Page 4 of Jack

“I am, Lil Bit.” I squeeze her tightly. Oh, how I’ve missed her bouncy personality. She’s still getting pink glitter dumped in her hair before tonight’s over.

“Come on, Big Brother. Let’s get inside.” Maci grabs my hand and pulls me toward the door.

Squealing from behind us has me looking over my shoulder. Coty’s twirling his little sister, Ember, around. Maci and Ember are the same age. Like Coty and me, they’ve been best friends practically from birth. These two girls are in their third year of college. We left Tennessee not long after settling them into their dorms for their freshman year. I should have been here to watch over her the last two years. College guys can be jerks. I was always a phone call away, though. If she needed me at any time, I would have been on her doorstep handling any problem she had.

The moment I step inside the door, one of the most important women in my life slams into me so hard we almost fall. Holding her in my arms fills a hole in my chest that I didn’t realize was there. I was an idiot to stay away for so long.

“Oh, my sweet boy. You’re here.” My grandmother rocks us side to side. She hurt her back years ago and can’t bounce around like she used to. It doesn’t stop her from being loud, though. She steps out of my arms and faces the club. “Jack’s home!”

The room erupts in shouts and whistles. I shake my head. Nana’s the only woman I know who could command this room of rowdy bikers. Well, Mom does, too.

I drop an arm around her shoulders as we walk toward the bar. “I’ve missed you, Nana.”

“Good.” She slaps her hand against my stomach. “Maybe you won’t leave again.”

I laugh. “I’m not leaving again. Promise.”

She smiles and nods. The tears in her eyes almost undo me. I never meant to cause her pain.

“Jack!” Granddad hops off his chosen stool on the right side of the bar and wraps his arms around me.

“Hey, Granddad.”

“Bout time your tail came dragging in.” Dad grabs my arm and pulls me away from Granddad. He wraps me in a bear hug.

“Glad to be home.” I really am.

Dad narrows his eyes. “This for good?”

I chuckle. “Yeah, Dad. I’m home for good.”

“Best news I’ve heard in two years.” Dad slaps my shoulder and turns to face the club members staring at us. “My boy’s home! Let’s get this party started!”

Shouts and whistles go up around the room again. People start lining up at the buffet-style tables with food along the wall closest to the kitchen. Just the smell of the food has my mouth watering.

“Jack!” Mom shouts as she runs out of the back hallway.

I run to meet her. Oh, how I’ve missed her. She and I talked every day while I was gone.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Don’t you do this again.”

“I won’t, Mom.”

Nana instructs the ole ladies on what food to set where in the line. No one cares as long as they get what they want. Nana just likes order. Being the first ole lady in the club and the former Queen, no one argues with my grandmother. Well, Granddad will. And trust me. The entire clubhouse will clear out when those two argue.

“Come on, boy. Let’s get a beer.” Granddad pulls me over to the bar and pats the stool next to his.

Two bottles of beer magically appear on the bar in front of us. It’s how things are around here when you’re a McLeod.

“Good to see you, Jack.” Kayla twists the tops off the two beers. She nods to me but doesn’t smile.

“Thanks.” I nod back.

Kayla moves to the other end of the bar and pours a couple of shots for some members. When did Kayla Chambers start bartending at the clubhouse?

I look across the room to Coty. His mom and sister hover around him with drinks and plates of food. Has he noticed Kayla yet? I don’t think so, but she’s noticed him. Kayla glances at Coty when she thinks no one is watching. I’m watching. I watch until plates of food magically appear in front of Granddad and me.

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