Page 78 of Pooh

Me: How’s Craig?

Pippa: A little better. Temp is under 100 now.

Me: Good! Has he eaten?

Pippa: Ava sent lunch. Homemade soup and bread. But he wanted your pancakes. He kept one down so far.

Me: That’s great. I have church after work then I’ll come to your house. Okay?

Pippa: Perfect. See you then.

-*- -*- -*- -*-

“Axel, if you could stop moaning for a few minutes, we can wrap shit up here and you can take your sorry ass home,” Gunner barks after being interrupted for the second time in as many minutes.

“I’m sick! Have a heart for fuck’s sake. Just because you didn’t get morning sickness doesn’t mean it’s not real for those of us who have!” Axel replies.

Several chuckles can be heard around the room. Nobody has told Axel yet that he has the flu, not morning sickness. Why ruin our fun?

“If you have sympathetic morning sickness, does that mean you might get some of the other pregnancy symptoms?” asks Trigger with a grin.

“I guess it’s possible. My feet do look a little swollen,” Axel answers while holding up his size 14 foot that is currently resting in a flip flop. Yeah, a flip flop doesn’t scream biker but Axel thinks he’s rocking it. Who am I to burst his bubble?

“Is that nail polish on your toes?” questions Petey with raised eyebrows. More chuckles are heard as we all look and see several shades of nail polish gracing his toenails.

“Let me die in peace, Pops,” Axel groans out while flopping his head down on his crossed arms on the table. “Yes, it is and it’s there because, as a big brother, I fucking rock! Bella wanted to try out some different shades to see which she liked best. She used me as her canvas. I’m happy to spend time with my little sister and you all can go fuck yourselves! You could learn a lot about being a nice guy from me,” he mumbles into his arms.

“I’ve noticed you’re moodier lately. Pregnancy hormones, I’m sure,” Reeves adds his two cents worth. Chuckles turn to outright laughter at the dirty look Axel shoots his way before dropping his head down again.

“And your ass is wider too,” laughs Freddy.

“Are your man breasts tender?” asks Cash with a grin.

“Bright side, Axel. At least your periods will stop for several months,” I spout.

“Okay, everyone. Let’s get back on track before Axel goes into labor,” Gunner spits out before dissolving into laughter.

Axel leaves his forehead resting on the table but both hands, with middle fingers extended, are raised and waved around. Axel officially has no comeback. Our work here is done.

“Pooh, Trigger, my office,” Gunner says as we’re all leaving church.

We turn and follow him through the door and I drop my ass into a chair. Of course, just to annoy Gunner, I prop the heels of my boots on the corner of his desk. He shoots my feet a dirty look before leveling it at my face. I grin. He shakes his head and takes a seat behind the desk. Trigger leans against the wall while waiting for Gunner to speak.

“What’s up, Prez?” I ask.

“You both know that if you need help with anything concerning New Horizons or your women, you can come to me or any of the brothers, right?” Gunner questions while moving his eyes from me to Trigger and back.

“Of course,” I answer at the same time that Trigger says, “Yeah.”

Gunner looks serious for a moment and then his face breaks into a huge grin as he shakes his head.

“I’ll give you, whichever one of you did it, points for originality,” he says while laughing.

I look over at Trigger to see his face showing the same confusion I’m feeling. What the hell?

“What the fuck are you talking about, Prez?” Trigger asks.

Gunner stops laughing abruptly and looks closely at both of us before stating, “That guy that refused to leave New Horizons. You two went there to check on Pippa. Remember him?”

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