Page 54 of Pooh

“Can Craig hang out with me at the gym tomorrow?” I ask Pippa.

“Yes, that’s a great idea! He’ll love it! He plays our attacker when we women are practicing our moves, in fact. Will Axel mind?”

“No, Axel won’t mind at all. He’ll probably teach Craig a few extra swear words though. You’ve been warned.”

Pippa laughs and calls Craig over to get his apple pie she brought back for him and to let him know he will be going to the gym with her in the morning. His grin is blinding when he sees the pie, but it doesn’t compare to the one I get when he finds out what he’s doing tomorrow. The smallest things mean the most to some people. He might be happy about coming to the gym, but I’m feeling taller than Gunner knowing I made him that way.

Walking into the clubhouse I see a few brothers hanging out and Gee pushing a ball around with his snout. I walk to a couch, take a seat and pull a small t-shirt from my back pocket.

“Gee! Come here, buddy.”

Gee trots over to my side and I take a minute to rub his head. He grunts and snorts a few times and then flops on his side. That’s his sign to let me know he wants his belly scratched. I oblige and then shift him around until I get the t-shirt on his jiggly little body. He gets up, shakes all over and takes off trotting toward Gunner’s office. I laugh at the shirt I put on him that reads: Pork this!

After a shower and some down time in my room, I reenter the main room of the clubhouse and walk across the floor to the pool table where Vex is standing. I wanted to spend some time with Pippa tonight, but she had a few things to finish up at work that would take her into the evening, so here I am. Vex is leaning against the pool table, just staring off into space, when I stop next to him and give him a shoulder bump.

“What’s up with you, Vex? You’ve been off for a few days now. You coming down with something, fucker?” I ask him.

“No, I’m fine. Bored, actually. It’s pretty quiet around here since the sluts aren’t allowed unless invited,” he answers.

“Is that a problem for you?”

“Not really. I thought it would be, but I don’t mind not getting pawed at all of the time. Working security at the strip club gives me more than enough of that. I’ve been working there quite a bit lately and I thought I’d love it. I don’t. It sucks and I’m ready to do something else,” he tells me, saying way more than I expected.

“Let’s go for a ride. It’ll do us both some good,” I suggest just as my phone pings.

Rex: The kid’s dad got sprung early from jail. He just got released.

Me: Craig’s dad?

Rex: Yep.

Me: Fuck! Can you find out if he has the right to go pick Craig up?

Rex: He doesn’t. He’s lost his rights to the kid. Doesn’t mean he won’t cause trouble.

Me: Yeah. Thanks. Keep me posted if you hear anything else.

Rex: Will do. Need help with anything, I’m in.

Me: Thanks.

“What’s up?” asks Vex.

“Craig’s dad got out of jail earlier than expected.”

“Fuck! He’s not going after the kid is he?”

“I hope not. Let’s head over there just in case,” I suggest.

“Text Pippa. Better give her a heads-up,” suggests Vex as he pulls his phone out and starts texting.

“Who are you texting?” I ask as I shoot a text off to Pippa.

“Axel. If shit’s going to go down and we don’t invite him, we’ll have to listen to him whine about being left out.”

“Shit, Pippa isn’t answering. Let’s ride,” I tell Vex as I start for the door.

“Ax texted he’s alone at the gym and can’t come,” Vex states.

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