Page 88 of Stitch
There was scattered laughter and a few cheers for Stitch, as well as a few slaps to his back that would have floored someone like me. He grinned widely, looking carefree and relaxed, and fucking hot as hell.
Reacher shushed everyone. “In addition, you’re gonna witness not one, but two old lady ceremonies, because we’re finally making honest women of our wives, Stitch and me, so be prepared for a day and night of celebration, because it’s been a long time coming.”
“Speak for yourself, asshole.” Stitch gave Reacher one of those bruising back slaps that nearly jolted him forward a step. These guys didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘gentle’, but I liked it.
Reacher and Alicia were up first, so Stitch dragged me over to sit with Elise, beers in hands, while we waited for our turn.
“Have you decided where you’re having it?” She asked, leaning on the table, her eyes darting off to the couple being tattooed, or maybe, more accurately, to someone doing the tattooing.
I was fascinated by the idea of Stitch’s sweet sister being infatuated with one of his biker brothers, even as I realised how badly the shit would hit the fan when it happened. When Stitch got dragged away to chat to one of his brothers, I took the opportunity to ask.
“Hey, I know we don’t know each other that well yet, but I hope that’s going to change. We’re family now.”
Elise smiled, nodding at me.
“I’m glad Seth found someone to be with. It’s lonely being single.”Perfect.
“Speaking of… I noticed a certain biker couldn’t take his eyes off you earlier. Anything going on there?”
Elise looked shocked, glancing around the room, probably to make sure her brother wasn’t in earshot.
“Who? Don’t say anything to Seth, please.”
I glanced back at Has-Been, who looked intensely focused on the tattoo he was adding to his club president’s existing ink.
“He seems really sweet though. You like him back?”
Elise grabbed my wrist. “Please, you can’t tell anyone. Nothing happened. Jesus, nothing will happen. He’s so fucking stubborn.”
I laughed. “Like your brother, you mean? That kind of stubborn?”
She suddenly looked like she wanted to cry.
“He is really sweet. He’s… he won’t let me near him. He just says he’s not good enough for me, but is it that or just that he knows Seth will kill him if he does? This is so frustrating! You know I’ve never had a boyfriend? Never had a man, because my damn brother scares them off if they even look remotely interested.”
She was really gripping me, her anger making her tear up, as she looked at Has-Been again. He glanced up then, catching her eye, and he swallowed hard, looking away again to his work, but I could see from the slump of his shoulders that he wanted her. How awkward was their situation?
“You know, Stitch means well, but I don’t think he realises that he’s getting in the way of something that could be real for you. I’m more than happy to keep him distracted so you can get to know Has better.”
Elise suddenly pushed up from her chair, smoothing her top and taking a breath, finally tossing her hair back with a little sass.
“Thank you, but this is my business, and I’ll deal with it.”
“That’s my fucking sister, asshole!”Stitch suddenly roared behind us, and we heard a scuffle start up the next second.
Thirty-Nine
It felt good tosee my wife, my future old lady, and my sister getting on so well, their heads together as they chatted like old friends. I’d worried they wouldn’t get on, and there they were, proving me wrong already.
Everything was coming together, and for the first time in so fucking long I felt settled, and relaxed, happy. That was it.I was happy.
“That Elise bird, she’s fucking fit though, right? You see those perfect tits?”
I turned and caught Micro looking at Elise, and lost my shit.
“That’s my fucking sister, asshole!” I threw a punch, and he returned it, and then we were being pulled apart by several club members, while I jabbed a finger at Micro.
“You don’t even fucking look at her, you hear me? She’s too fucking good for the likes of you!”
