Page 32 of Chubs

“You’ve turned mean, Lucy. I’m sorry, but it’s true. I don’t want to do this anymore. I’ll just wait until Freddy has a day off and—”

“Yes, I have, and no, you won’t. I’m your instructor, and you’re going to learn, or both of us will end up at the hospital. I guarantee you’ll have more bruises than me, though. One more thing I should mention. If you actually do total my car, I’ll tell Taja about you kissing Horse,” I explain with a bite to my voice. “Yes, I know about that, and I know Horse was a total gentleman while trying to explain—again—to you why he can’t go there. You’re not being fair to a guy who’s trying very hard to do the right thing because of your age, and you keep putting him in bad spots with his club brothers. That, along with your bad driving, ends today.”

Tessie stares at me, open-mouthed, for several seconds before her eyes drift past me. Glancing over my shoulder, I see the majority of the club standing by the door of the clubhouse, watching us. I also see money exchanging hands, so I know they’re betting on the outcome of today.

“Chubs has a big mouth,” Tessie grumbles while holding her hand out.

“Among his other faults, yes,” I mutter before setting the keys in her hand. “Do you understand the rules?”

“Yeah, Lucy, I do, but I don’t think you’re being fair,” Tessie snips while starting my car.

“Life’s not fair, Tessie. Learn that lesson now,” I reply while buckling my seat belt. “Take a breath, put your foot on the brake, then put the car in gear. Slowly, let off the brake. Slowly, Tessie, or prepare for an afternoon of pain.”

We drive off club property with it, and us, intact.

Returning to the clubhouse several hours later, I’m in one piece, and Tessie’s only sporting a few bruises. I was right. Pain is a great motivator. I feel zero guilt for being so hard on her because she needed to learn before she seriously hurt herself or someone else.

I ignore the men who rush outside to view my car and take a seat at the bar. Waiting for my drink, I watch Gee, wearing a t-shirt reading “Jiggle Master,” and Snots play tug-of-war with a knotted rope. Duffy, Ava’s temperamental cat, is sleeping soundly in a chair, and thefather/ sonteam of Loki and Cain are laying side by side, keeping a quiet eye on everyone. I roll my eyes in exasperation when Snots spots me, drops the rope, and scurries behind the bar. He dropped the rope so quickly Gee ended up flying backward before landing upside down. It takes a moment of wiggling, but he finally rights himself and looks around in confusion.

“Incoming!” Toes shouts, and I turn in time to stop my drink from sliding off the end of the bar.

“Thanks for today, Lucy,” Tessie says before giving my neck a quick hug.

“You’re alive!” Mac says emphatically as he lands on the bar in front of me, feathers ruffling.

“Shut it, Mac,” Tessie grumbles before lightly poking him in his new bald spot.

“We’re just as surprised as Mac is,” Gunner says with a laugh as the men re-enter the clubhouse.

“I’m going home. I’m too tired and sore to deal with you all tonight,” Tessie states in an exhausted voice before walking out.

“Car doesn’t show any damage. Why’s she sore?” Trigger asks in confusion.

“No idea,” I reply before taking a large swallow from my drink.

When no one speaks, but I find all eyes on me, I take another drink, then set my glass down. I’ve never liked being in the spotlight, and this moment feels like there’s a large one shining on me and me only. Before any of them can start asking questions I don’t want to answer, I ask one of my own.

“Where’s Ava?”

“She’s forking Little A,” Gunner answers absently while staring hard at me.

“I’m going to need you to explain that a little more,” I say with a Mac-like head tilt.

“Little A—the pig I adopted—likes it when someone scratches him with a fork. I have no idea why, but apparently, forking a pig is a thing,” Gunner responds, and I breathe a little easier when understanding hits my brain. “And it calms Ava to spend time with him and the donkeys.”

“How’s she doing with the pregnancy?” I ask.

“Pregnancy is going great. Ava’s temper isn’t doing so well since Chubs left, though,” Petey answers. “Maybe you talking with her could help.”

“Not sure that would, Petey. Two women with hair-trigger tempers mixed together might just cause murder and mayhem instead. There’s nothing I can say to her to make her feel better about him missing. I know from personal experience,” I say while finishing off the last of my drink.

“Does this help?” Petey asks in a quiet voice while giving a nod of his head toward my empty glass.

“Hasn’t yet, but I’m hopeful.”

“It won’t, Lucy, but I’ll drink with you if you want to try,” Petey offers before placing a gentle kiss on my forehead then shouting for refills.

I lean into his shoulder for a moment, then pull away and wait for my next drink to come sliding down the bar. Several hours later, I place my foot on the floor and pray it helps stop the ceiling from spinning. Petey was right. The alcohol didn’t help, and now I’m going to have to pay the consequences for hoping it would.

---