Page 60 of Sweet Pea

“He probably took Trouble.”

“He’d better start focusing on his fuckin’ job and less on pussy,” I said.

“Everything going okay with those two?” he asked, obviously noting the irritation in my voice.

I removed my helmet and tossed it on the workbench. “They’re good, I’m just in a pissy mood.”

“Why don’t you take a page from the young lovers’ book and go see your woman tonight?”

“Callie isn’t my woman.”

“You sure about that?” Minus asked. “Seems to me like she makes you happy.”

“What the fuck is wrong with everyone around here? Yeah, Callie’s great. So what?”

“If she’s great, what’s the problem?”

“Timing, for one thing.”

Minus smiled wide and placed a hand on my shoulder. “There’s never a good time to fall in love.”

“Fuck that noise,” I said.

“I was watching the two of you at the party and I know what I saw.”

“I don’t give a shit what you think you saw, or how good Callie makes me feel. The whole situation has been messy from the start and it’s only gonna get messier if I keep seeing her.”

“So, that’s it then?”

“I’d have thought you would have been happy for me to get rid of such a big distraction.”

“Yeah, you seem so much more focused and relaxed right now.”

“Minus, trying to figure out how to fit Callie into my life is making me crazy. We still don’t know if the Spiders are gonna move on us, I now have four soldiers that I’m responsible for, and I’m still trying to figure out my long-term earning plan for the club. It’d be better for both Callie and me if I call it before shit gets out of hand.”

“You’ve gotta do what you think is best, but let me say two things first and then I’ll drop it. Cool?”

I nodded. Minus was as straight a shooter as they came and, next to my brother, was the man I respected the most. So as much as I didn’t want to, I listened.

“You’ve been a great soldier and I have no doubt you’ll prove to be a great officer. Your loyalty to the club is without question and you never hesitate to put the needs of your brothers before your own.”

“Thanks.”

“It’s not so much praise as it is stating the truth, but I worry about you.”

“Me?”

“It seems to me like you have a shot at being happy and I’m worried you’ll let it pass you by out of misguided loyalty to the club.”

“Misguided?”

“This club can’t be the only love in your life, Pea.”

“I owe the club everything,” I said.

“The books seem pretty fuckin’ balanced from where I stand.”

“I’d be dead if it wasn’t for the Saints.”

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