by Colbie Kay
"You fucking whores need to learn your place around here. If they tell you to leave them the fuck alone, do it, goddamn it."
She slams Morgan’s head into the bar a few more times.
“Lil Mama, let her go,” I instruct her.
She lets go and Morgan falls to the floor. Wiping her hands off on a bar towel, my wife says, “Now who's up for one of Crazy Girl's games?”
I can see that she is pissed.
"You guys set it up and we’ll be back." I grab her hand, taking her into my room.
"You alright, Lil Mama?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
"You know I wasn't gonna do anything with her, right?”
"Yeah I heard you. It just pisses me off. Why do they have to go after the taken ones?”
"That's what they do, why they’re here. They just wanna get fucked by anyone they can,” I remind her. "I don't think any of them will be messin' with me anymore."
"They better not,” Jacey warns, “or I'll be beating a bitch’s ass again."
"I love you, Lil Mama. How's Cub?"
"I love you too. He's good with Dad."
"Good, now let's go get fucked up."
We walk back out and they have the game all ready to go. Of course it's sixes. That's becoming a club favorite. Although I'll never understand why Crazy Girl wants to continue playing, she never wins. By the time it's over, we’re all fucked off.
Crazy Girl and Lil Mama have decided to get on top of one of the tables, dancing and belting out the words to Addicted by Saving Abel. Hanger walks over to me.
"Should we get 'em down?" He has a smile on his face.
"Nah, let's let 'em have fun,” I tell him. I see some of the hang-arounds watching our Ol' Ladies. That doesn't sit well with me.
"You fuckers better turn your heads before we turn 'em for you,” I let them know as we walk up to the table, both standing in the same position, arms folded legs and spread, looking up at our Ol' Ladies.
Crazy Girl looks down, smiling. "Well hello boys."
They burst out laughing. Jacey looks down at me.
"Get up here and dance with me."
"Not on your life, Lil Mama."
"But baby." Yeah she's fucked. The song stops.
"C'mon Lil Mama, time to get down."
"Only if you fuck me when we get to the room." The guys start hollerin' and cat callin'.
"You bet your ass I will,” I promise, giving her a sexy grin.
"Yes please." Jacey starts giggling.
"You too, Crazy Girl,” Hanger tells her.
"You guys always ruin the fun!”
Both of us grab them by the legs, carrying them like cavemen to our rooms.
They yell the whole way, shouting for us to put them down, informing us that we don't know how to have fun. I give Jacey a slap to her ass and chuckle as she moans. I slam my door shut with my foot and lay her on my bed. I walk into the bathroom, and by the time I get back, she’s passed out and I can't help but smile. I climb into bed beside her, bringing her over to me and holding her until I fall asleep.
Jacey
Today is girls’ day with Zoey and Ever, and it's going to be so much fun. I feel like it's been forever since we all got together, and the only one missing is Chatty. I feel like I need this day. I've been a little stressed since the fight Bear took me too. Whenever I'm outside or we go somewhere, I always feel like someone's watching me. I don't want to sound crazy, so I haven't said anything to Bear, and besides, I always have the alarm set and Cub’s monitors on, just like he told me to do.
Walking out of the bedroom and into the living room, I see Bear sitting on the couch holding Cub and Karma’s laying next to them. He is such a great dad, always talking, singing, or playing with him. Even after all these months, it still takes my breath away watching how he interacts with his son. I guess it's just that when I got pregnant with him, I judged Bear. I didn't think he’d be a good father or be able to take care of us, but boy, was I wrong.
I take a minute to recover as he looks up at me. "Don't forget your cut." That brings me down quick, and glaring at him, I ask, “Are you fucking serious? When do I ever forget my cut, you jackass?” He bursts out laughing. "I swear, sometimes you just like to get me riled up."
"You know I do. I gotta make sure my feisty woman's still in there, wouldn't want you gettin' soft on me."
"That'll never happen and you fucking know it." I tell him. "Dad’ll be over in a little bit to take Cub."
“That might be a problem."
"Why?"
"Well since Hanger's mom is back, we were gonna have a playdate with the girls. I guess Hanger's letting her spend time with them, but Hanger still has to be there."
"But Dad’ll be over here in just a minute. It’s too late to tell him not to come over."
"So will Hanger. It should be fine, maybe he'll just hang here with all of us."
"I guess we should’ve talked about who was doing what with Cub. We’ll have to work on that. Alright, well let's just see how it goes when everybody's here." I say, just as the doorbell rings. I go answer the door and it's my dad. I let him in and he goes straight for Cub. "Hi to you too, Dad."
"You know I'm here to see that grandbaby of mine, but hi, Princess."
"I know, you’re one proud grandpa,” I say to him, while laughing, walking into the living room.
"You know it."
The doorbell rings again. I go answer it again, letting Hanger, Zoey, his mom, and the girls all into the house. Once we’re all in the living room, Hanger's mom stops dead in her tracks, covering her mouth. "Snake?" she whispers.
"You know my dad?" I ask, confusion taking over. He looks up and when he sees her, he freezes. I look to her and see that her eyes are shining with unshed tears. "Snake?" She questions again, louder this time. "Vixen, is that really you?" he asks, sitting Cub on the ground and coming over to us, grabbing her in for a hug. She holds onto him like her life depends on it. I'm so confused right now, then I remember a previous conversation. "Dad, this is her?”
Hanger asks, "What the fuck is goin' on?" Zoey and Bear look just as confused as him.
"Dad, this is the woman right? The woman you were always in love with?”
"Yeah, Princess, this is her."
Hanger says, "Wait a fuckin' minute. Mom, is Snake the guy you said you loved?"
"Yeah, that's him."
Zoey chimes in. "Well, didn't this get a little more interesting?”
"Sure in the fuck did, Crazy Girl,” Bear replies.
Hanger says, "How the fuck is that even possible?"
"Well, I think us girls are going to go. We’ll let you guys get this settled,” I announce. Zoey's giving me the evil eye because she wants all the juicy gossip, and I walk by her, telling her I'll fill her in later. She smiles and nods. We climb in my Tahoe, and of course they would have Romeo follow us. We go by and pick up Ever, then start the day off by going to lunch. While we’re eating, I tell her and Ever the story of my dad and Hanger's mom. Zoey signs to Ever of course, and I never really thought about it before, but I think I should learn ASL.
"Zoey, will you teach me how to sign?"
"Yeah, sure. Just let me know when you wanna start. So how would you feel if Victoria and Snake started a relationship now?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean with you just getting your Dad back and everything. Are you concerned if they're together, that it'll complicate the relationship you guys are building?"
"I haven't really thought about it, but I want my Dad happy, so I’d be okay with it. She seems really nice, and with you having her grandbabies, I think we’ll all be spending a lot of time together."
“Yeah, that's true. So, I have some news." Zoey says, with a huge smile on her face.
"Well, what is it?"
"I'm pregnant."
"That's great Zoey! Congratulations! Bear asked me to go off my birth control and I said no."
"Why would you tell him no?”
&nbs
p; "I didn't think I was ready for another baby." Zo listens and nods. "But then, I feel like he deserves the chance to have everything he missed out on with Cub."
"Yeah, I understand. Have you told him you stopped taking it?"
"How did you know I stopped?"
"I know you, Jacey, and I'm guessing you haven't told him."
"No, I haven't. I feel like if I tell him, it’ll feel more like a job than in the moment. I don't want the pressure of trying, I want it to just happen."
"That makes sense. It'll happen when the time is right."
"Congratulations, Zoey!” Ever tells her. I'm so glad that Zoey speaks as Ever signs, because I would miss out on a lot.
"Thank you guys. Jacey, I'm sure it'll happen soon. It'll be great too, because this time you'll tell him and he’ll be there every step of the way.”
Once we’re done with lunch, we go get our hair done. Zoey no longer has the pink in her hair and since she is pregnant, she goes for just a trim. Ever and I decide on just trims as well and then we go get our nails done. Ever seems kind of distant today, so I ask Zoey if there's something wrong with her sister.
"I don't know. She seems off, doesn't she?"
"Yeah. Maybe you should ask her."
While getting our pedicures, Zoey turns toward Ever, tapping her on the arm. When Ever looks at her, Zoey asks, "What's wrong with you? Why are you being so distant?"
"I didn't want to say anything yet, but I got a job offer."
"That's great Ever! What’s there to think about?"
"It's in New York, Zoey."
"What?"
"It's in New York,” Ever repeats.
"Are you really considering taking it?"
"Zoey, it's like a once in a lifetime opportunity."
"What about Writer?"
"If I take it, I want him to come with me."
"He can't just leave the club, you know that right?” Zoey asks.
"I can hope."
"Ever, it's gonna destroy him if you leave."
"I know. I don't want to talk about it anymore."
"Okay."
Zoey, being the person she is, drops the conversation. God, if Ever takes this job, it's going to kill Writer.
Once we’re done at the nail salon, Zoey asks, “Now what?”
"I wanna make one more stop."
We pull into the old clinic parking lot, and it's now been turned into a tattoo shop. Looking at the building, they’ve repainted it, covering it with graffiti style pictures. There’s a new sign reading Runaway Tattoos, and I can't help but wonder why she would name it that. I feel kind of anxious going back in, but I really want to see what Daphne did with it.
"What are we doing here?" Zoey asks.
"I'm going to get a tattoo." I tell her. Then ask, "Are you okay with going in?"
"Yeah... I mean it makes me a little nervous, but it'll be fine. I know nobody’ll hurt me."
We all walk in and it looks so different. They have the walls painted with different graffiti, much like the outside, and there are framed pictures of tattoos hanging on the walls, and a desk in the front. The girl behind the desk, with wild blue dreads and lots of piercings and tattoos, asks, “Can I help you?"
"Is Daphne here?"
"Yeah, hold on let me get her. Can I tell her who is here?"
"Tell her it's Jacey."
The girl goes into the back and comes back out. "She'll be out in a minute. Would you like anything to drink?"
“No, thank you."
"Alright, well you can have a seat on the couch over there while you wait."
We walk over to the couch and sit, and it doesn't take long for the beautiful tattoo artist to come out. She has blonde and black hair, with a piercing going through her nose. A lot of people can't pull of a piercing like that, but on her, it totally works. She has bright, colorful tattoos running down her arms and across her chest. "Hey Jacey, how can I help you?”
"I love what you've done with the place. How free are you right now?"
"Thanks. Let me check," she walks over to the desk, looking at the planner. “You're in luck. I don't have any appointments until later."
"Great, can you give me a tattoo?"
"Sure, what would you like?" she asks, then looks to the other girl. “Get her the paperwork." I tell her what I want and she tells me to stay here while she draws it up. Daphne comes back about thirty minutes later and shows it to me. "That looks amazing!”
"Alright, come with me." I hand the paperwork back to the girl as we walk back to one of the old exam rooms. Thank God, it's not the one.
"Alright, I want you to lay on your side. Pull your shirt up, and tuck it under your bra." I do as I'm told, waiting for her to get ready. "I'm gonna get the drawing on your skin and you tell me if you like the placement." She hands me a mirror, and I love it. She has kind of curved it on my ribs.
"I love it."
"Okay good. The outline’ll be the worst part, so make it through that and you'll be good to go."
"Alright, I'm ready." I hear the sound of the gun buzzing to life. Then it hits my skin. "Oh my God, that hurts like a motherfucker!”
"Yeah, you picked one of the most painful places for your first. Just relax, it'll ease up some." I do as she says, and it's not long before the pain starts to fade, just like she said.
"Can I ask how you came up with the name?"
"Yeah. I was in love once,but he ran away. It reminds me never to let someone in again."
"Shit, I'm sorry."
"It was a long time ago."
I lay there for a few hours. Finally, she says, "It's done. Go look in that mirror and see what you think." I get up and go over to look at my reflection. It’s amazing, more than I could’ve ever imagined. "Daphne, this is amazing! Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, girl. I'm glad you like it. Let me get it taped up."
"Can I show the girls first?"
"Yeah, let me go get them." She walks out and comes back with Zoey and Ever.
"Oh Jacey, that looks great! Bear's gonna love it!”
"Hell, I love it,” Ever says.
"Thank you guys." Daphne gets it taped up and I walk to the front and pay.
We head to the clubhouse, dropping Ever off, then we go to the cabin. Once we’re back, we walk in and Zoey goes right to Hanger and the girls. I head straight for Bear and Cub. I look to Bear. "Where's Dad?" Hanger and him look at each other and burst out laughing. "What? What's so funny?"
"He's with my mom,” Hanger tells me.
“Apparently, they have some catching up to do,” Bear says, trying to stop laughing.
"Ew, that's fucking disgusting!” I tell him.
"Not as fuckin' disgusting as catching them kissing in the kitchen.” Hanger grimaces.
"Ok, no more. This is so weird,” I say
"You got that fuckin' right." Hanger agrees.
"I think it's sweet. They have a second chance at love,” Zoey chimes in.
"Always the romantic,” I tell her, and we all laugh. "So Hanger, when are you going to take Zoey to watch the fights?"
Glaring at me, he says "I'm not."
"What fights?" Zoey asks, confusion written all over her face.
"One of our guys fight one of the Cobras every weekend,” I inform her. Oh no, I thought she would’ve already known.
She turns to Hanger, throwing her hand on her hip." You've been holding out on me, Hanger?"
"No, babe. Just didn't think you should go."
“You’re telling me that my boys have been going and fighting, and you didn't tell me?!”
"Um… yeah." He looks at me, evilly. "Thanks, Jacey."
Trying to hide my smile, I say, "Sorry Hanger. I thought she knew about them."
"Well, I'm going from now on,” Zoey informs him.
"No, you're not,” challenges Hanger.
"Oh, yes I am."
"We’ll talk about this later. I think it's time to get the girls home."
When they leave,
Bear asks, “So, what did you do today? Your hair looks real pretty."
“Thanks. We went to lunch, got our hair and nails done…Igotatattooitwasalotoffun." I rush out the last part, not taking a breath.
"Slow down and back up. You got a what?"
"Igotatattoo,” I rush it out again.
"I said slow down, Lil Mama.” He gets up, coming over to me.
Huffing out a breath and putting my hand on my hip, I repeat, "I got a tattoo."
"You got a tattoo?" he questions, cocking an eyebrow.
"Yes. I went to Daphne's shop and got a tattoo."
"Well, what did you get?"
I slowly lift up my shirt, teasing him. I can tell by the look on his face, he's growing impatient. I get my shirt the rest of the way off and start to pull the bandage, but he grabs my wrist stopping me.
"Let me do it,” he says, dropping down to face level with it. When he gets the bandage off, he looks at it, eyes going big, and then he looks up at me with shining eyes.
"Is that a..." I see the happiness and love in his eyes. It's a little over whelming, so I interrupt him.
"Yeah, I got it for you." I smile and he leans in, kissing all around the tattoo but making sure never to touch it.
"I love it. I can't believe you got a bear claw ripping through your ribs. It even shows a piece of the heart where it ripped through, and you got a smaller one for Cub. She did a fuckin' amazing job."
“You did that though, you know. You ripped your way through to my heart. I love you."
"I love you too, Lil Mama."
"You know, I've been thinking. I love being a mom and I want to do something where I could have Cub with me."
"What would that be?"
"I want to buy a building and turn it into a recording studio. I want to find bands, get them to work with me. I took college courses, so I know how to run all the equipment, and you already know I know how to run a business."
"That's great, Lil Mama. I think you’d be a lot happier. I know how much you love music."
"Yeah, I'm really excited. Will you go with me to find the building?"
"Of course, we’ll go next week. You can start calling realtors."
"Sounds good."
We’ve been looking at buildings all week and I haven't found one that I like yet. They’re either too small, not in the right neighborhood, or run down. We pull up to the last one I'm scheduled to look at. The whole outside is brick, connecting with other buildings. There are a couple windows on the outside, but they’re tinted so you can't see in. It's in a great part of town, with a lot of shops and restaurants around. The realtor takes us in and the front has a desk and enough room to fit some furniture. The walls are white, which is great, I can do what I want with them. Walking down the hall, there are a couple of offices and a bathroom.