A couple of bikers wearing Devil Demons’ colors and sporting California rockers raise their fists in the air.
“We found Mallory on the set of this skeezy sci-fi movie,” Alvin continues. “Completely rattled after some director got handsy with her.”
“Oh, fuck no!” someone shouts.
“Fuckin’ A!” Stump yells back.
Alvin nods slowly, milking his performance. “Poor girl was speckled in blue paint from her scalp to her toes.”
Mallory covers her face with her hands. “We were never supposed to speak of the Blue Alien Incident, Alvin.” While she might be embarrassed, she’s also shaking with laughter at the tale Alvin’s weaving. “You’re breaking a decades-long pact.”
“Forgive me.” Alvin rests his hand over his heart.
She nods for him to continue.
“Chaser helped her clean up—any excuse to shower with his girl, you know—”
Bikers pound their fists against the table, rattling glasses and silverware, chanting, “Chaser!”
Dylan and Angelina roll their eyes and wrinkle their noses at each other.
“Wrap it up, Alvin,” Chaser says between laughter.
“So, we’re ready to roll out. And the director gets in our faces. Tries to threaten Mallory.”
“Don’t fuck with a Demon!” a Devil Demon yells.
“Don’t fuck with a Demon’s woman,” another brother adds.
Alvin points to the biker who shouted the last comment. “Right. Chaser defending a girl wasn’t a surprise to me. What shocked me was that he threatened the director with retaliation from his club if the guy ever came after Mallory.”
“Fuckin’ right.” Stump nods.
“No.” Alvin shakes his head at Stump. “I’d known Chaser most of my life at that point. Once we arrived in Hollywood, he never mentioned the club to outsiders. He wanted to keep club life and band life separate. But for Mallory, he was willing to risk anything.”
A collective “Awww” goes around the room along with a good portion of Chaser’s club brothers taunting their president.
“Anyway, they went through a lot of shit together.” Alvin swallows hard and stares down at the table for a second. “Lot of bad stuff went down over the years. And no matter what, they always had each other’s backs. But, that was the first moment I knew they’d be together forever.”
“To Chaser and Mallory!” one of the ol’ ladies toasts.
“Lordy,” Shelby whispers. “I’m gonna smear makeup all over myself.” She picks up her napkin and dabs at her eyes.
I reach under the table and slide my hand over her leg.
A tall, skinny guy with long, shaggy hair who looks vaguely familiar stands and raises his beer glass. “I have a slightly different story about when I knew Chaser and Mallory were the real deal.”
“Oh, Andrew.” Mallory hangs her head, shaking it from side to side. She seems more distressed than amused this time around.
“No.” Chaser slashes a finger across his throat.
Two seconds later, two beefy bikers grab the would-be speaker by his inked arms and drag him out of the courtyard.
Jiggy leans over, resting his elbow on my shoulder. “My toast in thirty years is gonna be better,” he whispers in my ear.
My heart thunders as I try to imagine where we’ll be in thirty years. I want Shelby by my side for every moment, wherever the road takes us.
I turn and raise an eyebrow. “Yeah? How’s that?”
“Bro, you fished her out of the river.” Jigsaw’s eyes bug out like he can’t believe he has to explain his reasoning. “How is that not a better story than some blue paint?”
“You didn’t know that day.”
He cocks his head, his lips tilting into a crooked line. “Yeah, in hindsight, I think I did.”
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Shelby
No one can top Alvin’s toast. Well, maybe someone does. But his story touches me deeply.
When did I know that I wanted to spend forever with Logan? There are so many moments to choose from, I can’t pick one.
When he pulled me from the river?
When we reunited in New York?
The first time we exchanged I-love-you’s?
When I woke up in the hospital and found out he rescued me from my kidnapper?
The way he tolerated my momma’s attitude toward him without kickin’ up a fuss?
When he gave up months of his life to tour with me?
The day he bought the RV?
When he trusted me enough to bare his soul on that California beach?
Under the table I squeeze his hand. He pulls me into his lap and I drape my arm over his shoulders, running my fingers through his hair.
I lean in closer and kiss his cheek. “I can’t pick the moment I knew I wanted to be with you forever, Logan,” I whisper in his ear. “You’ve given me so many.”
He slowly turns his head and stares at me. Satisfaction or maybe happiness shines in his eyes. “You know I want to give you many more, right?”
“I do.”
He cups the back of my head, dragging me closer for a soft kiss.
“Aw, did you two get all hot and bothered by that toast?” one of the guys asks.
Laughing, I pull away from Rooster. “Yeah, but now you ruined it.” I stare up at Ravage and he smirks at us.
“Prez wants you.” Rav jerks his head to the side.
Rooster growls a bunch of unhappy noises. I slide out of his lap and he stands. “This could be a while.”
“I’m fine.” I gesture toward the table where the ladies are moving into the chairs vacated by their men. “Gonna stay here and huddle with my girls.”
“That’s right,” Heidi says, tugging on my hand.
He kisses my forehead and takes off.
Ravage plops into a vacant seat near Stash. “You’re not going?” I ask.
“Just the officers for now.” Ravage motions me closer, as if he has a burning secret to share. “There’s no way they’d leave you ladies without a full-patch watching over you while we’re in another club’s house. Friendly or not.”
I blink and absorb the confession. It’s sweet and not all that unexpected, honestly. “Thank you.”
He nods to some of the other guys from the downstate clubhouse. “That’s Grip, Butcher, and Suds.” He lifts his chin at Stash and Birch. “You already know those clowns.”
Stash cups his hand over his ear. “What?”
“Nothing!” Ravage yells. He elbows me. “I’m headed up to the bar. You need anything?”
“A Sprite with some extra cherries if they have ’em.”
“Got it.” He stretches his arm behind me and taps Heidi’s shoulder. “You need anything?”
“Ginger ale, please.” She rubs her stomach.
“You got it.” He pats her shoulder and takes off.
Trinity leans closer to Heidi. “Is he okay?”
I lower my voice. “He said he’s watching out for us since we’re visiting another club.”
“Ah.” Trinity nods. She turns her concerned eyes on Heidi. “Are you okay?”