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She shook her head. “Uh, no. I was thinking you could come upstairs. I know it sounds crazy, but Tommy about mauled me last night. I don’t think he would appreciate having to wait two nights in a row to be fed.”

“Is this like meeting your family?” I laughed.

“It kind of is because Tommy is all I have.”

I threaded her fingers through mine and tugged her toward the door. “Then let’s go, babe.”

We weaved our way through the bar, and Tiger let out a shout when we passed by the club bellied up to the bar, taking advantage of my bar tab.

“They seem like they are having fun,” Mary Jay called.

We made it to the stairs, and I glanced back at her. “That’s because they are drinking on my dime tonight.”

She looked back at the club. “Uh, they look like they can drink a good bit. That’s eight or nine guys, Hail.”

“Jersey will make sure they don’t get too crazy. That was who I was texting when you walked up.”

“Is he like your right-hand man or something?”

I nodded. “Yeah, he’s my VP.”

“Are they your only family?”

Standing at the bottom of the stairs was not where I thought all of the questions were going to happen, but maybe it was best to just get them out of the way.

“Uh, for the most part. My mom is still alive, and I have a bratty little sister who lives in Colorado.” I didn’t have the typical shitty upbringing like a lot of the guys in the club. Most guys join an MC because they’re looking for a place to belong, a family.

I had a family who loved me.

The club was just another place I felt at home.

“Where does your mom live?” Mary Jay asked.

“On the edge of town. She works at the library.”

Her jaw dropped, and her eyes bugged out. “Your mom is Sue Scott?”

“Yeah, babe. You meet her before?” Mom had been working at the Crest Falls library for the past twenty-seven years. I was pretty much raised among the shelves and shelves of books.

Too bad the love of reading never stuck with me.

I much preferred bringing my Hot Wheels tracks to the library and building huge, winding tracks that intersected and climbed the shelves of books.

She looked up at me and squinted. “I love your mom. When I was younger, she always helped me find books, and when I returned them, she talked and talked with me about them. She was a bright light in my dismal childhood.”

“She is pretty amazing, and I’m not really surprised you like her. The whole town does.” I pulled her up the stairs and stood to the side as she unlocked the door. “Do I get more points since my mom is Sue?” I asked.

She pushed open her door and smiled wide. “I really think you should have started with, Hi, I’m Hail, and my mom is Sue Scott. Would have gotten through a bunch of hurdles.”

“Never would have thought my mom would help me to land a girl, but if it works, then I’m good with it.” I walked through the door and straight into her kitchen.

“Where did you go to school?” Mary Jay asked. “I don’t remember you.”

“You wouldn’t. I went to school in Branford. They had a better football team, and back then, that was all I cared about.”

“That would explain it,” she laughed. Before Mary Jay could even shut the door, a loud meow sounded from somewhere in the apartment.

“Tommy,” she sang. “I told you I wouldn’t be late tonight.”

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