Page 3 of Rex

Me: Horse. It’s a surprise though.

I wait patiently because I know I’ll be receiving another text soon. Everyone knows Axel can’t keep a secret. He’s the club’s biggest gossip.

Horse: Flowers? Really? Send money instead.

Me: Thought Gunner took your texting privileges away?

Horse: Only when I’m drinking. Speaking of, want to hit the town tonight?

Me: Yeah, sounds good. 8pm meet at the clubhouse?

Horse: Yep

I set my phone down and get to work cleaning the condo. Laundry is next on the list and then I’ll be able to enjoy a few beers tonight. It’s not too long into my to-do list, though, before my phone chirps again. I set the dust rag down and pick up my phone.

“Yeah,” I say after tapping the screen on my phone.

“What’s up?” Chubs asks.

“Cleaning this pig pen I call a home,” I mutter.

“That sucks balls. Hey, I got a short list of names I was wondering if you could do some digging on and give me whatever info you find. No hurry. Just when you have time, if you don’t mind,” Chubs says.

“Yeah, no problem. I’m not even going near the security office until Monday, though,” I inform him.

“That’s cool. I’ll get you the list before then.”

“How’s things going with Lucy? Back to where they were before?” I ask.

“Things are good. She’s giving me more than I deserve. I know her feelings for me never stopped but complete trust is harder for her now. I earned that mistrust, but she’s a fair person, and I’m a patient man. Things will work out,” Chubs answers in a quiet but confident voice.

“Loving you was never the problem. But you’re right. She’s a fair person, and you’ll re-earn her trust. Got faith in both of you,” I reply before telling him about Candy’s visit today.

“She’s good people. I’m not sure how to repay her for all she did for Lucy while I was gone,” Chubs says.

“A lot of us owe her a debt. She really stepped up for the club and the women while you were gone. Let’s catch Gunner and talk to him about her. Maybe he’ll have some ideas,” I suggest.

“Count me in. Catch ya later,” Chubs answers before disconnecting.

After finishing my housework, I make a quick meal and hit the shower. Walking into my garage, I sling a leg over my metallic silver Harley Breakout 117 and fire it up. I make the ride to the clubhouse and enter to find several club members hanging around, a few with their women. I take a seat at the bar next to Horse and wait for James to set a beer in front of me. When he does, I don’t hesitate to take a long pull.

“What’s new in the world of Rex?” James asks.

“Not a damn thing. How come you’re behind the bar and not a prospect?” I ask.

“No prospects left. Bella hasn’t started yet, and Toes got the boot,” James responds.

“What happened to Cam and that other guy?”

“Where have you been? They left quite a while ago. One due to a job in another state and the other over a family illness or something like that. I don’t know for sure, but I know we currently have no prospects to tend bar,” James answers with a grin.

“You need to look up from the computer sometimes,” Horse states with a laugh.

Looking around the room, I realize that Horse is right. I need to find a way to balance my duties as a club member, my job, and my personal life better than I’ve been doing. I’ve always allowed myself to get buried in a project and ignore the world around me. Time to turn over a new leaf.

I glance toward the main door when it opens and grin when I see Lucy, Chubs, his brother and sister enter. Laughing loudly at something Lucy just said, the four take seats at a nearby table. The door flies open again and Lisa, Lucy’s crazy ass sister, busts through it but beelines toward the bar instead of joining them. Sliding between Horse and I, she plops both elbows on the bar.

“Hi, James. Can I get a beer, please?”

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