Page 4 of Flick

“Anchorman,” Flick said, then started the motorcycle.

She held on as he pulled out of the parking lot. Flick was obviously trying to cheer her up. She adored Anchorman. Flick thought it was funny, but watching it once a year was plenty for him. This would be the second time since she and Kerwin had broken up that Flick had picked it for their movie night. She’d have to think of some way to pay him back. Maybe she’d make him a double batch of her chocolate chip cookies. He loved them and would usually eat them all in one night.

She wasn’t happy that she’d fallen for a guy who had taken her trust and abused it, but she had her family, the bail bonds, the MC, and her best friend, Flick. She could get through anything with them.

Chapter Three

Flick lined up to take his shot on the pool table. It had been twelve days since he’d had his chat with Beth, and he thought it had made a difference. Beth was in Kansas City because Baron had lost his mind thinking his youngest, Ariel, had been kidnapped or was the victim of human traffickers. Flick didn’t want to laugh but was in hysterics listening to Beth relate to him how War and Baron had tracked Ariel’s bike with four trackers. Human trafficking was no joke, but Ariel sending all four trackers in different directions was funny. It’s not like Ariel was a child. Flick didn’t know her exact age, but he’d guess she was either in her late thirties or barely forty.

“Quit daydreaming and take your shot,” Cruise said.

Flick rolled his eyes and took his shot, knocking one of his striped balls into the pocket. He gauged his next best shot, lined up, and then skidded along the felt when Slice’s yell ofOh, c’mon!startled him.

“Thanks, Slice,” Cruise called.

“Thanks for what?” Slice asked.

“Your yell might actually give me a chance to get some balls in a pocket,” Cruise said.

“Glad I could help. Maybe you could come knock the controller out of Dex’s hand when our race starts as a thank you,” Slice suggested.

Flick laughed as Dex gave Slice the finger. He was enjoying just relaxing with the guys tonight. He had the next forty-eight hours off and wanted to relax, eat some good food, and maybe watch a couple of movies. It sucked that Beth was in Kansas City because he’d be back on shift when she returned. She seemed to be doing better. He wished he knew some way to help her get through this part.

He took a sip of his beer, waiting to see if he was going to get another chance or if Cruise was going to clear the table. He hadn’t realized how tightly he was wound during his shift until he’d woken up the next morning and the guys had said they were having a pool and poker night.

Poker wasn’t starting until later. Some of the Nelson cousins couldn’t make it until nine. According to Dex, they said if it was okay, they’d wait until morning to head home. November was a prime time for deer to cross the road, and they were riding their motorcycles tonight.

Twist had picked up snacks from the diner that they were getting ready to dive into as soon as the Nelsons arrived. This was what he’d found with Bluff Creek and why it felt like home: an extended family of brothers who always had his back.

“Pay up, daydreamer,” Cruise said, holding out his hand. Flick sighed and rolled his eyes. It was his own fault for thinking about everything but the game. He’d need to make sure he paid attention during poker because he wasn’t losing.

He pulled out his wallet and selected the most crinkled ten-dollar bill he could find. Cruise was persnickety about hismoney. It all had to face the same way, and he never folded them at all. Giving him the wrinkled one would annoy him until he could get rid of it. Heck, if he lost, at least he could annoy his brother.

Cruise stared at the wrinkled bill, then snatched it out of his hand. “Asshole.”

Flick chuckled.

“The party people are here. Who is ready to lose some money?” Halligan yelled as he walked in.

“I thought you guys were riding your bikes. Halligan sounds like he’s been drinking the supplies from the bar because he’s never this happy,” Dex said.

Halligan was definitely grumpy sometimes. Well, maybe all of the time, but working with their oil properties and the employees that ran them, Flick imagined Halligan needed to be tough. He was definitely a leader when the cousins all hung out with Bluff Creek.

“Halligan is happy because he’s a conniving, devious jerk who has no care for any of his cousins,” Gaines grumbled.

“You’re just sorry you didn’t think of it first,” Halligan said.

Flick opened the food containers because he wasn’t waiting on the cousins to finish the story, as it took forever. Once he had his plate, he found a place at one of the poker tables and started eating. Halligan filled a plate and sat down beside him.

“Well?” Flick asked.

Halligan chuckled, finished swallowing, then smiled. “I might have figured out a way to get to hunt every day after Thanksgiving for rifle season, and they’re all mad they didn’t think of it.”

Flick smiled, finished off the food on his plate, and decided to get some dessert before the game started. It was never dull when they all got together. He wasn’t one for hunting, though he knew some of the brothers did. Flick preferred movie watching andreading, and he’d begun to enjoy baking since Beth had started teaching him. He was trying to figure out a new hobby that he could do while working. There was only so much cleaning and cooking to do in a small EMS building.

“Okay, let’s get this started. I’m ready for you all to fund my trip to the Jelly Roll/Post Malone concert in St. Louis next year,” Quinton said.

“Seriously, you make plenty of money. Why do we need to fund your trip to the concert, and why didn’t you ask me to go, jerk?” Crewe asked.

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