by Kim Jones
The Red Strip is now a successful strip mall located on highway ninety-eight and it was named after my favorite stripper. I’d meant it as a joke, but the way Red’s face lit up when I informed her of the name I planned to use forced me to make it official. The mayor signed a deal regarding the pipeline, and it is now being laid a mile south of Hattiesburg, instead of through the heart of it; the result of an idea from my brilliant assistant, who I plan to let replace me as CEO in the very near future. The mayor was rolling in the money, but the big picture was that many businesses were saved from sacrifice, and now Red could see her name every time she went home, which wouldn’t be often considering she still spent the majority of her time at Luke’s; which would soon be known as Luke and Dallas’.
I looked around the extravagant room, closing my eyes as I inhaled the scent of the flowers that reminded me spring was here. The only thing I would miss about the cold weather was the sight of Luke in leather chaps. We had a long weekend ahead of us. The ceremony was formal, and the reception, consisting of hors d’oeuvres, champagne, and dancing would take place here, immediately following ‘I do.’ Tomorrow would be the biker reception, where attire was optional and catering would consist of grilled food, liquor, and beer, as well as strip poles covered with Lindas’, or so I hoped. Then after that, it was off to spend a week in the city of love, unless of course I got homesick.
I walked up the stairs, pausing at the top to look down at the empty room that would soon be filled with the faces I loved. I made my way down the hall to join Red, who waited in my room to help me prepare for the first day of the rest of my life.
“Would you hold the fuck still?” Red murmured, the safety pin she held between her teeth impairing her speech.
“Would you put that fucking cigarette out?” I asked, eyeing the cigarette that was wedged between her fingers and dangerously close to the back of my arm. I stood with my arm extended over my head, while Red attempted to pin my dress, which was missing the hook and eye, because her impatience had got the better of her when she had tried to latch it the first time.
“Shut up. I need it to concentrate.” Red said, pausing to take a drag, gracious enough to blow the smoke out of the side of her mouth, other than onto my gown. I had decided to wear my mother’s wedding dress. I wanted to feel as if a part of her was with me as I walked down the aisle. The dress fit perfectly, but I wanted to add my own touch of splendor, so it had been in the hands of Luke’s mother, who I had found was a wonderful seamstress. She removed the long lace sleeves, so that the dress lay perfectly across my chest, using some of the leftover material to make a garter, and the rest she promised to keep-in the event my daughter would like to one day use it on her own wedding gown.
My daughter.
I like how that rolled off my tongue. Luke’s mother and father were happy to see me, welcoming me with open arms the moment I stepped into their home. I could imagine my children running across the hardwood floors of their home, and opening Christmas presents as we celebrated the holidays with their grandparents.
As a family.
Soon, I would be Mrs. Carmical, and I couldn’t fucking wait.
Maddie joined Red and I, her smile bright as she ignored an annoyed Red, and handed me a small box.
“I have something for you.”
“Red?” I asked, anxious to put my arm down and receive Maddie’s gift.
“I’m done.” I watched as she gave Maddie a reassuring squeeze on her arm and a warm smile, before leaving us alone. I took the box from Maddie’s shaking hands, a look of sadness claiming her face, although she tried to shield it with a smile that didn’t reach her tear-filled eyes. I opened the box to reveal a pair of simple, pearl earrings.
“They were my mother’s. I thought you might like something borrowed.” I was speechless, as Maddie pulled them from the box and placed them in my ears. I turned around and immediately became teary eyed, as I found the ghost of my young mother in the mirror. The gown I wore was covered in lace that fit tightly to my curves and covered my feet. The back of the dress swooped in the middle of my back, and curved perfectly over my backside, before spreading out to form a three-foot train. My hair was pinned up, held in place by two beautifully crafted hair combs covered in pearls, a gift from my MC sisters, and now my I wore two perfectly matching pearl earrings; a gift from my blood sister.
“Maddie, they are perfect,” I managed to choke out, overwhelmed by her gift.
“And now, so are you.” I pulled Maddie to me, hugging her tightly, before we were interrupted by something that sounded much like a herd of cattle barreling down the hall.
“Hey!” My infamous group of sisters greeted, as they herded into the room.
“You look beautiful, baby,” Brooklyn said, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she kissed the air around me to avoid staining me with her bright, red lipstick.
“Okay, we gotta see the shoes, sista,” Mary said, looking down at my feet, as I lifted my dress to reveal my bright orange Jimmy Choo stilettos.
“They are so hot!” Katina said, fanning herself with her hand.
“And look extremely uncomfortable,” Katelyn added, with a worried look.
“Girl, hot and comfortable are two of those things you can only have one at a time,” Chi Chi added, giving me a wink.
“You gonna bust your ass and we gonna have to call the paramedics,” Punkin said, the ashes from her cigarette threatening to fall to the floor just any minute. When Katelyn offered her an ashtray, she waved it away, and I laughed.
“Shit! I need something blue!” I said in a panic, causing everyone’s eyes to search the room in the hope of finding something. A knock sounded at the door, and Red pulled it wide open, greeting a grinning Regg with a smile.
“You know what would make that dress better?” Regg asked, motioning with his finger up and down my dress.
“What?” I asked, looking over it in a panic. Was something wrong? When I didn’t find anything, I looked up to find him smiling wide.
“If you just pulled the top down just a little-“
“You’re a fuckin’ perv Regg,” Red snapped, but I could hear the smile in her tone. “What do you want?”
“I was hopin’ to find y’all naked.”
“Get out.”
“Babe.”
The sound of voices was tuned out, as I focused all my attention on the man emerging from the room across the hall. Luke looked stunning in an ivory tux that matched the color of my dress perfectly. My eyes traveled up his body, excitement filling me as they zoned in on the bulge between his thighs, knowing that in only a matter of hours, I would be seeing him, tasting him, and feeling him as he pulsated inside me. I dragged my eyes over the lapels of his tux, which hid what I knew were rock hard muscles, begging to be caressed with my touch and teased with the biting sting of my nails as they dug into him; a result of the pleasure he gave me. The silk necktie he wore was orange in color, matching my shoes, and reminding us to stay true to the double life we both lived. His hair was a dark blonde mess, styled unintentionally by his hands, which he ran through it whenever he was anxious or mad. His lips were parted, and showed the slightest hint of the two perfect rows of white teeth that sat behind them. Those lips would be on me soon, sealing the lifetime promise we would make to each other with a kiss. I found his eyes, filled with fondness and pride as he took me, his soon-to-be bride, in all of my dressed grandeur. He gave me a wink and butterflies fluttered in my stomach, causing my heart to skip a beat, before it continued hammering against my chest. His eyes shone brightly, and reminded me that I already had something blue, and they would be with me at the altar.
The door was slammed shut and Luke’s face disappeared. My ears tuned into the chatter in the room as everyone offered up something blue, from an Aleve that Brooklyn pulled from her purse, to the panties Katina was willing to remove and allow me to wear. I declined all their gifts, with a laugh, letting them know that I had forgotten I already had something.
My beautiful sister Maddie; looking at her now, I realized that the days of my past were dull compared to the ones I now shared with her. She was my sister in more ways than one, and I now that I had her in my life, I couldn’t imagine living without her.
The foul-mouthed, hard-headed, big-hearted Red, whose tough exterior was only half the reason I loved her. It was the passion she had for life and the ability to love fiercely that filled the void in my heart, which I didn’t even know was there until she came along.
Mother to us all and leader of our pack, Brooklyn, who paved the road that we all traveled to be a part of the MC life. My heart had been stolen by Luke. There was never a time when I felt like I couldn’t love him, but it was Brooklyn who had shown me how to love LLC. She had taught me how to be an ol’ lady, and how to love a biker, and the life that went with it.
I might not have known the other ladies that were in my room for very long, but I loved them all. They were dear to me, because they had played a significant part in molding and preparing me for the life of an ol’ lady that I was honored to live. They showed me it wasn’t what others portrayed it to be, a group of weak women who stood behind their men in fear of their lives, due to the constant drama and violence that being in an MC entailed. What they showed me was the truth. Being part of a sisterhood was about trust, loyalty, and pride, but above all that, it was about love and friendship. We were not weak women who stood behind our men, we were strong women who stood beside our men with the promise of trust, and behind our men with the promise of respect. When problems arose, we faced them head-on, ready to fight, and even die, for what we believed in; the right to be a part of a life where you no longer lived as one, but you rode as many, on a steel horse that was banded with the pledge of love, loyalty and respect; a promise that would last forever.
Acknowledgements
I would first like to thank my MC family. My sisters, Brooklyn, Punkin, Candice(Maddie), Katelan, Mary, Katina, Chi Chi, Melissa and Angela. Without your reassurance and crazy ass stories, this wouldn’t be possible. For my brothers, Ronnie, Possum, Marty, Rick, Chris, Big Al(with yo fine ass), Kyle, Bryce and Shark. You are the reason I am so passionate about this life. To the Whiny Goat Pussies-yeah, I altered that a little-your support and willingness to listen to me bitch will forever be appreciated. Amy-without you, I would still be in bed only dreaming of writing a book. You are what fuels me. Regg-I didn’t cook for you did I? Sorry about that. I promise to try not to be a hoarder in the future. I will share with you starting today. My Mom and Dad who have always been so supportive and always believed in me. Monkey and Jay, thanks for loving me even when I am a bitch and don’t answer your calls. Joe and Heather-those names look good together huh? Yeah, you’re welcome. Paul Kirkley and Lindsey Mooney-the cover says it all. Mandy-you effin rock! Just in case you forgot. Rock Chicks, fans, family, friends, Kathy Pepper, all the Pepper girls, Misty, Lori and everyone else. I’m sure I forgot someone. If so, I apologize and your name goes here __________. I love you all so much! Thank-you
Look for Red’s story coming Summer 2014!
