Page 37 of Cougar

Cougar

“Willie! Give someone else a turn!” Gears calls out to our road captain, who took over the karaoke machine the ladies rented for the night. While most other parties have had us gathered around a fire with a guitar, this is a bit more fun. You get to glimpse what everyone prefers to listen to, like Willie—who is serenading us with every Aqua song listed on the machine.

I look around and see everyone mingling. It makes me think about when I first started with this club. We weren’t huge back then, but now, we’re busting at the seams. I’ve gotten to watch my brothers find their person—their families. I love the joy these new members have brought to my brothers, myself, and everyone around them. They’ve found the one who makes them whole. With that thought, my eyes immediately seek out Birdie. She’s over by the tables with her mother and Elvira. I take a pull of my beer as I start to make my way over to them, but I’m derailed when I feel a tug on my arm. Jerking my head to the offender, I see it’s Storm.

He immediately switches his hold on me, “You!” he shouts as he wraps his long tatted-up arm around my neck, “I need you to help me find a few more guys to join us. I need to get my boy band on and show Willie who the true karaoke master is.”

“Would it really be fair? Willie is killing it solo, and you want a group to go up? If you’re the master, why do you need a whole group with you?” I ask as he pulls me along with him.

Storm stops and looks at me from the corner of his eye. I feel his arm start to tighten around my neck. Apparently, calling him out was not what I should have done. I’m now slightly fearing for my life. Who knew he would take a karaoke battle so seriously? As soon as it starts to feel like he’s cutting off my air, he abruptly lets me go and drops me to the ground.

“You’re right. I need to rethink this plan,” he says and wanders off like he didn’t almost try to kill me.

“What was that about?” Birdie asks, walking over to me.

“Honestly, I’m not sure, but I think my VP is about to start a karaoke battle with Willie.” I shake my head. I stand and place my hand on her belly. “How are you feeling?”

“We’re doing okay. Getting pretty full with all the food out here, but I also can’t stop eating.”

“You are eating for two,” I tell her.

She gives me a beautiful smile, “I don’t think I can use that excuse once I pass a certain point. I don’t know, three plates of ribs with sides, six cookies, and two cupcakes. Ugh. I don’t think I’ve ever been this full.” AJ laughs, placing her hand over mine. I don’t know where she puts it all. Even five months pregnant, you can’t tell she’s pregnant unless she’s sideways. I give her a soft smile. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. She’s even more beautiful than the night I met her. I can’t help but lean in and place a soft kiss on her lips.

“Unc!” A little voice calls out. I don’t break my kiss with AJ until I feel a tug on my jeans. Pulling back, I look down and see Malika. Her eyes go from AJ to me before she repeats herself and puts her arms in the air. It’s so cute to see her looking so flustered. It’s as if she’s telling me anytime now.

“Me?” I ask, placing a hand on my chest. “I’m Unc?” My heart skips a beat. I have never been Uncle. I’ve always just been Cougar to these kids.

“Unc!” Malika says again, almost like she’s exasperated with me already. I laugh as I scoop her up and pepper her face with kisses. Malika lets out a squeal of delight before leaning back and reaching for AJ to save her from me.

AJ successfully takes her from me, and Malika snuggles into her. The picture it creates sends an arrow through my heart. It’s beautiful. The love of my life, pregnant with my son, holding my niece, all while having the biggest smile on her face. I know I was terrified about loving another baby differently, but this scene makes me want to beat that fear. She’s absolutely stunning.

AJ says something to Malika, which makes her giggle. I reach back out for Malika, and she willingly comes back to me. “What did Auntie Aletta say to you, huh? You two plotting against me?”

Malika covers her mouth with her chubby little hands and giggles. Her braids move with the motion. Despite how ugly her birth mother was as a person, this little girl is pure beauty. She’s radiant. When she doesn’t tell me the secrets she and AJ were whispering, I give her another kiss on the forehead before I hold her a little tighter.

“That’s okay, Baby Girl. You keep your secrets.”

She says nothing, and she simply lays her head on my shoulder.

“Baby Girl is what y’all used to call her, right?” AJ asks me. Her arm wraps around my back, and her head hits my other shoulder.

“Yep. Now and then, we all let it slip.” I tell her as I kiss the top of her head. Our happy moment is cut short by feedback from the speakers. Malika doesn’t like it. My hand covers her smaller one that she’s already placed over her ear, as the other is still smashed against my shoulder. I look toward where the karaoke machine is and see Willie and Storm fighting over the mic because, of fucking course. The guys all start cheering them on as the women shake their heads at the guys’ antics.

I put Malika down, “Hey, go over to Mama El, okay?” She nods her head and runs over to Elvira. Once seated on her lap, I decide to get this party going and try and help Storm out. “Come on, Willie! Give him a chance. He thinks he’s better than you!” I yell out. This makes Willie stop. Some amount of Hulk strength happens, and Willie yanks the mic from Storm’s hands.

“You? You think you’re better than me?”

“Kick his ass, babe!” Ashlynn yells out.

“I’d like to see you try, old man. You versus me. Right now.” Storm has his hands on his hips, and his face toward the sky. “Unless you’re scared?”

Everyone starts cheering, letting them know we agree to this ridiculous face-off, which is probably good. Let them all remain distracted so they can ignore that Rambo and Audrina ran off to have sex somewhere.

Willie looks at Storm when our VP brings his face down from the heavens, “Well?” He asks as he holds the microphone out toward him.

Stepping forward, Storm leans into the mic, “You’re on.” Everyone goes nuts as he continues, “But you go first.” He tells Willie, stepping away from the mic and off to the side.

“Fine by me,” Willie says, “I know just the song.” He shuffles through his phone and after a moment, we all hear it. Booty by Jennifer Lopez and Iggy Azalea starts playing. I look at Ashlynn, and she’s already fanning herself.

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