“I still fuck like I’m twenty-two, so there is that,” Z says.
Rock does a slow, exaggerated look around our group. “No one asked.”
I lift my chin at Z. “You definitely don’t look twenty-two, Prez.” I rub my hands over my cheeks. “You might want to start moisturizing daily. Maybe use a lil’ sunscreen.”
Z stops laughing. “No one can tell how old you are under that forest on your face, motherclucker.” He wags his hand at me dismissively.
“You are getting some wrinkles around your eyes.” Murphy squints and pretends to study Z’s face. “Just use Lilly’s stuff. That’s what I do.”
“You use your wife’s cosmetics?” Rav nods quickly. “This explains so much.”
“Her moisturizer, you tool.”
Wrath doubles over, hands braced on his knees, silently laughing so hard he gasps for air.
Murphy kicks his side. “What’s so funny, Sasquatch?”
“Heidi—” He bursts into loud guffaws and takes a few minutes to settle down and stand up straight again. “She was bitching to Trinity about how she keeps running out of face cream. She thought it was a packaging thing.” He jerks his thumb at Murphy. “But it’s Leprechaun McToolazytobuyhisownshit over here.” He busts up laughing again.
Murphy chuckles and shrugs. “Oops.”
“Great. This has all been very enlightening.” Dex claps his hands in front of his face. “If you’re all done playing ‘guess which decade I was born in’ and handing out beauty tips, can we move on?”
“I’m with you, Dex,” Rock says.
“Wait.” I raise my hand. “It would be great if going forward, we stop encouraging my best friend to nail my future mother-in-law.”
Dex’s serious expression slides into a sly smirk. “Nah, can’t help you there, brother.”
My asshole brothers crack up at that. Jiggy gives Dex a fist bump.
“Thanks. You’re all a big help.”
“Whoa.” Rav forms a big T with his hands. “Hang on. What’s this future mother-in-law crap? You’re marrying this chick?”
I narrow my eyes.
“Yikes,” Dex whispers. “Retreat, Rav. Retreat.”
Everyone distances themselves from Ravage.
“Easy, Rooster,” Z says. “Seriously, are you already thinking marriage?”
My head throbs. This conversation isn’t what I expected to walk into this afternoon. But there’s also no doubt in my mind. “Yes.”
“Good for you, brother.” Murphy’s the first one to give me a quick congratulatory hug. “Shelby’s a sweetheart.”
“I haven’t asked her yet.” Or found a ring. Or thought about how to propose. Fuck. “So, don’t get too excited.”
Wrath extends his hand and I shake it. “Just don’t wait too long.”
“Aw.” Ravage pulls his face into a sad clown pout. “Jiggy, what’re you gonna do? You definitely need to get with the mom now.”
Jigsaw rolls his eyes. “I want my brother to be happy.” He slaps my shoulder. “Besides, I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“Ouch.” Z claps his hands. “Challenge extended.”
“I can’t believe I left Nashville for this abuse,” I grumble.
“And left your girlfriend at Dawson’s multi-million-dollar estate. Don’t forget that part,” Jigsaw says.
“Would you shut the fuck up about it.”
Rock whistles and raises his gaze to the sky.
“It’s not like that. They’re recording some songs.” I lift my chin at Rock. “Dawson hired Chaser to work on his album. I had dinner with him and Mallory the other night.”
“Really?” Rock raises his eyebrows. “Didn’t realize he was still in the music business.”
Later, I’ll have to thank Captain Crapweasel for bringing this up. It’s a sly way to let Rock and Z know that I haven’t been off fucking around in Nashville. “Dawson made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
Rock glances at Z. “I wonder if DeLova’s retirement is having an impact on the Demons’ earnings?”
Z shrugs. “If anything, I’d think they’d be making more money.”
“I didn’t get the impression he needed the cash,” I say. “But it’s not like we could discuss MC business. He asked about Grinder, though.”
Rock’s mouth turns down and he jams his hands in his pockets. “He’s got a date set. Praying like fuck the parole board doesn’t dick him around again.”
“Mallory was hoping to see him.”
“We’ll have to invite them to Grinder’s welcome home party.” He glances at Wrath who nods.
Rav raises his hand. “I gotta go. Sparky needs help downstairs.”
“He needs help all right,” Wrath says. “Drag his ass out into the sunshine when you’re done.”
“I’ll try.” Rav waves and heads inside.
“We sitting down soon?” Wrath asks.
Rock turns, glancing at the forest behind us. “Soon as Teller gets his ass up here.”
“We’re waitin’ on Steer and Hustler too,” Z says.
Wrath wanders into the garage and Jiggy follows.
Rock tilts his head toward the path leading into the woods. “Let’s walk.”
“Uh…” my gaze shoots to Murphy who shrugs. “Sure.”
Fuck. If Z doesn’t have a problem with me being on the road, I don’t know why Rock would.
As much as I’m dying to ask what’s up, I keep quiet. Murphy and I follow Z and Rock to the trail and into the woods. Along the way, Murphy plucks at leaves and branches.
I’m stepping over a fallen log when a branch whacks me in the face.
“What are you, five?” I swipe pine needles out of my beard. “Knock it off.”
“Sorry.” Murphy flicks a stray leaf off my shoulder.
“Calm down, children,” Z snarks without turning around. “Someone hasn’t been keeping up on the forest maintenance since I’ve been downstate.” Z nudges Rock’s shoulder. “Never realized how much I did until I was gone, did ya?”
Rock answers but I can’t make out the words in his low rumble.
We pass Rock’s house but continue deeper into the woods.
I lean in closer to Murphy. “You’re not all taking me out in the wilderness to shoot me, are you?”
He snorts. “If they are, then I’m gettin’ capped too.”
We pass another path that leads to Wrath’s house but continue past it. Eventually, I think the trail we’re on leads to the stone amphitheater on the property and then back to the clubhouse.
“Rock, you trying to get your steps in or something?” Murphy asks.
We come up on Murphy’s house.
Z and Rock stop.
Z’s dead serious expression rattles my gut. Whatever he wants to say isn’t good.
Finally, he drops the bomb. “Are you sticking around this week?”
“Yeah, why?” I groan. “Please don’t ask me to babysit Stella.”