Page 30 of Bonita Brynne

“We will,” Maddox replied.

We sat there quietly, munching on cookies. It wasn’t weird or anything. I’d known Maddox and his twin brother, Markey, my whole life. When I was five, they used to watch over my brother and me during club parties. Maddox and Markey would play video games with us, and we’d watch movies.

“Why was she asking questions about Brynne and Track?”

“Because that’s what moms do. They ask a lot of questions.”

“Do you think of me as family?” I asked him. “We’re all part of the Knight’s Legion family. So we’re family, right?”

“No, I don’t think of you as my blood family, just the club’s family.”

“But family is family, blood or not.”

“No, it’s not the same.” He seemed agitated. “For example, Emilee and Dodge fell in love and got married, right?”

“Yes.”

“They were part of the MC family before they got together. Nothing wrong with it.”

“Except Justin hated Dodge.” Not anymore, but I remembered when Justin had taken Emilee to Fargo and how much it had hurt my cousin, Dodge. Some nights, I cried for him.

“That’s beside the point. They weren’t blood-related and could be together.”

We both took a bite of our cookies and stared off into space.

“So you want to write a book?” he asked me.

“Yeah. Someday.”

“I guess that’s cool.”

“Thanks.” I smiled while I chewed the last of my cookie.

10

Track

We sat at Wennberg Pond on the bench where I’d spent hundreds of hours over the years, thinking about everything.

The past and my mom.

The present and my club.

The future and… And nothing. I hadn’t thought I’d live to see thirty. Hadn’t actually wanted to.

I studied our hands, fingers laced together. Her fair skin was a stark contrast to my tanned brown.

Brynne was my future and the love of my life.

Mine, mine, mine tumbled through my head. No time like the present to ensure both our happiness.

“What do you think of this place?” I lifted our joined hands and kissed the top of hers.

“It’s peaceful.” She leaned against me.

“But do you like it?”

“Sure, I like the pond.”

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