"Teddy was married?" Remy asked, voice low, so that he didn't overhear.
"You know we aren't going to stop until you tell us," I told Arty.
"He was married. And she died. Right before you guys met him. That was why he was drinking so much back then, needing his father to come get him from the bars. It's also why he doesn't have serious relationships anymore, but has a lot of respect for them. And, I guess, advice," Arty said, shoulders falling at giving away what he thought were secrets about a man he respected so much.
"Shit," Remy said when Arty moved away, leaving us standing there, coming to terms with this new information about an old friend.
"Yeah," I agreed. "What the fuck else do I not know about my people? Are you keeping anything from me?" I asked, looking down at Harmon.
"Yes," she said, making me jolt, looking down to find her face grave.
"What is it?" I asked, feeling my stomach twist.
"I'm afraid that I have to inform you that you are the worst The Wheel of Life player of all time," she told me, patting my stomach to ease the blow.
"You told me I was getting better," I said, small-eyeing her.
I'd decided to get myself a screen name and a computer set-up to play along with her, to learn something that meant so much to her. I figured it would be a good way to unwind when shit was crazy with the club, as it so often was. And, hey, I was finding all the hand exercise with the controller was upping my finger fucking game. I figured it was a win-win all around.
"Yes, well, I lied to save your feelings," she told me, eyes dancing.
"Well, it's fine," I said, reaching up to tug her hair. "I was really only playing for all the thirsty fangirls," I told her, watching as her eyes went to slits.
"I'm reporting your account and getting you shut down," she told me, lifting her chin. "No one else gets to play with you. You're all mine."
And, fuck, I was.
I never thought it was possible.
Sure, I'd seen some relationships when I went to visit the mother chapter in Navesink Bank that I thought looked nice and happy, but a part of me just never thought it was going to happen for me.
But here I was.
With a woman on my arm.
And her plans for a garden bed—which, in a way stood for our future—in my hand.
"So, what I am hearing is, less The Wheel of Life playing, and more garden bed building?"
"You really need to play to your strengths," she agreed, tone mock-grave. "But since when do you do the building of things around here?" she asked.
"Since my ass finally got a patch," Seeley said, smile victorious. "I get to sit on my ass for a change like the rest of these free-fucking-loaders," he said, nodding at McCoy who followed him in.
"I don't think we broke him enough during his prospecting period," McCoy teased.
"We will have to try harder with the next one," I agreed. "He's a lost cause now," I added, getting a wink and a middle finger from Seeley as he grabbed a bottle of vodka he still wasn't old enough to drink, and headed out back where he had several cut-bunnies just thrilled to introduce him to some of the finer parts of being a biker.
Except, of course, that thrill seemed hollow to me now.
Sex was great.
Even casual, no-strings sex was great.
But what was even better?
A woman in your bed you actually gave a shit about, one who made your life feel a little more complete, your space a little more like home.
That was something I'd never known I'd been missing.
And the exciting shit now was whatever the hell was coming next.
Harmon - One Year
"Uncle Jones," Jones said, trying out the sounds on his lips. "UJ. UJ might be easier for a kid," he decided, nodding, as he slapped the tattoo on his left arm, trying not to scratch it as it healed. "Have you told Huck yet?"
"No," I said, grimacing. "I know, I know," I said when Jones's brows raised. "I wasn't sure at first. But I literally just took my fifth test. So I'm reasonably comfortable saying this is happening."
"Are you, you know, okay with it?" he asked, likely picking up on my strange mood.
It was strange, too.
I'd been all over the map about it.
My initial response had been crippling fear. I guess because that was the general response of an unmarried woman in this country to a positive pregnancy test. I'd sat there in the bathroom with my heart slamming against my ribcage, paralyzed by uncertainty.
After that, I ping-ponged between disbelief and acceptance, thinking about how a baby would change my life.
Our life.
In quiet moments, I would stare at the wall and fantasize about a sweet little chunky baby in a bassinet with Huck's hair and my eyes.