“Do what?” she asks, trying to appear innocent—but not looking me in the eye.

“I know about the talk Skull wants to have with Michael,” I tell her.

Katie looks at me. Then her eyes look down at Beth’s hand on mine. She lets out a deep breath.

“Damn it, Bethie! Next time let me know!”

“I didn’t know you were going to go all bitch-fest on Hayden,” Beth mutters.

“I was not bitch-fest! You take that back. Was I bitch-fest, Hayden?”

“Umm…” I stay out of it and don’t really make a reply. Her comment about Michael not working and getting money from the club was abrasive. Besides, it wasn’t really her business. I hold my tongue though. I don’t want to make waves here—it’s just not the time.

“Okay, maybe I was,” she concedes. “I just know that Hunter has his heart set on getting his brother back and I was trying to help with that,” she mutters. “They talk about us women, but let me tell you girls something, men are such PMS-whiney-babies when they want something and aren’t getting it,” she complains.

“You aren’t wrong. I swear sometimes I want to sneak Midol into Skull’s coffee.”

“Skull drinks coffee?” I ask, surprised.

“Well, yeah.”

“I thought he might be a beer or whiskey only kind of man. He has too much testosterone for plain coffee,” I mutter, immediately embarrassed.

Beth laughs, the sound is like bells clinking together it’s so musical. I find myself smiling at her, despite feeling awkward.

“If it helps his image, he likes it strong enough that a fork can stand up in it.”

“That sounds about right,” I laugh. “That’s how Michael likes his.”

“Hunter, too,” Katie grins.

“Ugh, men,” Beth sighs out and then giggles.

We all join in…. except for Annie. She’s staring off into space. She hasn’t really joined the conversation at all.

“You okay, Annie?” Beth asks, having noticed the same thing I have.

“What? Oh yeah, sorry. I’m having trouble focusing today. It’s a product of pregnancy brain,” she says, giving us a small smile.

“I know that one for sure,” I tell her, my hand on my stomach, which is slightly bigger than Annie’s baby bump—but not by much.

“Sabre says you’re having another boy,” she says.

“Yeah. Michael has already insisted we name him Axel. He says I got to name Connor and my friends D.D. and Jenn picked out Ryker, so…” I shrug, not really complaining since I love the name Axel. “What are you having?” I ask Annie.

She looks up at me slightly startled. She rubs her stomach, staring down at it, while she’s answering.

“A baby girl. We’re going to name her Daphne.”

“That’s a pretty name. You don’t hear it often,” I tell her gently. Annie seems to need gentle. I don’t know her that well, but there’s a frailness about her right now that I can understand. I felt it before Michael came into my life.

“Thanks,” she whispers.

“Hayden, are you up to helping us put up the tree? Skull didn’t want to have one up until you and Beast were here with the boys. We had Christmas at our house for the club. Secretly, I think that’s because he hates putting a tree up here. He always bitches about it, but I think a tree here will just make the kids happy, plus it will irritate Skull, which is a bonus,” Beth questions.

“I’d love too,” I laugh as we all get up.

“Good, between the four of us, it should go fast. We’ll let the kids help too,” she adds.

“Oh Lord, I’m going to need a drink when we’re done. You’re inviting chaos,” Katie mutters.

“That’s because last year Bart volunteered to water the Christmas tree. Which, come to think of it, might be another reason Skull doesn’t like trees at the clubhouse.”

“What’s so bad about Bart watering the tree ?” I ask, not having been here.

“He was going through that phase where little boys have just discovered their wiener and like to see just how far they can pee—of course that could just be my kids, because Hunter is a bastard and teaches them that,” Katie growls. “Then he brags because he can pee farther than them—like that’s some huge feat. I’m married to a moron,” she complains.

“A hot looking moron,” Beth reminds her of something that is completely true.

“That does help,” Katie grumbles. “Anyway, long story short, the club has all new decorations this year because the smell of urine definitely lingers and some things you just can’t clean.”

“Oh my,” I laugh, praying Connor and Ryker don’t discover this type of “fun”.

“You should probably worry,” she says.

“Why’s that?” I ask.

“Because B.B. is over there talking to Connor and they’re looking sneaky. That’s never a good thing,” she warns and I laugh, figuring it’s not, but Connor looks really happy and I can hear my man laughing, so I don’t really stress about it. If my boy pisses on the tree… Michael can be the one to go buy new decorations.

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