Page 20 of Eagle

His brows went up. “Mighty big of you to admit that. She must be special.”

Dad had been at Raven’s memorial, and so was Lacy. But I didn’t introduce them. “She’s more special than I wanted to admit. Can I ask you something?” He nodded so I asked, “Why did you never get remarried?”

Dad sighed but grinned. “No real reason. After your mom and I split, I worked a lot and you know that work wasn’t on the up and up sometimes. Between that and the shop, just didn’t have time.” He leaned up and put his elbows on his knees and smirked. “But don’t think your old man hasn’t gotten some assin all that time.”

We both laughed. I really didn’t think about his sex life, but at least I knew he was still getting some. “So, it wasn’t some, I dunno–”

“Heartbroken vow to never be with another woman?” He laughed again and held his stomach. “Your mom messed me up a little, I won’t lie. But honestly, I wouldn’t mind settling back down with the right woman. And I ain’t mad at her anymore. We were so young when I knocked her up.” His head whipped in my direction. “Don’t get me wrong. Learning about you was the happiest moment of my life, son. And I was happy with her. But we were young and struggled. Thought I was doing the right thing by marrying her and trying to take care of y’all. But while she shouldn’t have cheated, we weren’t meant to be together. Just took me a long time to admit it to myself.”

Now I leaned up and braced my elbows on my knees. All this time I was holding onto something that wasn’t even real. Harboring hate for what she did to Dad, but he’d forgiven, or at least forgotten. I could be angry that Mom was selfish and not there for me the way a mom should have been, but I was okay. And lots of friends were latchkey kids because their parents worked a lot. She didn’t start going out until I was in middle school and old enough to feed myself and understand right from wrong. Not that I didn’t do shit I wasn’t supposed to.

“Looks like you can use a beer, son.”

Leaning back up, I smacked my hands on my knees. “Let’s go to the bar.”

Dad and I spent a couple of hours at Destiny’s Spirits, the bar owned by the club. It wasn’t far between the clubhouse and his house and we didn’t have too many beers. We caught up whilewe nursed a couple of longnecks, ate peanuts, and watched the game.

“So, you gonna fix this shit with your woman?” Dad asked as he dropped shells on the bar.

“Your woman? Did you finally claim Lacy?” Red walked behind the bar and smacked Scar on the shoulder. “Take off man. Appreciate ya.”

Red was the Treasurer for the club. He was tall and strong but not as bulky as Falcon and Hawk. He had ginger hair and a short beard to match, with light green eyes. He was a cool guy and could always be counted on to have your back. He worked the bar a lot of nights so he missed out on a lot of the deals and shakedowns, but if he was off he’d be there.

“I need to tell her, but yes. I think I am.”

“About damn time,” Scar said as we walked behind Red. “See you Monday.”

Dad stood up as Scar was walking out. “I need to take off, too, son. I was up early today.”

I kept shelling the peanut I was working on. “Can’t hang, old timer?”

Dad gripped my shoulder then put me in a loose chokehold with the other arm. “I can still take you out, you little shit.” He laughed heartily then smacked my back. I stood up and gave a half hug to my old man. He pulled back a little and said, “When you get your lady squared away, bring her by the house. I need to meet the one that tamed you.”

“You bet, Dad. Be safe getting home.” I watched him walk from the clubhouse and I was planning to head out soon. After I downed the last swig of my beer, I put some cash down on the bar. “I’m out. Probably see ya around tomorrow.”

Red gave a tilt of his chin as I turned to head outside. I was feeling lighter. More sure of things. It started as a shit-ass day, but hopefully once I found Lacy and talked to her, everything would be alright. But as I buckled my helmet, the cell inside my cut vibrated against me. Pulling it out, I looked down and wiped my hand over my face. Another new lead to chase down. Chances of me being back before she was fast asleep were slim. But the club came before my personal shit.

After replying I’d meet them, I fired up my Harley and tried to convince myself that maybe this interruption was best. She could have another day to cool off and our talk would go smoother. By tomorrow night, she’d be back in my bed and I could get some much needed rest.

Chapter 11

Eagle

I finally got to sleep in. We went out and roughed up some guys last night, but it didn’t lead us anywhere new. After the weeks of long days and all the shit with Lacy, I was beat. I was annoyed that I came back to an empty bed again, but it was the early hours of the morning when we got home and I was so tired, I wouldn’t have been able to have any kind of mature and meaningful talk with her, anyway.

After everything I’d put her through, she deserved a fully-awake, coherent conversation to explain myself. One more night wouldn’t kill me, so I went straight to bed last night but woke up feeling good after a long sleep with no interruptions.

I couldn’t believe it was nearly lunchtime before I woke up, but my body needed it. We’d gone hard for a while and the run up North didn’t help. Add the emotional toll of the last few days, and it was a wonder I woke up when I did. Rolling over, I grabbed her pillow and inhaled deeply. God, I missed that, and what was left on her pillow wasn’t anything close to the realthing. I had to hurry up and make this right so I could really smell her again.

After a good shower and a trim to my facial hair–she liked a little scruff but not a clean shave–I got dressed. I was ready to find her and see if I could get her to go somewhere private, besides my room, so we could talk, and I could show her I could be better.

We’d collected enough guns on the last run that we wouldn’t need to head up North again for a while and she knew sometimes I had to take off for what we called errands to anyone who wasn’t patched in, so for the most part, I could be more attentive. That was one of the great things about her…she understood my responsibilities and didn’t question them.

How could I have been so ignorant? That didn’t matter now. What was important was moving forward. With a jut of my chin, I headed downstairs with long, measured strides. Letting it wash over me that not only was I claiming Lacy, but she would be claiming me, I had a new sense of peace. One I didn’t know I was missing. Maybe that’s why I slept so hard. Things were falling into place.

I walked into the bar, bright from the sun streaming from the windows, and glanced around. The hum of low rock music filled the space along with a few murmurs and clanking of glass. Hawk was sitting at his corner table so I headed over, scanning the room as I did. No sign of Lacy.

“Hey man. Sleep well?” Hawk asked after he finished chewing.

---