Page 83 of Maverick

She gazed up at Joker and placed her hand on his bicep. “Do you mind helping me carry some bags in? They are super heavy.” Bambi batted her eyes at Joker and Goose started to walk toward them.

I placed my hand on his shoulder to hold him back. He turned back and glared at me. “Mav. Come on, Brother.”

Bambi and Joker walked out the door and Goose slammed his fist against a beam in the middle of the room. “Fuck! I’m so fucking done with women. Done. I’m sticking to one-night stands. No more fucking feelings. The women in this town are driving me up the fucking wall.”

Striker, Wrench, and I laughed. Wrench shook his head and patted Goose on the back. “Brother, women will always drive you crazy.”

I nodded toward the large window where we could see Bambi and Joker in her car. “What’s going on with that shit anyway? Heard she’s done being a club girl.”

Goose shrugged his shoulders. “I want her to be done, but she doesn’t want to be. She’s got so much fucking potential. Bambi can do something with her life other than fucking Brothers. I mean she’s doing great at the strip club, but I just want her to be happy. Not putting on this fake face every day.”

“Looks like Goose has a little crush on Bambi.”

Striker and Wrench started to laugh. Goose started to get angry again.

“No! Maybe. It’s not like that. Life is too complicated right now anyways. I’ve got fucking Ellie Jo up my ass, Olivia the kindergarten teacher keeps eyeing me around town, and some tourist woman has been blowin’ up my phone.”

Wrench just shook his head and laughed. “So many women and only one little dick for poor Goose.”

“Fuck off, man!”

I laughed and punched Goose in the arm. “Is the tourist why Bambi is all upset at you, Brother?”

He nodded just as she came back in the door with Joker. She glared at Goose as she passed him then turned to Joker and placed her hand on his bicep again.

“Thank youso muchfor helping me. You’ll have to come by the Clubhouse sometime and I’ll bake you up some cookies to thank you.”

Goose growled and stomped out of the building. Bambi just shrugged and got to work emptying the bags and bringing things into the back office. Joker looked around at Striker, Wrench, and me.

“Did I miss something? Is this his Old Lady or something? Fuck. I’m already pissing one of you guys off.”

Striker laughed and patted him on the back. “Nah, man. She’s a club girl that Goose has a soft spot for. I would stay far away from that shit show.”

Joker nodded and Striker headed out the door. I turned to Wrench and Joker and looked around at the empty room.

“Enough chit-chat, Brothers. What do you say we get to work?”

We started to open up cans of paint just as the Prospects came in to help. Within an hour, the room was painted and ready to go. The floor was perfect as it was; old barn wood with some love to it.

Bambi came out of the office just as Lilah and the twins came through the front door. They smiled at each other and started to plan where to hang things.

Wrench, Joker, and I headed out the door down to the local diner for some dinner for everybody. Willow was coming home soon and we needed to get this project done. Plus, I had a surprise in the works for her as well.

We brought dinner back and I said goodbye and headed back to the Medical Center for dinner with Willow.

I walked to her room only to find her curled up on her bed with Orion at her feet. The night nurse smiled as she walked by the door.

“Willow had an episode today when we tried to help her in the bath. The water was cold and it triggered her. Thankfully Orion helped her calm down. She climbed in bed after that and refused to eat. She’ll be hungry in the morning. Extra sheets are on the chair and we moved the pullout couch into her room for you. It’s the same height as her bed.”

I nodded and started to move the couch near Willow’s bed. The nurse popped her head back in the room. “Oh, Maverick. Orion can stay for the rest of the week with her. You’re doing a good job, Hunny. Willow is lucky to have a man like you.”

I smiled as I got to work making my bed. Climbing in, I rolled toward Willow and wrapped my arms around her. She grumbled, but then curled right into me.

“Don’t ever leave me again.”

I kissed the top of Willow’s head as I rubbed her back.

“Never again. Even when Snake is taken care of, you will always be by my side, baby girl.”

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