Page 55 of Rome
I nodded, wondering if that was a guess, or if he knew how much she hated the name.
“You wanna leave the club?” Ace sneered in disbelief.
“No,” I denied flatly. “I don’t want to leave, but I will if I have to. I won’t wear a cut with that name on it anymore.”
King pounded his fist on the table as the chatter continued. Nobody seemed angry, but they were all confused as hell. I saw a lot of concern there, too.
“Any other questions before we take a vote?”
Joker piped up, “Yeah, Prez. If he gets a new patch, does that mean there’s gonna be a patch party?” He winked at me and waggled his eyebrows comically, causing a few of the brothers to laugh.
“No patch party.” I didn’t even try to plaster a grin on my face. I sure as hell didn’t see any humor in the idea. Joker’s grin faded as he seemed to realize that he’d just put his foot in his mouth.
The vote was called, with Pic being the only objection. Surprisingly, when it was Ace’s turn to cast his vote, he just muttered that he didn’t care what the fuck I called myself.
“OK, Bull, let the record show that the vote was passed, with only one objection.” King glared at Pic as he said that, but Pic didn’t seem to care. “We’ll get the new patch ordered.”
“Send me the bill for it, Bull.” I told him quietly. “I’ll also need new patches for Abby’s Property-of cut.” He gave me a slow grin as he nodded approvingly.
“Anything else?” King asked me.
“Yes. I’m giving up my room here at the clubhouse, effective today. I’ll keep paying for it until someone takes it over, so the club won’t be out any money.”
King looked around the table. “Anyone with a room in the annex who’s interested in moving into the main building? First one to claim it gets it.”
“I’ll take it,” Saint called out. “It’s worth a little extra money to get more room.”
“That was easy,” King commented. “Get with Rome to work out the details for the hand-over. Now, that leaves us with an open room in the annex. Any takers?”
“I may be interested,” Buck piped up.
King nodded. “Get with Saint later to discuss it.”
He pounded his fist on the table. “Church is dismissed. Have a good week. Stay safe and keep your asses out of trouble.” The command in his tone was unmistakable.
I exited the chapel, thankful as hell the vote went my way. I wasn’t lying when I said I’d give up my cut, but I would have hated to do it. Despite everything that had happened, this MC was in my blood.
I rounded the corner into the common room, seeing all three prospects behind the bar. They’d all be busy for a while, as most of the brothers would hang around for a drink or two. I was leaving though, just as soon as I made my announcement here. I strode up to the bar, catching Linc’s eye. I motioned for Rodney and Tony to step closer.
“I just made this announcement in Church, but you need to hear it, too.” I told them about the name change, my desire to stay sober, and my need for their support.
“Don’t offer me alcohol, and if I ask for it, don’t give it to me.” Rodney immediately apologized for serving me last Saturday, but I held up my hand to stop him.
“That’s all on me, man. You didn’t know, and I fuckin’ knew better.”
When the other brothers swarmed the bar, I made a quiet getaway, escaping out the back door without anyone noticing. I wasn’t in the mood for socializing, and I couldn’t stand another minute in the very place that I’d made the worst mistake of my life.
Chapter 16
Abby
By the time I went to bed Sunday evening, I was physically and mentally exhausted. I was still trying to process everything Caleb and I had talked about Saturday. It hadn’t helped that I’d worried all morning Sunday, knowing Caleb was at the clubhouse and wondering if Cyn was hanging out there, too. He’d come over after Church as we’d planned, but he’d been later getting back than usual, which hadn’t helped my precarious state of mind.
Monday’s session with Kim went OK. We discussed the things that Caleb and I had talked about Saturday. I could sense her compassion as I described how badly my self-confidence had been undermined, and we talked about how that had improved over the years, partly due to how attentive Caleb had always been since we’d gotten together. She asked me about the day Caleb had confessed his feelings to me.
“It was during Christmas break, my senior year. I was seventeen, turning eighteen in April. I met a guy when my sister and I went to the mall to pick up some last-minute gifts. We exchanged phone numbers and talked for the next few days, then he asked me out. We went to dinner, and to a movie. We ended up making out in the parking lot of the movie theater afterward, but I freaked out a little. I hadn’t ever gone that far with a guy before, and part of me felt guilty because of Caleb. So, I asked Tyler to take me home.”
“You and Caleb weren’t a couple yet, correct?” Kim clarified.
