Making the Cut (Sons of Templar MC #1)(121)

But when I was 25, knocked up, and devastated from loss I found it comforting. I was worried for a split second they would take him outside and try and rough him up a little, considering they all knew he had been MIA for two months, no matter it was not his fault. But thankfully they hadn’t. Another thing that I was thankful for was the fact they didn’t treat me like some victim of loss that needed to be handled like glass. They shot they shit, some giving Cade withering looks, most giving him shit (that he took remarkably well), and then they raised a glass, “To the best brother son, and rugby Forward we knew.” I choked up a bit on that one, but raised my lemonade and bit back the tears.



“Anyone else going to approach the table trying to kill me with a scowl then try and crush me bones with a handshake?” Cade asked evenly.

“Oh probably, its not even happy hour yet.” I told him sweetly.

He smirked, rubbing his hand on my thigh. “I like this for you baby. That you got so many people who obviously care about you, respect you, got your back. Its special, this whole damn place is spectacular.”

I scrutinized the pub with fake interest, taking in the dated stools and tables, the slightly stained carpet and the faded yellow paint.

“Well spectacular isn’t the word I’d use for this particular establishment, I’m glad you like it all the same.”

Cade grinned outright, and what a sight to behold that was. “Fuck I’ve missed your smart mouth.” His hand moved from my thigh to brush my belly lightly.

“This town, this country. It’s freaking amazing babe, I see how you love it so much.” He regarded like there was something else moving in his mind.

I didn’t have time to ask him what, because hurricane Amy strolled through the door. I swear conversation stopped and every head turned to look at my best friend. Granted, in a small town pub in New Zealand, strangers stuck out like a sore thumb. But this way something else, a drop dead gorgeous girl like Amy strolling into this place was like a fish jumping out of water and walking around on two legs. It also didn’t help she was dressed like she was about to head off to a five star dinner, not indulge in some hearty, honest, pub food.

Her long red hair tumbled around her shoulders, a mass of curls. She had on a grey, long sleeved knit dress that went down to her ankles and had huge slits up both sides, it was skintight, not leaving much to the imagination. She wore modest (for her) heeled ankle boots and a camel colored draped leather jacket. Definitely not the jeans and thermals most other women in here were wearing. Well with the exception of me, I was wearing leather leggings, a cashmere charcoal sweater, and knee high boots. Everyone around here had accepted my inability to wear the local uniform years ago, but they hadn’t seen the likes of Amy. She was joined by my parents, who spotted us and waved. My father went off to the bar no doubt to get drinks, but was deep in back slaps and man hugs before getting anywhere near. Mum spotted a couple of friends and waved Amy on.

“Sup skank, biker dude, Supe.” Amy patted my tummy, sitting herself beside me.

“Hey whore.” I replied, Cade did a chin lift, grinning.

“This your local watering hole before you starting sipping cosmos in the land of velvet ropes?” Amy asked, taking in our surroundings, winking at some of the men still staring.

I snorted. “You could say that, though I could count the times I’ve gotten drunk here on one hand, I was usually out looking for trouble, not staying in the one place I couldn’t find it. Not with all these guys around anyway.” I smirked. “Although, there was one night I did beat them all in a skulling competition.” I spoke a little louder, just so my neighbors could hear.

“You hustled us girl, which means you didn’t win anything, you forfeit on account of deceit.” Bluey, one of the losers of that night exclaimed passionately.

“We agreed we do not speak of that night.” Louie scowled at me before turning to contemplate his beer.

“I’ll take you on right now, rematch little girl.” Seventy five year old Elliot declared, standing from his stool raising his beer.

I pointed down to my stomach, “Not really in the position to chug beers on account of the little human growing inside me.”

“Hmmph excuses, excuses.” Elliot rolled his eyes at me before rejoining the men, a couple glaring in my direction. I blew them all kisses, turned back to Cade and Amy.

“It’s still a sensitive subject.” I explained.

“How long ago did this happen?” Amy asked grinning.

“Oh about six years ago.” I deadpanned and Amy burst out laughing.

Cade just gave me a look, before he pulled my in for a kiss.

“Looks like you’ve been holding out on me and the boys Gwen.” Cade whispered, eyes twinkling.

“Oh just you wait biker boy, I’ll whip all your asses once I get this little sucker out.” I told him, deciding it was time to put some of those cocky *s in their places.

I waited for Amy and Cade to laugh, or even smile. It was a joke, I thought I was pretty funny, but there faces turned serious and I was met with silence. I felt like Ben Stiller doing stand up.

Cade cleared his throat, an intense expression on his face. “You planning on coming home to Amber then Gwen?” He asked softly.

Realization dawned, my offhand comment had been given these guys a much needed clue as to my plans of the future. Was I going back to Amber? This place, this town was my home it always would be. It held a huge chunk of my heart, contained people who I loved, respected, grew up with. It had been an amazing place to grow up, somewhere where I had no worries, the horrors and reality of the world outside rarely touched me here. I had always thought I would eventually come back here and raise a family. But in my mind that was always someday. It was way in the future, an undedicated date I had given little thought to. A twenty something girl living a glamorous lifestyle in New York barely thinks of the future, apart from wondering about Louis Vuitton’s next handbag collection. But this was now. Not someday vaguely in the future, and I had a lot of other people to consider in this decision, not just myself. As much as the idea of staying here, where nothing ever changed, or would change, appealed to me, I knew I couldn’t. I couldn’t stay in the place where everyday I would have to drive down the road Ian and I would have four wheeler races on, drink in the pub he brought me my first legal beer, take my child to the school where he and I had gone. It would shatter me.