I pressed a kiss to her lips. “I fucking hope so.”
11
Meg
“All the kids are sleeping.”
I lifted my head off the armrest of the couch. “It’s about time. I’m way too old for kids under the age of eighteen.”
Cyn cackled and patted me on the head. “You’re funny. I’m the same age as you and I have a good seven years before eighteen, and I have a feeling the teen years are going to be the hardest with Micha.”
“Well, I have a twenty-eight-year-old who just got married. Three is an age I can’t quite keep up with anymore.” I loved Jonas to death, but I was thankful we were only watching the cutie overnight. I was going to need to take a good ten hour nap to recover from the wedding and chasing after Jonas for three hours.
“We’re heading home.”
I peeked my head over the top of the couch and saw Gravel with his arm over Ethel’s shoulders. “Did you have a good time?” I asked.
“The best,” Ethel smiled. “The cake was amazing and as with any Devil’s Knights party, the booze flowed like water.”
That was the damn truth. “Drive safe and maybe we can meet for breakfast in the morning. We’ll have Jonas with us.”
“Let’s plan on it.” Ethel threaded her fingers through Gravel’s and they strolled out the front door.
“I wanna be Ethel and Gravel when I grow up,” Paige sighed. “They’re so sweet together.”
Suddenly I remembered what Lo had told me a couple of days ago. I jackknifed up off the couch and gasped. “Oh my god! I forgot to tell you guys. Lo totally walked in on Gravel giving it to Ethel the other day.”
“No!” Cyn gasped.
Fayth, Gwen, and Paige giggled while Marley’s jaw dropped. “Good god, that is awful!” She shook her head. “I do not need to think of Gravel doing… well.. Anything. As far as my mind goes him and Ethel sit at home watching Jeopardy and drinking tea.”
“I’ll take delusional for five hundred, Alex,” Fayth snickered.
Marley flipped her off. “Monks. Ethel and Gravel are monks in my head.”
Cyn stood up and stretched her arms over her head. “We should totally head to bed. The kids are going to be up at the butt crack of dawn even though they went to bed after their bedtime.”
I made the familiar walk to Lo’s room and found him already lying in bed. “Fancy meeting you here, handsome.”
Lo chuckled and rested his arms behind his head. “I was wondering when you were goin
g to come to bed.”
“I was waiting to make sure none of the kids woke up.” I had actually been too lazy to get my butt off the couch.
“Get ready for bed, babe. It was a long day.”
I gave him a thumbs up. “Normally I’d argue with you just because I like to get you riled, but you’re so right it’s not even funny.” I walked to the bed and turned my back to Lo. “Unzip me.” My dress loosened as he slowly unzipped the zipper and it pooled at my feet.
“Babe,” he growled. “Did you seriously not have underwear on all day?”
I glanced over my shoulder at him. “Maybe,” I whispered coyly.
He slapped my ass. “Get ready for bed. I’m waiting.” He laid back and put his hands back behind his head.
“Give me ten minutes and I’m all yours.” I was tired, but I was never too tired for Lo.
I was splashing water on my face when Lo’s phone rang. I grabbed the towel and patted my face. It wasn’t odd for Lo’s phone to ring this late, but it also wasn’t normal.
“Babe,” Lo called.
The tone of his voice made me freeze. Something wasn’t right.
Something had happened.
I dropped the towel on the ground and dashed out of the bathroom.
Lo was pulling a shirt over his head and the lights were all on.
“What is it?” I demanded.
Lo’s eyes connected with mine and every bad thing that could have happened flashed through my head.
Was it Remy? Did something happen to Ethel and Gravel?
“There was an accident.”
My heart plummeted to my feet. “Who?” I whispered.
Lo’s eyes dropped to the floor. “Turtle and Mal.” He lifted his head. His eyes were glazed over and a lone tear streamed down his cheek. “It’s bad.”
The end for now…
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Acknowledgments
Than you so much for reading the Love, Loyalty & Mayhem Anthology. All proceeds from this will go to Bikers Against Bullies.
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