Page 92 of Pooh

“Yeah, about that. It’s your real name, but how you got it is probably not a story you’d want to hear, son,” Petey says while laughing his ass off.

“Wait! Mom said I was named Axel because she thought it was a cool name for a baby of a biker and one that would most likely become a biker when he grew up!” Axel says.

“One and only time your mom was being kind, Ax. And since you just took such joy at embarrassing my good friend and brother Pooh, let me share the truth. When we first met, your mom liked outdoor sex. One day, I’m in the garage working on a broken-down truck. She walks in, things got heated, and next I know, she has her hands on the truck’s axel, which was sitting to the side, and I’m doing her hard. She got pregnant and that’s how you got your name.”

“What the ever-loving fuck, Pops! Too much info, Old Man! Jesus should slap the shit out of you for telling me that!” Axel shouts as he gets to his feet, grabs Bailey’s hand and storms out of the clubhouse to the roaring laughter of the rest of us.

“Was any of that the truth?” asks a giggling Trudy.

“Not a word. Axel’s mom named him for the reasons she told him. I just like to fuck with him sometimes. It keeps things interesting,” chuckles Petey.

Pippa

Pooh’s house is ready to move into and he’s determined that Craig and I move in with him there. He insisted we help him pick out all of the furnishings and one of the bedrooms is obviously done up for Craig. Craig has been begging for us to move in there. He wants to be with Pooh and close to the club members, Bella and the pets. I want to live with Pooh very much. But there is a small part of me that’s afraid to give up my safety net of having my own place to fall back to if things don’t work out though. I’ve talked to Tammy about it and she thinks I’m crazy for worrying about it, but I still do. Pooh said he understood my concern, but he looked a little hurt and then I felt bad for bringing it up.

Trigger: Will you have lunch with me today?

Me: Of course!

Trigger: Pick you up in an hour.

Me: Okay. See you then.

“Tammy said you’re nervous about moving in with Pooh. She explained why. I get it, Pippa. I do. But I wanted to take a minute and talk to you about it,” Trigger states as soon as our food is placed in front of us.

“I’m not completely nervous. He’s great and I want our relationship to continue. I just worry a little that if it goes bad, it’ll leave me and Craig in a bind. I know Pooh would never just kick us out and make us homeless. He’d never do that to anyone, but after the way shit went down with me and Cal, I still worry. I know it’s stupid,” I answer.

“None of your concerns are stupid, doll. You have solid reasons for them and they should be taken into consideration. But here’s something I want you to think about too. Pooh has never had a serious relationship because he never found someone he wanted to have one with until you. He’s committed, to his bones, to you and Craig. He loves that kid like he’s his own. And I know his feelings for you run very deep.”

“I know he is and I feel that way about him too.”

“I’d like to buy your house from you, to use as an investment, a rental home. If shit goes sideways at some point with you and Pooh, you and Craig will be moving in with me and Tammy at my house. That’s not up for debate. Neither Tammy nor I would allow anything less. Tammy’s my Ol’ Lady right now, but she’ll be my wife soon enough. That’ll officially make you and Craig my family, too. Though, I have to say, I already consider both of you as mine. And if I own your house, you and Craig could move back there if you wanted your own place again.”

I feel wetness hit my eyes at this rough and tough biker declaring us as his. There are so many layers to him and I’m finding that I love each one of them.

“Love you, Trigger,” I whisper.

“Love you too, Pips. And I love being a grandpa to Craig. Regardless of how things go with you and Pooh, no one’s taking that away from me. You and him, me and Tammy, one family no matter what,” he whispers back in his gruff voice. A voice I have come to rely on and love hearing.

“You’re right, as usual. I’ll sell you my house and I’ll let Pooh know that he’s got me and Craig moving in,” I tell Trigger while watching his face light up. “I lost big, as a kid, when my parents died. I didn’t think I’d survive it, but Tammy insisted that I did just that. She never gave up on me. And I never thought she could top all that she did for me back then, but she has. She’s given me you. Best parents ever,” I quietly tell him and watch as his face gets soft.

We finish up our meal, while laughing and making plans for the house and my move, and mostly just enjoy our time together. I can’t wait to tell Pooh and Craig that we’re going to be living together at Pooh’s new house. And that together, we’re going to make it a home.

On our drive back to New Horizons, Trigger suddenly stops his truck in the middle of the street and busts out laughing hard. Car horns are honking and he’s totally ignoring them as he stares across the street. I look that direction and realize we’re in front of the steakhouse that we were banned from and my mouth about hits the floorboard.

On the cement wall, above the plate glass windows, someone spray painted a bright orange message. It reads: MANAGER VICK BEATS HIS MEAT! And below that, on the windows themselves, is a painted stick drawing of a man doing just that. Holy fuck balls! I whip out my phone and take a few quick pics to show Pooh. He’ll love this shit! Trigger looks my direction and we both start laughing again. Good times!

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“Reno has bred Loki to one of his females but she hasn’t taken yet,” Ava says. “You could always wait until she does and get one of Loki’s pups.”

“That’s what Pooh said too, but I don’t want to wait that long. I think he needs a pet sooner than that. He loves yours so much that they’re all he talks about,” I answer.

“A friend at the animal rescue texted me earlier and said she has several dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, and even a ferret that are all available right now. Want to take a run over there and look around?”

“No! For God sakes woman, you go there and we’ll have another pet before the day is over,” shouts Gunner.

Ava turns an impish smile Gunner’s direction before turning back to me, waiting for my answer. Gunner is behind her, waving his arms wildly at me while shaking his head no. His eyes turn pleading and I have to laugh at his antics. Ava doesn’t even turn around; she just waves her hand in dismissal at him.

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