Page 15 of Coast

“Brother, you got issues. I can walk in the house and know when Carly’s been on a shopping spree,” Crusher said and laughed when he was flipped off by Devil.

“Ah, babe, it’s because I’m usually wearing what I bought, and it’s more for you than me, anyway,” Carly said, and Speed groaned.

“Please stop. And before you argue that you watched what you said, I’m not asking because of the little ears at the table. I’m asking as a brother who doesn’t want to have to bleach his brain.”

“No shit, we’re all thankful you two started closing the bedroom window,” Flirt said, then leaned up and pulled his wallet out. I watched as he pulled a dollar bill out, then he held it across the table. Ally’s little hand reached out and snatched it, then she leaned back in her chair and stuffed it in the front pocket of her jeans.

I looked around the table, and everyone continued as if what happened was normal.

“Wait,” I said, and all heads turned to me. “I know I’m a little tired, but why did you just pay Ally a dollar?” I looked at Flirt, but Ally answered.

“‘Cause Uncle Flirt said a bad word. They all have to pay me when they say bad words.” Ally blinked, and her facial expression read ‘duh’ as if she’d spoken it.

“All the men in the club pay you?” I asked, and the grin that spread across Ally’s face made me laugh.

When I leaned over and stuck my arm out with my hand in a fist, I knew I had moved past tired and into that space where exhaustion takes hold and the silliness surfaces. Ally bumped hers to mine, and I grinned.

“When I found out she was making them pay her, I was going to put a stop to it but figured the men deserved it. So, I make her put it in the bank. By the time she’s old enough for college, it could be paid for,” Sami explained.

“Roscoe’s payments alone to Ally will probably cover her first year,” Luna said.

“Ah, sweetheart, don’t pick on Roscoe when he isn’t here to defend himself,” Ghost said and put his arm around Luna, then pulled her into him and kissed the top of her head. I thought what a sweet gesture and was shocked when Luna pulled back and looked up at the man who was intimidating in size alone.

“You takin’ up for Roscoe, makes me wonder how much you paid shyster girl this past week.” Luna narrowed her eyes at Ghost, and all he did was grin. Not saying a word. Luna then turned and looked at Ally. “Give it up, my biker babe sister.”

“I made seven bucks from Uncle Ghost and eight from Uncle Dare.”

Luna looked back at Ghost. “In my defense, one of the big toolboxes fell off the side of the truck and landed on mine and Dare’s feet.”

“Ally, what’d I tell you about tattling?” Speed asked, and I watched as Ally bit her lip as if she was thinking over his words.

“Not to do it. And I didn’t tell Momma you had to pay me ten dollars when the paint can fell over and spilled on the floor,” she said, then looked down at her lap. I wanted to get up and hug her.

I watched Speed look at Sami and smile, then he ran his hand over Ally’s hair like he’d done to Sami in the exam room. “I’m not mad. I should have told your momma myself.” When Ally looked up and met his eyes, the love reflected from each of them for each other had a lump forming in my throat. To witness these big bikers melt for the women in their lives amazed me. It also had me more than a little curious if Emery would be the same way.

“I need to go to the potty, Dev,” Neely said, pulling me away from Speed and Ally in time to watch a stricken look cross Devil’s face before his eyes shot to Bailey.

“Babe?”

“She asked you. And you seriously need to get over your aversion of dealing with bodily functions.”

“It isn’t that. When I take her in the men’s room, she asks about the urinals, and when I explained what they were for, she asked if she could pee standing up.”

“Oh for goodness sakes take your sister to the bathroom. Go in the women’s room. Thelma won’t care,” Bailey said and lifted a brow at Devil as if waiting for his next excuse.

“Fine,” Devil said and glared at Bailey, who smiled back, not the least affected by his action. “Come on, little sis. You and me against the world,” he said, grinned at Neely while he helped her out of the chair, then stuck his fist out. Neely grinned up at him and bumped her little fist to his. I then watched the two hold hands and walk toward the restrooms at the back of the diner still unsure of what I just saw.

“Uncanny, isn’t it? They look nothing alike until they smile,” Carly said.

I turned and faced her. “That’s it. I never noticed it before. When they do it at the same time, it’s kinda creepy,” I whispered the last of it in the hopes the others wouldn’t hear, but no such luck when Carly burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Crusher asked Carly, who had no problem sharing what I said.

I felt my face heat with embarrassment and hoped no one would think I was making fun of Neely and Devil. I looked at Bailey apologetically, and she laughed.

“God, Mac, don’t be embarrassed. We’ve all said the same thing. You’ve seen him palm her face, but you haven’t seen it when Neely palms his back, then they both grin at each other, it’s like they share some weird vibe. I’d say it was because they are brother and sister, but I didn’t share anything like that with James,” Bailey said.

“I don’t share it with my brother either,” I said.

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