Page 79 of Nash
"Quick question." She steps into them, tugging them up her hips. "Am I allowed to go downstairs without panties, or is that going to be a whole thing again?"
My jaw tightens. She sees it and grins.
"Because Rider packed the bag, and Rider did not pack panties. I just want to confirm the policy before I walk into a room full of your brothers commando."
"Ruby."
"That's not a clear answer. I need a ruling. Is the Sergeant-at-Arms issuing an official position on my underwear situation?"
"We're going downstairs. Now."
"Still no ruling." She smooths the leggings over her hips. "I'm going to interpret the silence as approval."
Bare feet on the cold floor.
"Ready?" I say.
"Absolutely not."
I take her hand and open the door.
The clubhouse's main room smells like coffee and bacon. Maggie has taken over the stove. James is beside her with his tea. Knox sits at the table with his laptop, Sloane's next to him picking at a plate. East and Darla are on the couch, East's arm is around her. Both of them are watching the stairs.
They all look up when we appear. The silence lasts exactly one and a half seconds.
"Well," East says, grinning so wide it takes up half his face. "That was a long talk."
"It was thorough," I say.
"Thorough." East nods slowly. "Is that what we're calling it? Because these walls are very thin, brother. Very thin."
Ruby's hand tightens in mine, and I squeeze back.
Knox doesn't look up from his laptop. "About time."
Sloane smacks his arm. "Be nice."
"That is nice. I've been watching this for fourteen months. About time is generous."
Kyle comes around the half wall with a plate of bacon, stops dead when he sees our hands, and his eyes go wide. "Oh my god. Oh my god! Is this happening? Is this officially happening? I need documentation. Where's my clipboard? This falls under Prank War Adjacent Emotional Developments. I have jurisdiction."
"You don't have jurisdiction," Candace says from the couch, smiling.
Darla is already crying, and East hands her a napkin without looking.
"I'm fine," Darla says, dabbing her eyes. "I'm FINE. This is hormonal. This is the twins."
"It's not the twins," Sloane says.
"It's a little because of the twins."
Maggie sets two plates on the table that are loaded with bacon, eggs, toast. Then looks at me, looks at Ruby, looks at our hands, and smiles. James lifts his tea mug from across the room and nods once.
Ruby stands in the middle of it, her hand in mine, the flush on her cheeks spreading as her eyes move from face to face.
"I have a statement," she says.
The room waits.
