Page 2

"Yeah, everything is a go. I talked to Acer. He's closing up just for us."

"Yay! I'm so excited!"

Grange walks towards us saying, "Loki, Saige, you two need to be getting ready and getting your butts up to the lake. Stella is going to have a cow if you don't get up there soon. Everyone is already up there. Your dads are looking for you, the Nomads are here, and Pyro is going to drive Cotton or Tires to homicide. "

Laughing at Grange, we follow him out the door and get on the ATV with him. The clubhouse is set on over two hundred acres of land and we have a big lake on the property. The guys built a huge pavilion by the lake, with a large outdoor kitchen, bar, fridge, grill, and stove. It has it all. There are even enough picnic tables to fit everyone. Down closer to the lake are a couple of fire pits, and a beach area with sand for the kids to play andswim at. They set up a rope swing and a dock. It’s one of my favorite places to go. I always go to the huge weeping cherry tree that sits down by the shore.

After a ten-minute ride on the ATV we make it to the lake. Laughing almost the whole way, because Loki and Grange are cracking jokes. That’s nothing unusual. That was how Hoyt got the name Loki. Growing up, me, Hoyt, and Cooper were all inseparable. We were constantly getting into trouble, pulling pranks on some of the older brothers in the MC, and at school. But at school it was a different story. The boys still goofed off and I did when I was with them, but I was kinda quiet when they weren't around. It wasn't until Cooper turned seventeen and graduated that things changed up a little. He and his best friend, Cotton, began to prospect after their four years in the Marines, and it didn't take long before they were given babysitting duty over me and Loki, who were in our senior year at high school. Cotton wasn't one to joke around much. He seemed to hate me from the minute he saw me. He was always short with me, and only talked to me when he had to. Which broke my heart. I was in love with him and had been since I was fifteen. I sigh.

"You okay?" Loki asks giving me a little nudge.

I look up startled. "Yeah, I guess I got lost in my thoughts there for a minute. Sorry, Loki."

We get off the ATV and he puts his arm around me as we look around. Everyone from the MC is here. Most of the Nomads, and even some of the Black Forest charter are here.

"Damn, Mom made sure they went all out for this didn't she?" he asks.

I barely smile as I look around. There're too many people here. I'll go crazy. I see our dads and Tires. Bumping Loki with my arm and nodding in their direction, we head that way, his arm still around my shoulders.

"There's my baby girl. Happy birthday, sweetheart!" Dad says as he kisses me on the cheek.

"Thank you, Daddy." I smile. Happy birthdays are given to the both of us by everyone in the group. Even Cotton. Loki and I thank them all. They are all talking and joking. I look over at Tires, asking, "Hey, do you need any help at the garage? I can do the books, answer the phone, inventory, help draw up some designs or paint, whatever."

"Are you serious, sis? I thought you wanted to make cakes?"

"Well, I can still make cakes and help you out. It's notlike I’m going to open up a bakery or anything. I don’t know how well one would do. I... "

He looks at me like I’ve grown horns. " Sis, you draw better than I do! Stella had you make your own birthday cake, but she decorated it."

"You make the best damn cakes, bread, cookies, pies, and candy I’ve tasted. You’d do great with a bakery," Cotton states.

Surprised, I stutter. "O-oh, th-thank you. "

"Why do you want to help out at the garage?" Tires asks.

"I just need to get a little more money saved before I can put the down payment on the building for the bakery that I really do want to open," I reply with a grin.

"Yeah, you can help out some." He grins back at me.

"Saige, my darling!" Pyro draws out a scream as he comes out of nowhere, picking me up and swinging me around. “You look beautiful, my birthday goddess!”

Laughing, I smack his arm. “Put me down, you great big oaf.” Pyro laughs as he does, though he keeps his arm around my waist, holding me close.

He’s another one that’s close to me and Loki, causing a lot of mischief. He’s great looking, tall, muscular, but notoverly so, with blonde hair that he keeps dyed flame red in a faux hawk, and the deepest blue eyes you’ve ever seen. You could almost drown in them. Pyro got his name the old-fashioned way, of course. He loves to play with fire and anything that goes boom. So he’s the go-to guy if there’s ever any need for explosives. Which isn’t often.

“Hey, are we all still on for tomorrow night? I went and bought a new outfit to wear just for you, my beautiful girl.”

I blush deeply.

Before I can get a word out though, Cotton asks, “What the hell do you mean, still on for tomorrow night?” Everyone looks at him. Loki and Tires are ready to step in if a fight breaks out, while Cruz and Stone exchange a knowing look.

I finally find my voice, but instead of answering Cotton, I look to my brother and dad, stating, “Loki and I were asked to go to Myst with Poppy, Lilly, and their guys. You know, the crew from school, to celebrate our birthdays. Loki is taking Sloane with him, and I didn’t want to be the only one without a date, so I asked Pyro if he would like to go with me. That way I still have the two full patched members with me that you like.”

Stone and Cruz both nod their heads. Tires is watching his best friend’s reaction to this.

“What’s it matter to you anyways, Cotton? You aren’t a prospect assigned to protect her at all times any more. She isn’t your girl or old lady. So why go off the way you just did?” Pyro asks, getting angry.

“I may not be assigned to protect her anymore, but I am VP of this club. Her protection is always important to me. She is my Pres’ daughter, my best friend’s sister, and my friend. And who the hell are you to question me?”