Page 14 of Property of Riptide
“You do?” she probes.
“Yeah. It’s the only way you showing up and demanding answers makes any sense,” I convey. “Otherwise, you’d have been on a fool’s mission.”
“If I had been aware of any of this, I would’ve never come to town. Guilt by association isn’t something I was prepared for,” she acknowledges.
“We won’t fault you for his bad decisions, Van,” I vow.
“Are you sure that includes everyone, Riptide? Because from the side-eyed look I got and from where I was sitting yesterday, that’s not exactly the case.”
“Some of us are taking it personally, Van,” Rio confirms. “It wasn’t just a slight against the club, it was the ultimate betrayal by someone we considered family.”
“It burned us to a degree that isn’t explainable,” I relay. “There’s no stage recognized on the charts for the scalding we received.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Van whispers.
“I don’t think there’s anything you can say that makes any of his decisions make sense,” I admit. “None of us can.”
Rio stands up and walks in her direction. He squats down in front of her, telling her, “We lost Gage, but we don’t want to lose little G, Van. Come to the clubhouse, get to know everyone. I promise, we’re not as bad as our reputation. We’re a big family that you’ll always be able to depend on if you let us in.”
“We’re a little chaotic and dysfunctional, but we’ll always be there for you no matter where you are or what you need,” I add,making her a promise I guarantee to both her and myself that I’ll be keeping.
“Are you sure?” she asks, nervously chewing on her thumbnail. “Won’t us being around be a constant reminder of what Gage did to you all?”
“As you’ve pointed out, you aren’t him and you’re not responsible for his actions,” I remind her. “From what you’ve told us, you’re alone in this world and could use a family as well as people you can count on in your corner.”
“Okay. What are you suggesting?” she asks, her eyes ping-ponging back and forth between me and Rio. “I have attachment issues, you can’t bring me in and then throw me away. I barely survived when Gage did that to me, I don’t foresee me climbing my way out of it a second time.”
“We don’t throw family away unless you give us cause to,” Rio insists. “I don’t see that happening, do you?”
She adamantly shakes her head in denial, saying, “Nope. What’s the first step in getting to know everyone?”
“If you were in, Issy suggested a family get together. We’ll do some grilling, start the bonfire, and share a few drinks. What do you say?” Rio ponders. “Are you in?”
“That depends. What are you grilling?” she asks, and I see a mischievous side of her coming out which has me smiling.
“Not rabbit food,” Rio rebuffs, glancing over at the coffee table. “We’re meat and potatoes kind of guys, but for good measure, we’ll toss in a salad… as a side dish, not the main course.”
“Of course,” she laughs. “Name the time and place and I’ll be there.”
“Good. How about tonight, six o’clock at the same place you dropped Issy off yesterday?” Rio states.
“Just follow the music and you’ll find us,” I amend. “We’ll be around the backside of the clubhouse.”
“Gagey and I will be there,” she concludes.
I give Rio a side eye because now I understand what he meant when he told me we had to change the little guy’s nickname. He jabs his finger at her and says, “By the end of the night, I’m gonna have you calling him little G because Gagey is just wrong.”
“We’ll see,” she snickers. “Does it really bother you that much?”
“It really, really does,” he confesses.
“It’s not manly,” I insert.
“Well, he’s not a man,” she contradicts. “When he was born I promised him I wouldn’t call him Junior and little G almost feels the same.”
“It’s not,” Rio and I say at the same time.
“Two peas in a pod,” she mumbles underneath her breath. “I’ll consider it, but I’m making no promises.”
