Page 26 of Pirate

Behind Pirate and Star were Bones and Papaw. Bones had recently been released from Steel’s mandate that he was not allowed to drive himself. It had been a punishment for not calling the club for help when he’d gotten out of physical therapy and was hurting too badly to drive but did it anyway. Bones had taken his punishment in silence and had not uttered a single word of protest. Steel was letting him drive because he knew how much driving his motorcycle helped Bones. So long as Bones did not have any problems today, Steel would end his punishment permanently. Papaw, who was a former Marine POW and a recent widower, was dubbed so because he was the oldest patched member, having received his rockers the month before. He was also Steel’s former CO. Steel knew Papaw would notbe swayed and would give Steel an honest report back on how Bones did today, regardless of if it was in Bones’s favor or not. Though Papaw was dating Louisa, Bulldog and Carlos’ mother, she was not present. She had no desire to get on a motorcycle. Ever.

Scissors, with Sissy at her back, and Jigsaw were last on bikes, with the SUVs bringing up the rear.

Ivy, who did not wear VDMC or any other colors, rode behind the SUVs. As large as the procession was, Pirate knew he wasn’t the only one feeling like they were still missing somebody.

The traditionfor years was that the Honeys would ready a barbecue picnic while the club was out on their run. Sometimes it was simple hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixings while other times it was pulled pork with more of a luau theme. Since the position of the Honeys had been abolished, there wasn’t anyone but Yelizaveta to make all that food. No one felt right about leaving for a long run and asking Yelizaveta to cook on her own. So Bear started adding various Mom and Pop restaurants to their outings.

With a party their size, Bear had to call ahead and reserve their seats. And it was a good thing he did, because the small diner just outside of Johnstown barely fit them all. Even with the prospects outside to guard all the bikes and cages, their group took up most of the seats available. They just barely had enough high chairs for all the kids.

Cassie, Bulldog and Abby’s oldest daughter, was agoraphobic. She could not go outside of their house without having a panic attack. She had good days and bad days. Though she’d planned on going on the club run with them, as ridingon a motorcycle usually helped calm her, she’d been unable to get herself out of the house and to the motorcycle that morning. Abby was going to stay behind with her, but Cassie insisted that she go. Thankfully, Melanie, Steel and Jenna’s youngest daughter, had been home visiting. She wasn’t much for motorcycles and was Cassie’s friend. The two of them stayed behind to hang out in Bulldog’s house. They left Spot, Scotty’s golden retriever service and protection dog, with them.

Pirate and Sophia sat across from Jumper and Jasmine. If it wasn’t for the others around, one might have mistaken them for being on a double date.

The girls chatted about last minute wedding preparations. Pirate tuned it out until Jasmine asked who Sophia was bringing as a date.

Sophia’s foot, that had been running up and down Pirate’s leg, suddenly froze. “Date?” Sophia questioned back.

Pirate too sat up straighter, but he tried to be nonchalant about it.

“Yeah, your mom said you were bringing a date. I thought it was weird since you hadn’t toldmeabout any date.”

Sophia snorted. “Boo, if I had a date, you’d be the first to know.”

Jasmine frowned as Pirate felt an immense sense of relief. “I hate to break it to you, Soph, but I think your mom was serious. She asked me about an empty place setting. I took Jenna’s advice and had a few spare seats…” Jasmine’s voice trailed off. “Do you think she’s trying to set you up again?”

“Again?” The word came out of Pirate’s mouth before he could stop it. He looked to Sophia on his right. “Your mom sets you up on dates?”

He didn’t know Beatrice Groveton well, but he’d been around her due to the wedding planning. She seemed down to earth andnot thePrima Donnasort. He hadn’t heard anything but good things about Mrs. Groveton’s contributions to the wedding.

But Jazz also wasn’t her own daughter, no matter how close she was to the family. He supposed he couldn’t really compare the two situations.

Sophia rolled her eyes. “Not in years. Not after…” She snapped her fingers as if trying to remember. “What the fuck was his name?” she asked Jasmine.

“Freddy, Frankie, Fr…” Jasmine’s voice trailed off with an unfinished F-name.

Sophia shook her head. “No, you’re thinking of Fletcher. Mom had influence over that one but that wasn’t one of her set ups.”

“Oh!” Jasmine tapped her temple. “Hermit. Remember, you kept calling him ‘Kermit’ and would only answer ‘hi-ho’ when you answered the phone.”

Sophia smiled widely. “Oh yeah. Also compared him to what Kermit has in his pants.”

Pirate blinked. “Kermit doesn’t wear pants.” Then he got it. “Oh! Nothing to look at?”

Sophia held up her pinky finger. “Not to cock shame. I don’t mind a mini if he knows how to use it. But Kermit did not.”

Anger rose up in Pirate. He didnotlike hearing about some other man’s cock—period—but certainly not in reference to Sophia.

“How did you get rid of him?” Jazz asked, not picking up on Pirate’s reaction.

Sophia did though. She looped her ankle around his and put a hand on his thigh under the table. She kept her attention on Jasmine though. “Wasn’t he the one I kept texting dick pics to every time he asked for a picture of my boobs?”

Jasmine shook her head. “No, that was that Walter-guy in college.”

Sophia smiled. “Oh yeah. Whatever happened to him?”

“Gay,” Jasmine said nonchalantly.

“Really?” Sophia asked thoughtfully. “Huh. Think it was all the dick pics I sent him?”

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