I pull into a parking spot near the door and sigh as I lean back in my seat and turn the car off. Closing my eyes and rubbing my temples, I start to feel my stress drain away and just when I think I might be able to finally relax, my phone starts ringing and I let out a shriek of frustration, resisting the urge to start punching my steering wheel. The thought of answering it and telling him off flickers through my mind but instead, I silence it before grabbing the keys from the ignition and climbing out of the car.
“There she is!” Lincoln hollers and I turn as he jogs out of the clubhouse with Tate hot on his heels. She flashes me a smile and when Lincoln reaches me, he wraps his arms around me and lifts me off of the ground in a bear hug. His familiar scent washes over me and something inside me breaks. I fight back tears as relief and pain wash through me simultaneously. I’m finally in a place where I feel safe enough to let myself feel everything that has happened during the past month. There is no way in hell I want to cry in front of them but leave it to my big brother to turn me into a total baby.
“I missed you,” I whisper and he nods, squeezing me a little tighter before setting me back on my feet.
“Ditto.”
Tate joins us as Lincoln releases me and she wraps me up in another hug before pulling away just enough to drape her arm over my shoulders and drag me into her side. “Glad you’re finally here. Maybe now he’ll take a goddamn chill pill.”
“Doubtful,” I shoot back and our eyes meet before we both start laughing as Lincoln glares down at us, shaking his head.
“I should have known y’all would gang up on me.”
“Oh, you poor thing,” I say with a smirk, nudging his shoulder. “And y’all? When did you start talking like that?”
He shoots me a look I know all too well, a look that is supposed to be a warning but it’s never really worked on me. “Don’t start.”
“So, where is all your stuff?” Tate asks, peeking in the back seat and eyeing my lonely duffel bag. I point to it and shrug.
“It’s just that and a few small boxes in the trunk.”
Lincoln scowls, inspecting the back seat as he crosses his arms over his chest. For some reason, it reminds me of Dad and I smile through the ache in my chest. “That’s all you brought? Where is all your stuff?”
“I took the important stuff,” I answer with a shrug, thinking back to the hour it took me to pack everything that meant anything to me and all the crap that I left behind. “The rest of it was just… stuff.”
“I see,” he murmurs, looking unconvinced and more worried by the second. “And your boyfriend? What’s the story with him?”
Tate watches me for a second before she laughs and playfully smacks my brother’s arm. “Jesus, Lincoln. Give the girl a second to breathe. Why don’t you take her stuff inside and y’all can catch up later? Besides, she’s got a party to get to.”
“Party?” I ask, my stomach clenching as I try to hide the disappointment from my face. The very last thing I want to do right now is be thrown in the middle of a bunch of strangers. Tate squeezes my shoulder.
“Yeah, just a little get-together with the club.”
I shake my head and press my lips together as I glance over at her. “Can I not? I really just want to get something to eat and crash. It’s been a long day.”
“Why?” Lincoln snaps, his entire body tensing as his gaze darts around the parking lot. “What happened?”
“For fucks sake, baby!” Tate exclaims, rolling her eyes. “She’s been driving all damn day, that’s all. Simmer the fuck down, you Neanderthal.”
“Woman, don’t test me,” he growls, leveling a glare at her but she isn’t even the least bit fazed. She releases me and stands a little taller as she meets his gaze, ready to throw down. I watch in fascination as they bicker with each other for a few seconds before my brother finally concedes and yanks the first box out of the trunk. As soon as he’s gone, Tate turns to me and rolls her eyes again.
“I swear, that man has been giving himself ulcers over worrying about you.”
I watch where he disappeared into the clubhouse, confused. “Yeah… he’s always been protective but this is…”
“It’s all this shit with the club, babe. Everyone is pretty high strung right now… which is why we all need this party to relax… before someone kills someone.”
I scoff, my mind racing with questions as I grab my bag out of the back seat and sling the strap over my shoulder. “Oh, I see. Guilt tripping me into my own welcome party, are we?”
“I do what I have to,” she answers with a shrug. “Now, before your brother comes back, I saw that look on your face when Linc mentioned your boyfriend. What’s going on there? Are you okay?”
Anger flares through me as I remember walking into the apartment a week ago to find him and Holly together. “I got off work early and walked in on him banging my co-worker in my bed but other than that, I am just fine.”
“Oh, shit,” she whispers, staring at me with wide eyes before nodding. “You’re better off without that ass wipe, babe, but probably best not to mention that to your brother, yeah? He would hop on a plane, like, right now.”
“Who is getting on a plane?” Lincoln asks, walking up to us. Tate turns to him and flashes him a wide smile that looks fucking suspicious.
“No one.”
He eyes her warily as he grabs another box out of the trunk. “Mmhmm.”
“Come on, Rowan,” she says, turning toward the clubhouse and starting back toward the door. “I’ll introduce you to everyone. They’re all excited to meet you.”
“You don’t have to stay long if you’re really that tired,” Lincoln whispers when she gets far enough away that she can’t hear him and I nod before following her, my belly flipping. I’ve spent years taking my clothes off in front of a bunch of strangers but for some reason, walking into this clubhouse and meeting all of these people is damn near giving me palpitations. Tate waits by the door for me and when I reach her, she ushers me inside. It feels like every gaze in the room turns to look at us before Tate yells at all of them to mind their own damn business and leads me over to a group of women.
“Everyone, this is Lincoln’s sister, Rowan. Rowan, this is Ali, Storm’s wife,” she says, pointing to a gorgeous woman with long blonde hair next to me and I smile.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
She flashes me a grin. “You, too, sweetie.”
“And this is Carly, Chance’s wife, Kady, Henn’s wife, and Juliette, Moose’s wife,” she says, pointing to the next three women in line who all smile and nod in greeting. “And finally we have Quinn and Piper, Smith’s wife and Fuzz’s fiancée.”
“And ex-wife,” Carly quips and the other girls laugh as I look on, confused. Am I back in high school? Because it sure as hell feels like I’ve been transported back six years and I’m the one on the outside again. Tate pats my shoulder.
“I’ll explain that one later,” she whispers and I nod before turning back to the other women, forcing a smile to my face. As much as I would love to find my room and hide in there for the rest of the night, these people are important to my brother and I need to make an effort.