and a couple of the guys from the gang were in the living room. They didn't like when she used that term: “gang.” They preferred “club.” It was a motorcycle club. That's what Dan had always said. Not a gang. A club. But Dan wasn't there. So she had her own terminology and that was just that.
Even with her disdain for the concept of the so-called club, she still respected all that they'd done for her. She had offered to make dinner for them after their long day of hard work.
It had been a difficult day for all of them. She'd already packed up Dan's belongings. She didn't want to. Part of her wanted to keep them out and a part of her life forever. But the other part cried when she saw them. Became hysterical when she smelled his cologne. That part of her had to get the stuff out.
That was what the guys were there for. They'd carried it away. To a place where she could go to it when she was ready to, but not somewhere that she had constant access to it. She didn't want to find herself sitting and sifting through memories that made her sad.
She smiled as she checked the pizza again. Johnny had teased her about making sure it was edible. She couldn't help but laugh at the fact that he already knew so much about her. Dan had shared everything, it seemed. A small blush covered her face as she thought to herself that she hoped there were some things her husband had not shared with his best friend.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she asked herself as she closed the door and waited impatiently for dinner to be completed.
***
“He was a lucky man.” The sound of the words coming from Aaron's mouth made Johnny flinch a little. He wasn't thrilled with his reaction. It was only a compliment about what a good person Bethany was.
Not like he didn't know that. She was a rare kind of woman. Like that day when she'd hung out while they moved all the stuff. Not once did she get offended or embarrassed at the way they talked. She'd managed to hold her own.
But he felt protective of her. And guilty at the same time. Because Aaron hadn't meant it the way Johnny would have. He'd been respectful. Of not only Beth, but the ethics of the brothers. Their social structure and rules. Johnny wasn't doing that. He was thinking in ways that would put his ass in hot water with the brothers.
She was the total opposite of the girl he'd seen the night before. Soft and tender as she cried over the loss of a man she adored. A woman that'd needed his strength to help her get through.
But he still felt a twinge of something when Aaron commented on it. Something he didn't much like feeling. Something he knew could create trouble for the both of them.
“That he was,” Chris agreed. “What do you think, Johnny?” He winked at his friend.
Why did they have to do that? Put him on the spot like that? Sometimes he felt like they were all hoping that he'd get involved with her. It was wishful thinking. Most likely, they were testing him.
He wanted to agree with the brothers. To speak of how lucky Dan had been. Probably luckier than he'd ever realized. As he looked at Beth he could see her desire to hear his response. She was waiting. Hoping that he'd say something nice.
He couldn't. They were testing him. Trying to see how he'd react. The brothers were close. They knew each other better than family. There wasn't much they couldn't see. Including his fondness for Dan's old lady. If he agreed and it showed that there was a mutual attraction, Johnny would face the wrath of them.
“It was mutual luck in my book,” Johnny said. “Dan was the best brother out there,” he finished with the approval of the club.
“That he was. Remember last year when you were in a bad place, Johnny?” Aaron started. “Dan took a large fucking risk to save your ass.” The last statement came across as a reminder of the bond they'd had. The bond they all had.
“He did.” Johnny
Even with her disdain for the concept of the so-called club, she still respected all that they'd done for her. She had offered to make dinner for them after their long day of hard work.
It had been a difficult day for all of them. She'd already packed up Dan's belongings. She didn't want to. Part of her wanted to keep them out and a part of her life forever. But the other part cried when she saw them. Became hysterical when she smelled his cologne. That part of her had to get the stuff out.
That was what the guys were there for. They'd carried it away. To a place where she could go to it when she was ready to, but not somewhere that she had constant access to it. She didn't want to find herself sitting and sifting through memories that made her sad.
She smiled as she checked the pizza again. Johnny had teased her about making sure it was edible. She couldn't help but laugh at the fact that he already knew so much about her. Dan had shared everything, it seemed. A small blush covered her face as she thought to herself that she hoped there were some things her husband had not shared with his best friend.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she asked herself as she closed the door and waited impatiently for dinner to be completed.
***
“He was a lucky man.” The sound of the words coming from Aaron's mouth made Johnny flinch a little. He wasn't thrilled with his reaction. It was only a compliment about what a good person Bethany was.
Not like he didn't know that. She was a rare kind of woman. Like that day when she'd hung out while they moved all the stuff. Not once did she get offended or embarrassed at the way they talked. She'd managed to hold her own.
But he felt protective of her. And guilty at the same time. Because Aaron hadn't meant it the way Johnny would have. He'd been respectful. Of not only Beth, but the ethics of the brothers. Their social structure and rules. Johnny wasn't doing that. He was thinking in ways that would put his ass in hot water with the brothers.
She was the total opposite of the girl he'd seen the night before. Soft and tender as she cried over the loss of a man she adored. A woman that'd needed his strength to help her get through.
But he still felt a twinge of something when Aaron commented on it. Something he didn't much like feeling. Something he knew could create trouble for the both of them.
“That he was,” Chris agreed. “What do you think, Johnny?” He winked at his friend.
Why did they have to do that? Put him on the spot like that? Sometimes he felt like they were all hoping that he'd get involved with her. It was wishful thinking. Most likely, they were testing him.
He wanted to agree with the brothers. To speak of how lucky Dan had been. Probably luckier than he'd ever realized. As he looked at Beth he could see her desire to hear his response. She was waiting. Hoping that he'd say something nice.
He couldn't. They were testing him. Trying to see how he'd react. The brothers were close. They knew each other better than family. There wasn't much they couldn't see. Including his fondness for Dan's old lady. If he agreed and it showed that there was a mutual attraction, Johnny would face the wrath of them.
“It was mutual luck in my book,” Johnny said. “Dan was the best brother out there,” he finished with the approval of the club.
“That he was. Remember last year when you were in a bad place, Johnny?” Aaron started. “Dan took a large fucking risk to save your ass.” The last statement came across as a reminder of the bond they'd had. The bond they all had.
“He did.” Johnny
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