Page 18 of Goose

Goose and I certainly had many fights throughout the years, but none of them this bad. He’s my best friend, my protector, the man I fell in love with. Now he’s just a poor memory.

Today, I’m at the clubhouse getting ready for a big party. Some of our Nomads are showing up later for the war with Joker’s old club, The Shadow Raiders.

He’s going to need help to take over and The Devil’s Highwaymen has offered to help. Things are about to get serious and having a party will help settle some nerves.

Things are quiet in the clubhouse seeing as it’s only five in the morning, but I enjoy this time. Nobody is here to bother me, and I can get things done fast.

The front door opens, and one of the Prospects, Zane, comes strutting in. I smile as he plops down at the bar with his protein shake.

Zane is a good-looking kid who keeps to himself. Short, dark hair, dreamy chocolate brown eyes, and tan skin year-round. He also works out every morning, which explains how he’s all muscles. The girls around town love to flirt with him, but I’ve never seen him with any of them.

“Good morning, Miss Bambi. How’s your morning going?”

I throw my rag down and lean against the bar. “I’m not doing bad, sweetie. How was the gym? Those girls get up to watch you at this hour?”

Zane laughs. “No way. They always say they are going too, but I never see them. This hour isn’t for the faint of heart. What are you doing up this early? You’re normally just getting home.”

“Didn’t work last night. I needed to be here early to get ready for tonight. These boys drive me crazy during the day. Better to get most of it done while they’re all sleeping.”

He nods and takes a sip of his protein shake. “They can be a bit much. Do you need any help? I’ve been up since about three; I’m ready to rock-and-roll whenever you’re set.”

I smile at the young kid. Zane is such a sweet and polite young man, and he’s always willing to help.

“That would be great. The kegs are pretty heavy and I didn’t wear my sneakers today.”

Zane just laughs. “Don’t you worry. I’ll help you out until one of them yells for me. The other guys are at the ranch today, so I have the morning off.”

Walking around the bar, I gently place a kiss on Zane’s cheek. “You’re a sweetheart. Now let’s get to work.”

Zane and I chat about our lives as we work on getting the Clubhouse ready for the party. It ended up; his father was as much of a shitbag as mine was.

Finishing the kegs, we turn to the boxes of food. While Zane brings them in, I unload and sort the food on the counters to be put away.

Zane brings in the last box and turns to me with a curious look on his face.

“You grew up in this town, right?”

I nod and look up at him, “I did, sweetheart. Where did you grow up?”

“On the Reservation. My mom worked at the casino, so she needed help to raise me. As I told you before, my dad would only show up every few months. When he did, he didn’t really help. Beat my mama, drank, smoked, and beat me. Nobody liked him, but he was a big-time roller at the casino.”

My mind brings me back to my father, heading out to the casinos every few months.

“My father went there a lot. He would spend all our money on gambling and leave me and my mother alone with no vehicle. Ended up borrowing money from The Shadow Raiders and not being able to pay.”

Zane turns to me quickly. “The Shadow Raiders?”

I slowly nod.

“They showed up at our trailer a few times when I was growing up. Roughed my mom up looking for my piece of shit sperm donor.”

I turn back to the food and put it away. “They must have lent a lot of money out to men like our fathers for the casino.”

Zane nods but seems quiet for the rest of the day. I try to get him to talk, but he keeps texting on his phone and only gives me a few words.

I shrug and think nothing of it as we continue to work on all my projects of the day.

––––––––

---