Page 30 of Ball Buster

“You all do realize I’m sitting right here. My ears work. I can hear you all. I’m not the crazy chick who tried to burn two trailers down. I’m perfectly normal.”

“You’re just the one hand feeding a raccoon,” Striker points out and his wife, Baby smacks his chest.

“Jesus fuck. Who let that damn thing in here,” Ace Grumbles as Norah peers around him smiling. For a big mean bastard, he’s scared of critters. Everyone gives him shit because Norah’s daughter Lennon let it slip that the motherfucker is terrified of her guinea pig.

“When are you two getting hitched?” Gianna pushes Stud out of the way to get in on petting Tater. He’s like the club’s new mascot. “Wait a minute.” She grabs Vada’s left hand to inspect her ring.

“We kind of did a quickie at the courthouse deal,” I announce as Vada’s cheeks go red.

“You two didn’t fuck around,” Romeo mutters and takes a hard swig of moonshine.

“You’re telling me you just got married and you’re here with us instead of locked away in a room somewhere on your honeymoon,” Jag asks.

“Honey, I wouldn’t be too excited to get back into bed with him either if the last time some crazy chick tried to light me on fire and I had to be rescued by a raccoon,” Patience tells him, and everyone cracks up.

Rounds of congratulations go around the room and just like that Vada is welcomed into the fold like I knew she would be.

“What’s this business you wanted to discuss?” Striker gets us back on track in the conversation at hand.

Vada and I go down into the office with him and Rebel. Striker leans against the liquor cabinet while Prez takes his seat behind the desk. Vada is in my lap, excitement rolling off her in waves. I’ve got to hand it to my woman. She has damn good ideas.

“Let’s hear it,” Prez prompts.

“I’m sure you’re aware that The Brew has been struggling for some time to fill seats. So I said what do we have to offer that a place like Dandy’s doesn’t. It didn’t hit me until Solo and I went there the other night. There’s some land next to us that’s for sale. When you go to Sturgis, what’s the one place everyone always wants to visit?”

“Full Throttle Saloon,” Striker answers.

“Exactly, but what if we had something similar here. Think about it. We could become home to a biker rally here in Kentucky. Different events, concerts, cabins, Harley shows. A bar dedicated to your moonshine. We’re talking merchandise opportunities too. What’s going to make us stand out? I’m glad you asked.” She grins and Prez and Striker look at her like she’s nuts because neither of them asked.

“We’ll open up a trail for all terrain vehicles. People love to go muddin’ too.”

“You’re talking a lot of capital and permits. Insurance.”

“We can get sponsors and save on some material and labor by hiring out to members of the club. I mean I know we will have to start off smaller but think in five or ten years where we could be. But yeah, Solo and I will be putting up nearly half a million dollars.”

Striker chokes and Prez leans forward. “Where the fuck you get that kinda cake at?”

“Vada’s inheritance.”

“Fucking Les,” Striker mutters with a shake of his head.

“Club will need to vote on it and see some real specs but it’s ambitious, legal, and smart.”

Vada promises that next time they see her she’ll have a business plan together. I’m sure whatever she can’t figure out on her own the other ol’ ladies will be more than willing to help her out.

“I think it went well, but you know them better than I do obviously.”

“You impressed, Prez. His brother too. C’mere.” I pull Vada into my arms in our temporary room. “I’m proud of you. Les would be too.” I kiss her temple.

“I’m proud of us, husband.” She scrunches her nose. “Sounds too weird.”

“Definitely will take some getting used to.”

Vada agreed to marry me but we’re taking it one day at a time. If there comes a point that this isn’t working out for us, then we’ll divorce and do our best to remain business partners. But I’ve got news for her. I don’t plan on ever letting her go. She’s mine. Les gave her to me, even if it wasn’t legal for him to do so. He somehow knew that we were made for each other.

Even if there wasn’t money involved, I still think we’d end up right where we are just a little further down the line.

One year later

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