Page 43 of Dev

“There have been some young women murdered lately. The club is staying vigilant and having Vike at the house ha—” I stop speaking when the door opens and Greaser steps inside carrying two brown grocery bags.

“Alicia.” He nods me a greeting, and looks surprisingly shy as he heads straight toward the kitchen.

“Sid Stowman, you get right back here and give the mother to your niece a proper greeting,” Iris calls after him, and when he comes out of the kitchen free from the bags, he looks even more embarrassed.

“Good to see ya, Alicia.” He leans down and kisses my cheek, and the way his beard tickles almost has me giggling. It’s more wiry than Vike’s. Vike’s is soft, and I know he works hard to keep it that way. I’ve seen his beard oil in the bathroom.

“Now that we’re all here, I’ll get us something to eat. I want my grandbaby to come out all cute and chubby.” Iris flits off excitedly to the kitchen, leaving me and Greaser alone.

“So it’s a girl you're having?” He eventually breaks the silence, sitting on the arm of the chair opposite me and stroking his palms on his thighs.

“Yeah, I just found out today.” I smile, noticing a difference in him since the last time I was here; he seems a lot less angry and more subdued.

“And she’s good?” he asks, looking as if he actually cares.

“She’s perfect. Here.” I take the photo from my purse and hand it over to him. “I asked the sonographer to print me an extra one, thought your mom could update the one she has on the fridge.” I watch the way he looks at it and smiles.

“I think Grill would have liked a girl; he sure would have spoiled her.” He laughs to himself as he hands it back over. “Course, he’d have shot up every guy that ever dared to come near here when she was older, too.”

“I don’t doubt it.” I laugh with him. Suddenly feeling so selfish for having her all to myself. I never knew the good side of Griller for very long, but it was there, and I know he would have shared it with our little girl right from the second she was born.

“You got everything you need for her? Ya making your bills okay?” Greaser checks, sounding concerned. “I heard ‘bout what happened to Saul and I’m sorry.”

“We’re fine, Vike’s living at the house, so it’s not just me paying the bills, and she’s gonna have everything she needs when she gets here,” I assure him, stroking my tummy when I feel her rolling around.

“Are you and him–”

“Oh god, no.” I shake my head. “We’re strictly friends.”

“I see.” Greaser nods, but he doesn't seem at all convinced.

“Anyway, enough about me. How's nomad life treating you?” I ask, wanting to move on from the subject of Vike. I can’t think about him without cringing.

“Well, I’m still sleeping here on the couch, so I guess it could be better. Eventually, I’ll find a Charter to settle down at. I was considering Arizona, until all that shit went down with Cam,” he admits.

“You’d have blended right in.” I smile, then, when I realize my mouth has run away with me, I cover my mouth and hate how disappointed he looks by my words. “I didn’t mean..Shit, I?—”

“I know what you meant,” he sniggers back at me. “Don’t worry ‘bout it.”

“Honestly, Greaser, I…I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“You don’t have to lie to me; everyone knows I left Long Beach because I didn’t like the way Raze was turning things. I joined the club for some action, and he was sucking all the fun right outta Long Beach by wading in and trying to play nice.”

“I thought it was the pain of being there without your brother.” I smile, letting him know that it’s a valid reason. He doesn't have to try and be strong with me. I’ve lost a brother, too, now. I know how he feels.

“Well, there’s that, too,” he admits, staring into my eyes and holding them intensely.

“I made Seggy’s favorite to mark the occasion,” Iris interrupts, flitting back in from the kitchen and placing a tray of sandwiches on the coffee table. “Tuna salad and pickles.” She smiles, lifting one up and handing it to me.

“Perfect.” I politely take a bite, looking across to Greaser and smiling at him awkwardly.

It’s dark by the time I get home, and I would have been back much earlier if Iris hadn’t made it so hard for me to get away. She must have kissed my belly at least twenty times before she allowed me to leave, and when I see that Vike’s bike is parked outside, I realize it’s time to face up to what happened earlier. I have no idea how to approach this, just the thought of seeing him again is making me want to die with shame, but I have to suck it up.

Pulling up my big girl pants,and these days they really are big pants, I open the door and head inside.

“Alicia.” Vike immediately looks across from the television to me and quickly stands on his feet.

“At ease, soldier, I’m not gonna try kissing you again,” I assure him, dumping my bag on the side table.

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