most beautiful baby that ever existed until these two. I doubt my kid will be able to compete.”
“I’m sure it’ll be gorgeous. Your family is beautiful, and Goliath has attractive qualities.”
“What does that last part mean?”
“People say he’s attractive.”
“You don’t think he’s hot?”
“I don’t think anyone’s hot except Shane.”
Snickering, I love how protective Ramona is over Shane’s ego. She can’t imagine any man matching up to hers.
“I wonder if our baby will look weird,” I say and nuzzle my nephew. As soon as I lean forward and my hair creates a drape around his face, he reaches for a lock and holds on as if trying to tame a stallion. “What if our baby has a big head or something?”
“It won’t matter. You’ll love your baby so much that you won’t notice those things.”
“You’re helping my heart so much, Ramona,” I say, still stuck in Ozzy’s grip. “I’m forever thankful my brother saw you from across the street and instantly began stalking you. I can’t imagine how pathetic life would be if he acted like a normal man.”
Ramona looks at her boys and gets a little misty-eyed over everything that’s happened in the last few years. She went from having only the Band to love her to enjoying a brand-new family along with an extended group of friends. Already emotional, Ramona nearly starts bawling when I ask, “Which baby is mine to take downstairs?”
Her dark eyes flash from Iggy finishing his bottle to Ozzy sucking on his hand. She looks overwhelmed as if choosing one will be an insult to the other. Sometimes, loving so many people is too much for Ramona.
Good at taking charge, I pick up Ozzy. “If I get to choose, I want the baby. It’ll be good practice.”
Exhaling with relief over not having to make the decision, she picks up Iggy, who points at his baby brother to see if we noticed how he exists. Calm again, Ramona grins at her son’s reaction.
I know Ramona will have trouble for the next few days. This will be the longest she’s been away from Shane since he entered her life. Max seems fine so far, cooking for everyone. After people are fed, though, she’ll be restless without River. It’ll be my job to keep them distracted, and I take that responsibility very seriously.
THE GOLIATH
Sleeping on the ground isn’t my idea of fun. The cot in prison sucked. I always had to lie curled up because there was no room for my feet otherwise. The trailer is better bed-wise, but the ceilings are low, and the shower is tiny. I often sit outside to feel less suffocated.
That’s what I plan to do on the first night of this ride. Only go into the tent when I need to sleep. Fuck it. I’ll let my feet stick out the opening if necessary. I’m sick of curling my body up to fit into shit.
At least, the weather isn’t too bad. The autumn cold hasn’t kicked in yet. The insects are mostly gone, though. It won’t be so bad out here for the night.
But first I need to deal with twenty men climbing off their bikes and looking around as if they’re kids exiting a bus during a field trip. River and Shane don’t help. Instead, the men stand at their bikes, whispering like old ladies sharing good gossip. Maverick runs off into the woods. At first, I think he’s gotta piss. Then I realize the sneaky Majors is probably searching the area for threats. The club’s new Road Captain–Vowel—seems only focused on checking the gas levels of the bikes.
“My balls are humming,” Hugh says, walking over with Utah and Chase not far behind. “Is that normal?”
I grin at his question. “Yeah, and screwing feels real nice when your balls hum like that.”
Hugh chuckles, thinking I’m lying. When I give him a knowing nod, he strokes his pale blond goatee as if plotting.
I notice the newer guys—Pom-Pom and Linux—seeming confused about what to do with themselves. The former Skullz just wait for River’s orders. They really are dipshit kids needing their teacher to help them think.
Annoyed by the lack of action, I stomp over to the former Skullz and tell them to set up their tents near the bikes. Linux and Pom-Pom are new and quick to jump the gun. If trouble comes, they oughta be at the back. With our site set up like a square, I decide to have River and Shane at one front corner to keep watch. I