Page 46 of Sinful Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #9)
Chapter Forty-Four
Daisy
“ P aris was so much better with Brody by my side. Everything is better with him. The sun is brighter, the food tastier, and the air that fills my lungs is lighter.”
The women all laugh.
“I never saw Brody as a romantic type of guy,” Lexie says on a yawn.
We’re all a little beat after the run today. It was my first and Rachel’s last.
Rachel settles into her chair, leaning her head back to look up at the stars.
She brings her beer to her lips, taking a long drink.
“I always knew he’d be a romancer. He just needed to find the right girl.
” Her head turns to the side to look at me.
“Every year on my birthday he brings me a bouquet of lilacs. He was four years old when he handed them to me the first time.”
Her gaze goes back to the stars. “We were living in town back then. He just showed up one day while Jackson and I were outside playing, and he never left. Jackson was only one, but Brody didn’t seem to mind their age difference.
He took my son under his little wing. He was gentle with him, so I didn’t mind, and it was obvious Jackson enjoyed his company.
He’d stay from sunup till sundown. One night I followed him after he left, so I could see where he lived.
The next day while Raffe was watching the boys, I went back over there and met his grandmother.
” She laughs lightly. “What a woman she was. She was sweet and kind, but she was old. I promised her that day I would look after him until my last breath.”
Something strange tugs at my heart, and just then Brody steps around the corner.
“Were your ears burning?” she asks him.
He pauses to give me a kiss before going to her and scooping her up in his arms. “Were you telling them about my childhood antics?”
“I was.”
He laughs and starts to walk away with her. “Well, you ladies are out of luck to hear any more stories because Jackson and I are stealing her.”
The three of them are going out for ice cream. It’s a tradition born out of necessity. Rachel used to bribe the boys to be good on run days with a treat afterward.
As soon as they disappear around the building, Jesse’s sister, Katie, says what we’re all feeling out loud. “Life is bullshit sometimes.” She tosses her beer can into the fire and walks down the hill.
Her husband appears seemingly out of nowhere and follows her back to their cabin.
Jesse sighs. “My sister has a hard time with death.”
“Don’t we all,” Billie Rose agrees, standing up and stretching. “I’m going to go upstairs and cuddle my babies.”
One by one everyone walks away, the weight of the day finally catching up to them.
Elizabeth glances at Lexie and me when we’re the only three who remain. “We’re going to need to step up for the club soon.”
Both Lex and I nod in agreement.
Lexie places a marshmallow on a stick and hands it to me. “I’ll do anything for these people.”
“Me too,” I say, staring into the flames.
“I’ve been freezing food for weeks, because Jesse and Mrs. Maggie shouldn’t be expected to feed everyone when they are grieving,” Elizabeth tells us.
“That’s a good idea. I can help, but I don’t have the freezer space.”
“I’ll help too, but I have even less room than her.” She nods at me.
“Just bring everything to the junkyard, and I’ll find a freezer to put it in somewhere.”
We’re all quiet.
Lexie finally breaks the silence. “I’ve been helping Rachel with some things for after …”
Her voice trails off, and Elizabeth walks over and pulls her from her chair into a hug. She waves for me to join them.
“We might be the new kids on the block around here, but we’re going to carry this fucking club as long as we need to.
I know we all look up to Jesse and Katie.
We can be like them. We can be strong.” She looks at Lex.
“If Rachel tasked you with this, she trusts you, but if it becomes too heavy, we’re here for you. ”
Lexie nods, wiping her eyes.
“If I have to get on the table and dance like a fool to make them laugh again, then that’s what I’ll do,” Elizabeth says, half-laughing, half-crying.
“Yeah, and if I have to take over Brody’s pranks for a while, I’ll do it. Even though it gives me anxiety.”
They both laugh sadly.
“We’ve got this,” Elizabeth assures us.
“You’re right. We have each other to lean on, but …” Lex pauses to wipe her eyes on the bottom of her shirt.
“But we stand strong for the Skulls,” I finish for her as the three of us intertwine our pinkies.