Page 74 of Outlaws' Single Mom
My throat chokes up as we walk up the stairs and into the church. For once it’s quiet, other than some mellow rock music on a low volume over the speakers. But most of the club is there, dressed in leathers and jeans, chatting quietly until they notice we’ve arrived. They pull back to open an aisle for me and Logan that leads all the way up to the honor wall behind the altar. Hellfire waits under General’s cut, and my boys follow us up. Crossing the space between is one of the longest walks I’ve ever taken, holding Logan’s hand for comfort.
By now he knows all the people who are letting us pass as fun motorcycle men who love to entertain him, so he’s not scared, but he clutches Mr. Larson and Helmet close.
When I get up past the altar, Hellfire takes a step to the side to give me space in front of where Ice’s cut normally hangs. I’m carrying it in my hands, slightly modified. When I aired my idea, at first the guys were unsure, but it was actually Hellfire whodecided that it felt right, both for the kind of guy Ice had been, but also for Logan, who is likely to grow up here, and even if he doesn’t, will always have a part of him that is part of the Outlaw Sons MC.
“This is a new thing,” Hellfire begins, looking out over the gathered bikers. After having experienced the wild parties here a few times by now, it’s so strange to see all the grim faces. “But it’s the right thing to do. We already had a ceremony for Ice when we hung his cut on the wall, so I won’t repeat the whole speech, but I’ll say again that he was a good man, a loyal and caring man, and someone you could always count on in a fight. But in addition to that, he fathered Logan.”
Logan looks up curiously, hearing his name but not quite getting the context.
“A new generation of Outlaw Sons, tied to us through Ice, and now through Dakota, Lash, Stiff and Jackal. This is a small gesture, but a poignant reminder for Logan of where he came from. Usually, I wouldn’t approve making changes to a man’s cut after he’s gone, but I’ve talked to the brothers he was closest to, and when I think back on the kind of man Ice was, I think he woulda liked this.” He gestures for me to go ahead.
I look down at Logan. “You know this belonged to your dad, who was a motorcycle man?”
He nods, looking at the cut with awe.
“And this patch here, it’s a little hard to read yet, I think, but you remember how all the motorcycle men have nicknames?”
He nods again.
“Auntie Georgia called herself Peaches when she stayed here, and that’s why we put this patch on Ice’s cut with her name on it, so whenever you come here, you can see them still together.”
Logan’s lips quiver and his eyes get glassy. He knows that Auntie Georgia is the Mommy whose belly he grew in, even if I’m the Mommy who takes care of him every day, but he’s still figuring it out. This is still very emotional for him, especially with all the normally raucous and silly people he knows being so solemn.
“We’re just going to hang it up, okay?”
He nods, but he looks like he’s going to lose it, right up to when Stiff steps in and picks him up to squeeze him close. “There, now you can see better.”
I hang the cut and take a step back. Ice, in a worn bold patch over the chest, and then sewn on underneath, Peaches. Together as Logan’s father and mother, for the first time. God, maybe one of the guys can pick up and comfort me too, because now I think I’m going to bawl.
“Can you wave to Ice and Peaches?”
Logan waves.
42
DAKOTA
The funeral showedme what the guys would look like in suits, but it didn’t prepare me for what they would look like dressed for a wedding where we actually get to kick back and enjoy ourselves. They look amazing, all three of them. I found a very pretty dress in pretty lilac and black undertones that flares out when I twirl. It feels a little silly and girlish, but I love that. And the guys all have matching waistcoats for their tailored suits. When you’re built like three brick outhouses, finding suits off the rack is not an easy task, and they all decided that if they were going to do this thing, then they might as well do it “fucking right,” as Jackal said.
And in case anyone is wondering at all, I wasn’t wrong about my prediction that Lash would be themost drooled over person at the whole wedding, though he ended up having to share the position with Jackal and Stiff because I convinced him to ask if they could come as well. It got a resounding yes from Eric, who didn’t have much family to show and was happy to add to his list if it meant seeing his brother.
And when the other wedding guests started to realize that not only are all three spoken for, but they’re all together with little old me… well, maybe the boys have managed to make a little bit of an exhibitionist out of me, since I’m rather enjoying it. I can live with some death glares when it’s on the arms of the sexiest bikers on the planet.
Eric and his fiancée Camila chose not to have formal wedding parties, but we were seated at the family and close friends table. I think the organizer was a little confused about seating all four of us together like we were one couple, but maybe not. I’m sure they get all sorts of people.
It’s funny, because despite how different they look, when Lash and Eric stand next to each other, it’s immediately obvious that they’re brothers. Both in their features, but also how they stand and some of their mannerisms. Just that one shaves his head andhas snake tattoos and the other one wears glasses and likes to play with numbers. Eric is just as tall as his brother, though, and built almost as strong. If he decided to ditch accountant life for biker life, he’d slide right in with a few tattoos. Visually, at least.
Dinner was amazing, and the bar is open, so it’s not long before we’re there, talking and watching the couples dance. Lash leans in. “Just gonna warn ya, this isn’t how we usually do it at the club. When we claim an old lady, I mean.”
I smile, imagining this party with the Outlaw Sons, the members shaking their butts to the chicken dance. “I think it’s nice that the club has its own rituals. Makes it special. It doesn’t have to be like everyone else.”
Stiff chuckles on the other side of me. “Dont’t think I’ve ever been to a country club before. It’s fancy, but no stained glass windows, know what I mean?” I look around following his gesture. The ball room could be a bit like the church in shape, and there’s even a balcony level above. That makes me think of the choir loft and what we’ve gotten up to up there. Several times now, to be honest. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be the one that gets busy right in the middle of everyone like so many of them seem comfortablewith, but overhearing it while staying out of sight is hot.
I lick my lips. Maybe I shouldn’t think of stuff like that while at a wedding. Then again, isn’t that what weddings are all about? I wouldn’t be the first girl to have a little fun at one. Heck, I might not even be the first one at this one. I’d never notice if someone snuck off.
A new song comes on that’s a little calmer and intended more for the couples, so it kind of catches me off guard when Lash steps off his barstool, offers his hand and asks, “Wanna dance?”
I blink at him. “What?”
