We stare at each other.
I got nothing left to say. No more explanations to give.
“I wish…” He jams his hands in his pockets and looks away. “I hate that you went through that alone.”
I open my mouth to protest. Rock, Hope, and Charlotte all knew.
“Yeah, yeah, Rock and Hope knew. Your girl knew,” he says, as if he’s read my mind. “But I know you couldn’t be honest with them the way you can be with me.” He shrugs. “I hate that you dealt with that on your own.”
My throat tightens. “If you make me cry, motherfucker…”
“What?” He throws his arms out wide. “You gonna punch me?”
“Maybe.” He’s asking for it with his arms wide open, so I grab him and yank him in for a hug.
For a second, he freezes. Then he returns the hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t take it well at first,” he says against my shoulder.
I release him and shrug. “Hey, I hightailed it to Canada when I found out.”
He dips his chin. “That was when, huh?”
“Yeah.” Shit, I don’t want him doing the math again. “Thank you for doing what Heidi needed. Being there for her. It tore me up, thinking about how to tell her.”
He releases a long, slow breath, his gaze falling somewhere over my shoulder. “She loves you. I think she’s happy for you but a little sad for herself. It is what it is though.”
One of my least-favorite phrases. But he’s right. “Are you okay if we tell the club, now?”
Blake takes longer to answer than I expected. “Yeah, it’s your news to share. Not mine.”
“I know. I don’t want to spring anything on you again.”
“Jesus, Marcel, you don’t have to run everything by me now.”
I slap his shoulder. “Yeah, I kinda do. You’re my VP.”
He scowls and shakes his head. “I gotta get home.”
“All right. I’ll follow you.”
I breathe a sigh of relief as I straddle my bike. Things aren’t back to normal yet, but this is progress.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Rock
“Before we leave the table, I’d like everyone’s attention.” I bow my head, considering all the ways to say this. Not that I haven’t thought about it endlessly for months.
I turn and catch Teller’s eye. He sits forward and nods. He’s ready to get this out in the open too.
“Teller and I have some news we wanted to share with the club.”
Jesus Christ, I can’t believe I’m airing my business like this. Even if it is to my brothers.
I have everyone’s attention. Every head at the table, turned my way. Everyone waiting for whatever I’m about to say. “Ah, a couple of months ago, I found out…” I glance at Teller again. Spit it out. “That Teller’s my son.”
“What?” Bricks shouts. “How is that possible?”
“That’s what I said,” Teller mutters.
“Boss?” Sparky slowly raises his hand. I grit my teeth, knowing nothing serious will come out of our favorite stoner.
“Yes?”
He tilts his head and pouts, adding sad puppy eyes to the expression. “Are you my daddy too?”
Stash howls with laughter, then shoves Sparky. “Not cool, bro.”
To my left, Marcel has his head down and his fist covering his mouth. His shoulders shake. The fucker’s laughing.
Murphy rolls his eyes and stares at the ceiling, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here. You and me both.
“I don’t know why I bothered,” I grumble.
Dex blinks. “I think we’re all just a little shocked.”
Not all. Steer, Hustler, and the rest of Z’s crew are wearing various versions of bored and confused faces.
“Wait,” Rav says, “is this really new information? I already thought you two were father and son.” He swivels his head, searching for another brother at the table to agree with him. “Didn’t we already know that?”
Wrath snickers into his hand. Under the table, I launch my foot, landing a solid kick to Wrath’s shin. He wipes the smirk off his face. “No, this is brand-new information,” he says with every bit of sarcasm he’s capable of.
Asshole.
“Prez.” Dex’s gaze swings between Murphy and Teller. “This seems like an, um…sensitive family matter. You didn’t have to share it with everyone if you needed some time.”
“We’ve waited long enough,” Marcel says. “I took some time to adjust.” He tips his head my way. “So did he, I guess.”
“Is Murphy your kid too?” Rav asks. “Because that would make a lot more sense.”
“No,” Murphy growls.
Sparky’s busy tracing his finger over the table, like he’s trying to solve a puzzle. “No, that wouldn’t be right. Then Heidi’d be like his half—”
“Enough, Sparky,” Z says. “Let it go.”
I let out a short whistle to grab their attention. “That’s it. That’s the announcement. Feel free to go on about your lives now.”
Dex raises his hand slightly. “Prez, is this something you want us to keep to ourselves?”
“How the fuck exactly is it going to come up in conversation?” Wrath asks.
Ignoring Wrath, I nod at Dex. “I thought it was important for my brothers to know. I don’t care if people outside the club find out, but I’m not planning to make any other announcements.” I glance at Teller. “Unless you want to.”
“I guess they’ll find out at the wedding.” Marcel shrugs. “New name and all.”
Stash squints at us. “You’re taking Charlotte’s last name?”
“No, dipshit.” Marcel jerks his thumb at me. “His.”
“You’re marrying Rock?” Rav asks.
“Did you all inhale Sparky’s stash of edibles before sitting at the table today?” Wrath asks.
Grinder turns to me, an amused smirk twitching somewhere under his full beard. “You should probably put it in the bylaws that brothers can’t come to the table high.”
“Why are you here again, Grandpa?” I sneer.
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
Stash wags a finger between Grinder and me. “Wait, is Grinder your dad, too?”
“No,” I growl.
“All right.” Z claps his hands and stands. “That’s enough genetics for bikers for today.”
“Wait.” Dex presses his palms toward the table, motioning for everyone to stay put. “Rock, are you worried this changes how we feel about you at the head of the table? Because I’ll tell you right now, it doesn’t.”
“Yeah, boss,” Bricks adds. “We’ve always known Teller and Murphy were your favorites—”
“Hey,” Wrath interrupts.
“But I think I can confidently speak for everyone when I say…” Bricks stops to glance at each of his brothers. “That we trust you. Trust you with our lives, Prez. No matter who’s related to you.”