Page 125 of Bloom: Part 2

Crowe stood, towering over the room like the giant he was, his leather cut gleaming under the dim light. “I don’t make speeches often, so you all better listen up.” He cleared his throat, and the crowd quieted, all eyes turning to him. For a moment, he looked at me, his face unreadable as usual, but something softer appeared in his eyes, something that made my stomach ache.

“Many of you only know the trouble Bloom is today, but I’ve known him since he was a little shit,” Crowe said, his voice rumbling like thunder. A ripple of laughter traveled through thecrowd. “And trust me, he was ahellof a little shit. The first time I met him, he tried to stab me with a knife. He was stubborn, wild, and meaner than a cornered rattlesnake. Many people told me he wasn’t gonna make it. That I was wasting my time.”

Crowe’s eyes met mine, hard and clear, and for a moment we shared an understanding—a history—that only a handful in the room would get. Not even Logan.

“But they were wrong.” Crowe let the weight of his words settle. “Bloom didn’t just make it. He fought tooth and nail every step of the way. Now I ain’t say life got much better for him. Life threw him more punches than most people could handle, but he got back up every damn time. Sometimes he got back up swinging, and sometimes he just got back up to flip life the bird, but healwaysgot back up.”

The crowd chuckled, murmuring their agreement.

“And for the longest time, I thought I saved you that day, but I think you saved us all.” His gaze touched the men who had been there with him that day. “You gave us purpose and a hope for a better club that we wanted to see. Now, I’ve seen a lot of things in my life, but I never thought I’d see Bloom in love. Hell, I thought the only thing he cared about was his bike and maybe knifing idiots who deserved it. But then Logan showed up, and if you’re waiting for me to say that he got smarter, I hate to break it to you, but love made him do some stupid shit to get that man right there. Doc, how many times did you turn him down? About half a dozen?”

Logan reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. “About that I’d say. He just didn’t know how to quit.”

“Hey, if I had quit, you wouldn’t have walked out of that back room smiling just now.”

“Did I forget to mention that he has absolutely no filter?” Crowe asked to open laughter. “Anyway, Doc—Logan—all I can say is that you must be one hell of a man to love his cranky, blackheart the way he is.” He raised his glass. “So here’s to both of you. Bloom, you’re now the good doctor’s problem. Good luck, Doc, no take-backsies!”

“Fuck you! You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone!” I cried but raised my glass in cheers with the others and gulped down the champagne.

I’m gonna miss him.

After Crowe’s toast, everyone kind of scattered. Logan took the empty glass from me. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I just need a bit of fresh air. I’m gonna be outside for a few.”

“Want me to come with you?”

I shook my head. “Just a few minutes.”

“All right, but don’t stay too long or I’m gonna have to come and find you.”

Stepping outside into the night was a welcome relief from all the stimulation inside the casino. I inhaled a lungful of the crisp, cool air and sank down on the nearby steps. The urge to smoke hit me, and I didn’t even smoke. Not since I tried it once and Crowe had punished me for it. I chuckled, the sound hollow in my chest and ears.

Why was my life so hard? Finally, I found a man who loved me the way I loved him, but I had to give up my family to have him. Why couldn’t I have it all?

Shadows shifted to my right, and I tilted my head. Was someone there? Probably one of the bikers and their boys getting it on.

“Hey, you okay?”

Behind me, Max came down the steps.

“Did Crowe send you?” I asked.

He chuckled. “You know him better than even me, don’t you?”

“Well, we spent a lot of time together.”

“Once upon a time it used to bug the hell out of me.” He sat down next to me. “But now I know better.”

“Crowe means a lot to me, but not in that way.”

“I know that now. Why are you out here on your own?”

“Just needed some fresh air.” I felt inside my cut for the pocket where an envelope rested. “Max, you really love Crowe, don’t you?”

“With everything inside of me.”

“Then take care of him.”

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