Page 20 of Bound By Consequences
The living room fed into the kitchen which was stocked with all the appliances. The realtor had them delivered yesterday before I got here. Stainless steel all the way, and the countertops looked like marble with whites, browns, and blacks swirled around, but really it was fake marble.
It looked good and wouldn’t take much to replace, but it went well with the cherry color of the cabinets. Even I had to admit the kitchen was huge and included a large island in the center. Off to the side of that was a connected dining room, but it would probably end up being a pool room or something. I’d either eat at the island or the couch, once we got it anyway.
“Yup, now that you brought my ride here for me, I’ll go get the trailer. And you’re gonna help me get it out of storage, man.”
“You’re fuckin’ kiddin’ me. I finally get my ass here, and you’re gonna put me to work already?” he teased in his sarcastic way.
“Fuck yeah.”
“Your ride is sweet, Tugger. Fuck me. Driving that thing was a dream.”
I smiled. “Wait until you see what it does.”
His brow quirked as she shook his head. He knew me. Knew what I needed. He got me.
“This place is gorgeous. Why the fuck you need such a big house?” he questioned.
It wasn’t huge. It had four bedrooms and a basement room that could be turned into another if needed. Three baths and one half bath. Then the office, dining room, kitchen and living room. Not atrocious by any means.
“Plan on livin’ here a long time. Wanna get settled and put in some roots. Sumner is home and always has been. It’s damn time I get my shit together, and this was the first step.”
Dryerson stepped through the room to the sliding glass door. I knew what he’d see and his reaction. “Holy fucking hell. This is your backyard?” He didn’t ask, just opened the sliding door and stepped through. I followed, smiling.
“One of the main reasons for this place.”
Behind the home were two things. Off to the right was a small pond that had a dock. It wasn’t huge but would make a great pool on the hot Georgia days. Off to the left were trees. Lots of trees. It was the best of both worlds meshed into one.
The biggest bonus, though, was the wraparound porch where I could see myself sitting back, drinking a beer, and listening to the frogs at night. Peace.
After hearing as many explosions as I have, peace wasn’t too much to ask.
This place was my peace.
“Fuck, man. This is unbelievable. So much better than the sandbox.”
I moved to stand next to him. “Hell yeah it is. The house itself is completely different, but this view … it had always been its selling point for me. Saw it and knew it was mine. A great place to restart my life. To grow.”
“Grow. Like wife and kids and shit?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest and giving me a brow quirk.
“Not tomorrow or anything. But in the future. I wanted a place where everyone who comes into my life would have a place and be safe. For me this was it.”
“What happened to your dick?” he asked, and I punched him in the shoulder. He staggered a step then righted himself. “What the fuck was that for?”
“Bein’ a dick. Like I said. Not tomorrow, but I want to have a home. Not hotel rooms. Not a crash pad. Not a bachelor’s dream. A home. I’d missed it for years. I left home and went to college, came back, lived in this place when it wasn’t the greatest, then went off to the Marines. While my parents’ house is my childhood home, I needed a place that could grow with me.”
“Are you gettin’ all sappy and shit.”
“Do you want me to punch you again?”
“It’d be better than this shit,” he grumbled.
Dryerson had several things stacked against him growing up, and he didn’t see himself ever settling down with a family.
I, on the other hand, did. I wanted the wife and kids.
I always wanted to be part of the Ravage MC. A family of their own making. One that I was born into and shit on.
They may not want me around. They may tell me to fuck off. But my mind was made up. The Ravage MC was my family, and I’d do my damnedest to get it back.
