Mama did everything for him, including joining a club her parents didn’t agree with, getting disowned, and yet he cheated on her five times that she’s aware of.
It’s disgusting.
I open my mouth to say so but clamp my lips shut when a body sits next to me. Psycho’s rainfall and minty scent take over my senses along with Misty’s cherry perfume that makes me want to gag before a body sits opposite me.
I look to see Venom narrowing his eyes at Dad while Psycho puts his arm over my shoulders. I have to try my hardest to hide the flinch that wants to come out knowing what he was just doing and he demands, “Alright, cupcake. Today was your first day at your new job, and you promised to tell us so spill.”
Crap, I forgot about that…
I could answer Dad's plea instead.
Only Grandad and Mama knew about my degree. Some brothers are still stuck in the, women in kitchen kind of era, so finding out that I actually studied automotive repair and technology and got my degree, will most likely tick them off and let’s not mention that I’m now working at Gary’s Motor’s in town, their rival garage. In my defense, I didn’t think Fury or Blade would allow me to work at their garage which grandad agreed at the time because most brothers wouldn’t be happy with me, a woman they still see as their Little Doll to work on their bikes.
“Come on, sis. You promised. Years we’ve kept silent, and years I have kept my promise to not look into it but enough is enough. Where are you working?” Venom pipes in, and I groan then I look at Dad for some help, even if he is on my shit list, but all he does is raise a dark brow.
Awesome.
I look at all three men, all three looking at me with raised brows, and I huff, “You’re not going to like it.”
“Oh god, you’re not a stripper, are you? I can’t hack it if my sister is taking her clothes off, no, no, no,” my brother gasps with a mock terror, and I roll my eyes.
Jackass.
“I think I’d make quite a good stripper,” I retort, and all three men’s faces turn sour as some brothers look my way, hearing my words with raised brows and I roll my eyes and ask, “How about working at Gary’s Motors then? Is that a better profession?” and the club quietens, brothers looking my way in shock.
Uh oh.
“Sweetheart, if you wanted reception work, you could have worked at the tattoo parlor or even our garage. You didn’t have to seek employment with a rival garage,” Brick says from near the bar with a furrowed brow. While his old lady smiles wide at me, and she raises a brow.
Oh yeah, Anna was also aware of my educational plans.
I swallow hard, here goes nothing.
“Actually, Brick, I’m their new mechanic.”
The room is so quiet at my admission that you can hear a pin drop. There is no word of a lie, the music has been shut off, and every eye is on me.
Suddenly my third grade play comes back to mind where having so many eyes on me made me not only physically vomit while on stage, hitting three parents in the front row but where I also knocked over the fake castle behind me after I tried to run off stage but obviously going the wrong way and ended up knocking Ms. Dewberry out in the process.
The poor woman had to have five stitches.
“Their mechanic,” my brother confirms, and I nod once, trying to ignore the feeling of puking, I reply, “I got my degree in automotive repair and technology with Grandad's help before he…” I trail my words, hating that he’s not here to hold my hand and tell the brothers to leave me alone like he used to. I clear my throat, side eyeing his seat again, then admit, “Working with cars and bikes is all I’ve ever known, thanks to him, so yeah, I’m their mechanic, and today was a good day.”
A woman’s laughter echoes in the room, and we all look towards the club girls as Misty sneers, “A mechanic, really, you? What couldn’t find a more feminist job role?”
Her lipstick is still smeared, the mascara smudged underneath her eyes, and her top is still wonky from when she followed Psycho out of the hallway where the brother’s officers are. Suddenly, my anger takes hold, which isn’t good because, unfortunately, I can’t control my mouth when I get angry but add in the jealousy and heartache, yeah….
I curl my lip at her and reply snarkily, “Like what, opening my legs for the brothers to try and trap them like you?”
Her cheeks redden as the brothers laugh, and I shake my head and look at my brother, who has a big grin on his face, and I admit, “I love what I do, and honestly, it has f–all to do with you or the club. This is my life, my choice, and it makes me happy, so get over it and say well done like a normal person.”
He nods and states, “Congratulations, little sis. I am one hundred percent behind you.” Psycho adds, “Me too, cupcake. I’m proud of you.”
I grin at him, then look at my dad, who sighs, shaking his head.
“You couldn’t want to be a ballerina, huh?” he asks, and I snort and remind him, “Dad, I have two left feet. Or are you forgetting me tripping and headbutting two girls when Mama enrolled me for it?”
He winces as he scratches his cheek and mumbles, “Yeah, I think I blocked that day out. Watching your daughter get a concussion was not on my list of things to do that day.” Viper adds, “Let’s not forget that she gets stage fright—third grade Rapunzel play anyone?”
