Page 2 of Coast

“Son, you’ll always be the best thing to happen in my life. Don’t ever forget that.”

I stared at my dad, reached my hand out, and placed it on top of his. “I think that’s my line.” I squeezed his hand. “You’ve always been there for me, no matter what. Even when you may have disagreed with my choices or a decision I made. I hope you know that goes both ways. You decide to pursue Thelma, I’m in your corner. And I’ll have your back if Bull and Tank give you shit over it.”

When I let go of his hand, he removed his from my shoulder and slapped me on the back. “Go join the others before we get any mushier.”

“But I love ya, old man,” I said, grinning, then started to walk away.

“Love you, son.”

I was still smiling as I walked toward the grumbling and complaining group of men.

“I give this party no more than fifteen minutes after the kids are taken home to get out of hand. Two-thirds of the brothers are already drunk off their asses,” Flirt said as I moved to stand beside him while he waved his hand in front of us to the group of unattached brothers the women had gathered together. Most of them swayed on their feet as they grumbled. Though, I found it amusing that not one moved from where the women told them to stand.

“It will be good as long as they don’t make any fast moves. Otherwise, we could be untangling them for days,” I said just as Bull grabbed the back of Tank’s vest when he tilted forward.

“Damn women, I didn’t want any part of this either.” Flirt pointed to Carly, Sami, Bailey, and Luna as they stood in front of the group. “‘Oh, just do it. He’s your brother. It’s his and River’s day.’That was Carly’s speech, then Sami’s and Luna’s eyes watered up, because pregnancy hormones are a bitch, and then Speed and Ghost glared at me as if daring me to hurt the women’s feelings. And Bailey, she didn’t say a word, just pointed to where I needed to go. So yeah, here I am with these drunk bastards, wondering when we all lost our dicks and grew vaginas.”

I snorted and wondered how much Flirt had drank.

“Yet, you’re standing here bitching like a woman,” Ghost said as he walked up and smacked Flirt on the back. I chuckled when Flirt flipped him off.

“Fuck you, Ghost. You’re only saying that because I didn’t hear them harassing you or the others into this crap. A matter of fact, after the women got their way and corralled us, your asses scattered,” Flirt griped.

“Hey, it’s for unattached brothers, which we are not. But I’m not ashamed to admit that goddamn straight we got the hell away. And I plan to keep away from the women in case they change their minds. Devil mentioned that he, Crusher, Speed, and I needed to restock the bar and coolers before the after-the-kids-hour party gets started.” Ghost chuckled and started toward the clubhouse. Where I would guarantee the others were already hiding since not one was in sight as I glanced around.

“Sad day when bikers hide from a group of women!” I yelled.

Ghost laughed, never missing a step as he yelled over his shoulder. “Being a biker ain’t got shit to do with it. Getting hot sex later because our women are feeling all romantic and shit—everything.”

Flirt and I both laughed and watched Ghost beeline for the backdoor of the clubhouse.

“He’s come a long way since you brought him home with you, Flirt.” I shook my head as we watched Ghost stop at the backdoor and look around, then he slipped into the clubhouse.

“I’m not going to lie. There were days I wondered if my old friend would ever reappear. I knew he was struggling, and it sucked ass not being able to help him. Running into Luna couldn’t have come at a better time for him. Don’t know how much longer he would have lasted if she hadn’t come back into his life.”

“Can’t deny our brothers are proof of what a good woman can do for you,” I said while I looked around for Mac and saw her standing off to the side.

“If you see that, then what the fuck are you waiting for, Coast? You’ve never held back when you wanted something. Not understanding why you’re holding off now. Especially if you can have the chance at what the others have found.”

The whistles and catcalls had Flirt and me facing toward the front of the crowd where River sat in the chair, and Jag knelt in front of her. The sounds resulted because her dress slid halfway up her thigh when Jag lifted one of her legs and rested her foot on his shoulder.

We watched our brother as he ran his hands from River’s ankle, up her leg until he reached the garter she wore around mid-thigh. He popped the band but left it where it was and ran his hands back down her leg. Boos erupted, and Jag turned toward the crowd and smirked, then turned back, placed his lips at River’s ankle, and proceeded to kiss and nibble his way up her leg.

“Good grief, I’m going inside until this is over. One investigation in a man’s career is plenty,” Sheriff Lance mumbled as he moved past Flirt and me. We waited until he was out of earshot before we laughed.

“Hope to hell he isn’t packing. Things could get out of hand.”

“Jag’s safe. Will actually likes him. And I don’t think the investigation bothered him as much as the fact the ex-son-in-law still breathes. That pisses him off more than anything,” I said as hoots and hollers filled the air and grew louder as River blushed and covered her face with her hands.

“Yeah, and it wouldn’t look good to kill his grandbaby’s daddy.”

“There is that,” I answered just as Jag’s mouth reached the garter on River’s thigh. He used his teeth to grab hold of it, then worked it down River’s leg until he had it off. After he pulled her hands from her face and kissed her on the lips, he stood.

“You know, sometimes I don’t give my dad enough credit,” I said, and Flirt looked at me, and his brows furrowed.

“For what?” Just as Flirt asked, Jag used the pointer finger on each of his hands and launched the garter slingshot style into the air.

“Reminding me that some traditions are important to keep up with.” I chuckled as I watched my brothers shoved each other around.

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