loves had my fists clenching at my sides and I wanted to punch the wall. I hated that just the mention of an old boyfriend could turn me into a raging idiot. Samantha’s past was none of my business, and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to have to discuss mine with her.
Breakneck’s tapping on the mic interrupted me. “Evening, everybody. I wanted to come up here and do a song for Rev’s birthday. It’s been a while since I’ve done this song. Haven’t done it since I lost two of the best friends I’ve ever had, Preacher Man and Case. But I think it’s time to bring this one out of retirement, since it was both men’s favorite song.” The crowd erupted into whistles and clapping, which caused Breakneck to grin. “Before I get started, I’m going to ask Deacon, Rev, and Bishop to come up here and help me like they used to.”
While Deacon shot off the bench, Rev furiously shook his head back and forth. “Oh, hell no,” he said.
“Oh, go on, honey,” Annabel urged beside him.
Rev opened his mouth to argue, but Deacon interrupted him by grabbing his arm and dragging him up off his seat. “Come on, B. Help me get his ass up there.”
With a chuckle, I got up and took Rev’s free arm. “Asshole,” Rev muttered as we pulled him through the crowd and onto the stage riser. Breakneck motioned to the microphone stand beside him so we could do the harmony on the chorus.
Once we were assembled, Breakneck lifted his gaze to the sky. “This one’s for you guys—Preacher Man and Case.” He then gazed back out into the crowd. “Here’s ‘The Weight.’”
Breakneck started strumming the opening of the song I knew so well. Closing my eyes for a moment, I could see myself riding on the back of Preacher Man’s bike, my arms wrapped tight around him as “The Weight” blared out of the radio speakers. I could always feel him humming along when I rested my head on his back.
“‘I pulled into Nazareth, was feeling ’bout half past dead,’” Breakneck began in his smooth voice. So much had happened since the last time I heard him sing. We’d all faced our own personal tragedies. We’d lost a father, Kim lost a husband, and Breakneck lost a daughter, all to the violence of the MC world. It was then that I was first able to really feel thankful that we were changing the vision of the club. Even with the threat of Eddy and the Diablos hanging over us, I knew we had made the right decision. I couldn’t help thinking that my old man and Case would approve of what we were doing.
When it came time for the chorus, Deacon, Rev, and I leaned in around the microphone and sang our hearts out. Once the song ended, we received thunderous applause and whistles. I smacked Deacon and Rev on the back. “Felt good to do that again.”
Deacon grinned. “It sure as hell did.”
“Yeah. It did,” Rev said, smiling.
After I hopped down off the stage, I headed straight for Samantha. She jumped up off the bench and threw her arms around my neck to give me a hug. “That was awesome!”
I chuckled at her enthusiasm. “I think you’re just a little bit prejudiced,” I said as she pulled away.
“Nope. I just call it as I see it.”
Deacon and Rev appeared beside us then. “We still got it, huh?” Deacon asked with a smirk.
Alex grinned at him. “Oh yeah. You do.” As she rose off the bench, she handed Wyatt to Beth. “Now I think you owe me a dance or two.”
“I think I can oblige you with that one,” Deacon said.
As they headed over to the dance floor, Rev went over to Annabel and pulled her up. “Will you honor me with a dance, Mrs. Malloy?”
A dreamy expression filled Annabel’s face. “Of course I will. But they’re not playing a slow song.”
“I’ll make them play one. It is my birthday,” Rev said.
Once they left, Samantha and I were all alone. With an awkward silence hanging around us, I wondered what I should do. Was asking her to dance coming on too strong, or would she be offended if I didn’t? The whole gray area of friendship was a real pain in the ass.
Just as I was about to man up and ask her, I felt a tug on the back of my shirt. I turned around to see Willow staring up