Page 32 of Raw Honey
Chapter 13
We spend the remainder of the week preparing food that we can freeze and store at Kandi's. The out-of-town guests are arriving daily and Rebel and Hawk have been so busy, we've hardly seen them during the day. They always come for dinner, and Rebel always stays, but that's about it.
The service is today and frankly, even though I know that Ice is alive, it's the last thing I want to attend. But I do, and other than the Satans showing up, everything goes without a hitch. They didn't cause any problems, but they made damn sure that their presence was known.
Rebel, Ari, and Emma left the after-party early, but Hawk, being the acting prez, had to stay. When we get back to the house, all hell breaks loose. Hawk sees Rebel come out of Ari's room and I can see his anger rise. "What?" Rebel asks defensively.
"Isn't that Ari's room you just walked out of?" he asks smugly.
"Fuck you, Hawk. She fell asleep on the couch. I carried her to bed. End of story. Get your fuckin' mind out of the gutter."
"Yeah, right. Wait until Ice finds out you have been banging his sister."
Rebel gets in Hawk's face and says, "Look, motherfucker. You're talking about stuff you know nothing about. Until you get your facts straight, I suggest you keep your fuckin' mouth shut. You got me?"
Hawk pushes him away and says, "You better remember who you are talking to."
"Fuck you! I don't give a fuck who you are, and neither will Ice—especially if he hears you talking shit about his kid sister."
I’ve had enough, so I step between them and say, "Boys, enough! Hawk, get yourself a beer and cool off. Rebel, you pour yourself a drink, too. You are both acting like a couple of ten-year-olds. Enough is enough! Ice would be pissed at you both, hearing you talk like this." I look over at Rebel and say, "Grow up, Rebel!" Then I turn to Hawk and say, "And you! Go get laid and unwind. You have been wound tighter than a fucking top recently." I scowl at them both. They know better; we don't need this shit right now. "If you two don't straighten up, I'll put you both over my knee. And don't think I can't do it!" I stomp off and head to my room.Damn fucking alpha bikers. I swear their egos are bigger than their Harleys.
The next several days fly by. Everyone else still believes that Ice is dead and we haven't seen or heard from him. Well, us girls, that is. I'm sure the boys have. But we don't see them much, as they are in constant meetings. That leaves Emma, Ari, and me to entertain ourselves. When Rebel can't be at the house, he makes sure that one of the prospects is there to babysit us. Usually, it's Tiny. We actually ask for him. He's great to have around, as he goes out of his way to keep us entertained. He plays board games and cards with us and one of us girls always beats him. But I think he lets us win. And he is quite funny.
But when Tiny isn't around, it gets downright boring. Emma, Ari and I have gotten really close and I like that. I don't have many girlfriends and the ones that I do have I don't see very often. Obviously, Emma and Ari aren't going anywhere, so I'm hopeful. I still have bouts when I can't help feeling jealous of Emma, and sometimes even Ari. They are both a part of Ice's life and sometimes I feel like the outsider. But then they do something really sweet and I feel like I do belong.
It does get better, but we all are just patiently waiting for Ice to come home.
Tonight, I decide to go and find something for dinner in the freezer downstairs. Ari is taking a nap and Emma is reading. I come up from the basement and find Hawk and Ryder in the family room talking to Emma.
"Hey guys," I say. Hawk looks up and smiles at me. I blush slightly; his adoration sometimes makes me uncomfortable. But before I can say anything, I am pulled into a great big bear hug.
"Hey, Honey girl! I've missed you!" Ryder says.
"I've missed you too, big guy!" I say, smiling. I see Hawk watching us out of the corner of my eye and he looks pissed. He gets so damn jealous and we aren't even officially together, yet. I can't deal with that kind of possessiveness. If he really wants a relationship with me, he had best get over it.
We hear the hum of a Harley pulling in the driveway and I soon realize that it's not just a Harley. That's Ice. I can tell that Hawk and Ryder already know that it's him, but Emma is confused. She gets up from the couch and walks over to the window. I watch as her curious expression turns to excitement when she realizes that he's home. Everything in me wants to run out there and hug him and welcome him home, but I know I can't. I stand firm as best I can.
"Hey guys, Ice is home!" Emma screams and runs to the door. Just then the door opens and she literally jumps in his arms. I watch him hold her tight and wait for them to finish their reunion.
Then I casually walk over to him. He releases Emma and turns to me and says, "Hey, sweetheart."
He holds out his arms and just like it is the most natural thing, I walk into them.Why does this feel so right?
He says, "I told you I'd be back."
"Yes, you did! But I have to say, even though we knew you were alive, I found it hard to believe until I actually saw you!" I reply. There is tension in the room and I realize that perhaps I overstepped. To lighten the mood, I take my right hand and hit him hard on the arm. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!" I scold.
"Yes, ma'am," Caden replies. "Is dinner ready yet? I'm starved," he adds.
"Not yet, but I'll get working on it right away," I reply. Just as I turn to go back toward the kitchen I see the look on Emma's face. She can fucking see right through me and suddenly I'm embarrassed. She has got to know that he will never have the same feelings for me that he has for her. He would never cheat on her. And I know, in time, I will no longer struggle with my feelings for him. It's only been a couple of weeks and already it's getting better. But fuck. I thought he was dead, then I was told that he was alive, but I haven't seen him since he left me the day the clubhouse blew up…what does she expect? Of course I'm a mess of mixed-up emotions.
We are all talking and carrying on when Ari comes downstairs. She says, "What is going on out here? You guys make more noise than the sex-crazed women at a Maroon 5 concert!" We stop talking and look at her. When she realizes that Ice is home, she screams and runs into his arms. "Caden! You're home!"
"Hey, doll face! How's my best girl?" I love to watch him and Ari interact. He is such a great brother to her and I still revel in the fact that he has raised her since she was twelve. Ice is still talking with Ari when I see Emma hold her hand in front of her mouth and run from the room and up the stairs. Just as I'm about to follow her to make sure she's ok, Ice walks by me and says, "I got this Honey, thanks." I nod and step aside so that he can continue up the steps.
A few minutes later, Ice and Emma come back down. I look at her closely and I know. She has a glow about her—and combined with the sudden sickness, it can only be one thing. I watch her pick at her food throughout dinner and when she excuses herself and says that she is still not feeling well, I know my assumptions are correct. Emma is pregnant.
As soon as I realize that, the memories begin coming back. I fight to keep them at bay.No. No. No. Please God, I can’t think about that now!I plead with my brain, but it doesn’t work.
