Page 84 of Stitch
“Yeah. Well, that and an old lady vote. Apparently that’s how they do this shit?”
Lissa let out an excited squeak.
“Oh my god! He’s not wasting any time!”
I got up and binned the tissue, switching the kettle on while I was up. I leaned on the counter as I watched her follow me.
“He’s pissed though. Pissed that Reacher and Alicia were voted against. He’s planning to force a re-vote on them too.”
There was an unfamiliar look on Lissa’s face. Was… was that anger? I don’t think I’d ever seen her anything other than calm and happy.
“It’s about bloody time. How dare they vote against their own president’s happiness? If it was up to me, I’d boot out everyone who voted no.”
“Were there many?”
She shrugged. “No idea, but even one is bad enough, right? She’s the sweetest person, and being rejected by the club, it really hurt her. Both of them. They’ve both had sessions with me, and I can see it’s breaking them. Good on Stitch for pushing for a resolution. Okay, important question… where do you want it?”
It took me a moment to figure out what the hell she was talking about, and I made coffee while I puzzled it out.
“Okay, girl. I’mstumped. Where do I want what? If Stitch were the one asking me, I’d know exactly what he meant.” After we finished giggling, and sat back down with our coffee, she finally elaborated.
“The tattoo, Cammy, where do you want it? You know it’s your choice, right?”
Oh wow, I hadn’t even thought about that. Did I want it where hers was? Hidden away for only Stitch and me to see? I really wanted it somewhere everyone could see.
“I have no idea. Who does the tattoos?”
Lissa had her hand rested over hers, and I realised it gave her comfort to wear it.
“Has-Been did mine, but Rocket is the other tattooist in the club. You met them both doing the sign for us, remember?”
Stitch
This time was sodifferent from last time. I’d been fragile then, tense, consumed by fear, and wondering if I was even still me anymore. Today, I walked in like I was the fucking kiddie.
I was on top of the fucking world, and nobody was gonna screw that up. I was welcomed with a lot of back slapping and lewd comments, the norm for a guy returning from his honeymoon.
As soon as Reacher called the meeting to order, I took the lead because it was the way it had to be.
“Thanks, brothers, for the warm welcome home. I have just a few things to raise with you today, but I’ll keep it brief. Firstly, and most importantly, we’re gonna be voting on two things. Remember we changed the rules, no longer needing unanimous votes, but majority votes. None of you raised any issues with this, right, Reacher?”
He just offered me a slight tilt of his head, but I read it loud and clear.
“Before he gets on to those, he has some good news to share with you all,” he interjected with a grin.
“Brother, already? You’ve only been on honeymoon for a few days.” I flipped my middle finger at Torch, who smirked. “Just saying… lots of babies get made on honeymoons.”
Dickhead… although if that were true, I’d fucking embrace that shit too. Wow… I could actually plan for that stuff now, for a future. It still felt unreal, like I hadn’t fully absorbed it yet.
“Okay, as you guys know, I was waiting for some test results. Some very fucking important ones, and I’m relieved as hell to confirm that they came, and I’m not dying any day soon. You’re stuck with me.”
The room erupted in cheers and fists thumping on the table, and I received enough sharp blows to my back to wind me for a few moments.
“Jesus, their response is to try and finish me off,” I muttered to Reacher, who was laughing along with the others.
“Thank you. I might have been a little off my game while I was waiting for them, but I’m fucking sharp and back on top. So now that’s said, the first vote is the most fucking important. I’m personally calling a re-vote for our president and his old lady. I’m not fucking impressed we’re having to do this twice, because you assholes should care more about your Pres, but here it is.”
There were a few glares, and some grimaces from those who probably felt guilty, even if they hadn’t voted against him and Ally last time, but this time the majority vote won out, and I felt like I could literally see the weight lifting off of Reacher’s shoulders as he absorbed the results.
