Page 39 of Brother to Brother

“Oh lord,” Everett rolled her eyes. “The Pinterest Queen is in the house.”

Laughter ensued, and I felt like the atmosphere became a bit lighter. The questions came rapid and fierce after that and before the day was through, we had colors and cake, table covers and a guest list, which sadly involved no one but Noah on my side of things.

Ashton and Hayden volunteered to be my bridesmaids and I graciously accepted, they took it upon themselves to appoint Rush and Nox as groomsmen. They also volunteered Dragon to officiate which left me a bit flabbergasted.

“He did my wedding,” Hayden said.

“And mine!” Mandy piped up.

“Ours too,” Shelly said with a grin.

“Trigger and I got engaged around last Christmas, we’re planning on a winter weddingnextChristmas, and he’ll likely do ours too,” Ashton said.

“You really don’t think he’ll mind?” I asked.

“This is a case of too bad, so sad, if he does,” Everett said with a wink and the rest of the women laughed.

“Things are far different out here than they were in Arizona, apparently,” Shelly said dryly.

“We’re all treated very well, and we’re all so, very loved here,” Dani said, “They make sure of it. The last club I was with,” she shook her head, “trust me, we all know how very lucky we are.”

Solemn nods of agreement from every last one of them made me feel vaguely jealous and so very happy for them all at the same time. It was an odd mix of feelings to be sure. I thought I’d had what they did with Grinder, until I’d become accidentally pregnant with Noah. I’d been through so many emotions in that time, I’d even wanted to hate my baby for chasing Grinder away, but then he’d been born, even with how awful that had been, the moment I’d gotten to see him, to hold him in my arms, it’d been instant love and devotion.

That love, that devotion, it’d only grown stronger and hadn’t waivered not one bit which is why, even now, I was readily agreeing to enter into a loveless marriage, and not only that, but to sacrifice my body and even another piece of my heart, so that I could bear this man another child, one that, undoubtedly I would love, too… all so I could secure a solid and better future for the sweet boy whose attention was rapt on the large television screen while I talked with the rest of the women of this chapter.

“Okay everyone, I think we might be overwhelming her a little bit, let’s take it down a notch,” I heard Everett say and it was as if her word were the final say among them, everyone falling quiescent.

“I’m sorry,” I said shaking my head, “I didn’t mean to get so wrapped up inside my own head.”

“It’s okay,” Dani said with a slight smile. “You’re marryingArcher, and I, for one, totally get how that would be enough to driveanyoneto distraction.”

I looked at her, almost with new eyes in that moment as she brought her long, dark hair over her shoulder, running it through her hands, sketchpad and pencils balanced on her knees.

“Archer runs hot then cold, then hot again. It can be tough keeping track sometimes,” I admitted and that was putting it mildly. I remember listening to the girls talk, back in Arizona. About how, when he did happen to indulge in a club girl, he could be less than gentle. If they were being generous, they would say how he simply liked it rough sometimes, other times they said he didn’t care one way or the other. That he was demanding in the sack. Words like, rough, punishing, and painful, were commonly used as was the phrase ‘too much to take.’

It made me nervous, knowing exactly how babies were made, that I was volunteering for that kind of sex, although Grinder could be all of those things too, I’d been in love with him. I’d at the very least liked him enough towanthim. Archer was an unknown quantity. Attractive? Sure, but it took a lot more than rugged good looks for me to want a man and Archer was nothing like Grinder had been, he had none of the qualities that had made me love his brother.

Grind had been charming, and sweet. He’d talked to me, and taken an interest in me. He’d shared things with me, not just likes and dislikes, but hopes and dreams as well. We’d gone on rides together, had shared meals and experiences beyond just sex… I had nothing of that with Archer. No foundation at all with which to build off of. Nothing but fear and mostly that of the unknown.

I’d seen Archer hurt men for something as little as a dirty look cast in his direction. I’d even watched him and Grind fist fight on occasion. Archer was formidable and terrifying in those memories and there was only one thing I had taken away from the experience of watching him throw down…don’t piss him off. Don’t make him angry or give him a reason to turn any of that intensity onyou.

“Mamma?” I blinked and smiled down at my son.

“Yes baby?”

“Outside?” he asked.

“You wanna go outside?” I asked and he gave me his stunning little baby grin.

“Yah!” he cried and reached up, opening and closing his little fists in a bid for me to pick him up.

“Okay, up you go!” I stood and picked up my son and Dani stood fluidly out of her perch on the edge of the recliner she’d claimed.

“I’ll walk with you, I need to go out to my shop anyways,” she said. I smiled and nodded.

“Thanks.” I murmured before asking, “Is there anything else you guys need from me right now?”

Ashton looked up from where she, Everett, Hayden, and Mandy had their heads bowed together. She smiled at me and shook her head. Shelly came back from, presumably the bathroom again and asked, “Where you going?”

---