I follow orders, whipping around the kitchen to find the utensils I need. I’m on to the bananas when June comes to stand beside me, heating up the skillet. “I was a chef before I met Kirb.” Her hand hovers over the plate, waiting for it to warm. “When he and I got married, he said I’d never work a day in my life. I didn’t take him seriously at first, but then I realized that he was for real. These aren’t the kind of bikers I was clearly used to, but I grew to love them. Love him, and the club. Anyway,” she starts pouring batter onto the hot plate, “that’s why I cook for everyone. I don’t do it because it’s a chore. I do it because I love to cook. I miss it.”

I drop the fruit pieces into the machine. “Why don’t you go back?”

She thinks on my words before turning to me. June has a motherly warmth to her. She has kind eyes that wrinkle around the edges and a little heart-shaped face. She is also beautiful. All three of them are. “Because I love him and he needs me more.” I think on her words as I start the juicer up. Could that be me? Leaving my family and being biker wife for Wicked? The thought alone sends a blanket of warmth over my body. I find myself smiling.

But I could never.

Blood in, blood out.

My smile falls.

“What about you?” Gracie asks from behind us, where she’s flipping the sausages in the oven and working on the eggs at the same time. “What do you do?”

I curl my lips behind my teeth. I should tell them, but I’m enjoying the authenticity of friendship more than I want to share. At least for right now.

“Long story.” I laugh nervously.

Diane’s eyes flick up to me, a small smirk on her mouth. “Please tell me you’re an OF creator like me so these bitches can stop riding my dick about it.”

“OF?” I ask, pulsing the machine until it’s turned to puree.

“Only Fans.”

“Oh!” I shake my head. “No. But that’s cool that you do that. I’ve thought about becoming a porn star more as an adult than ever.” They all laugh.

“Look, I respect Wicked, and I’m sure as we all get to know him even further we will love him, but he doesn’t give me Psyko vibes. I don’t think he’ll be into sharing.”