The loud cheers and claps slowed as Train started opening his presents one at a time, thanking the brothers for the liquor.
The gifts were a mixture of useful, off-the-wall items meant for enjoyment. Jewell had given him new motorcycle gloves, Lily had given him a gift certificate to the diner, and Evie and King had gotten him a gift certificate for a steak dinner.
“I hope those certificates are for two,” Killyama joked to Beth.
Viper had gotten him a card he had printed off the computer for a week off anytime he wanted it. Beth and Razer had gotten him a mini beer pong set. Rachel and Cash had gifted him a fishing knife. And Knox and Diamond had given him a police scanner. She enjoyed watching Train open his gifts. After opening each one, he would thank each brother with a man hug, and a kiss on the cheek for the women.
He then opened the last one, a present that had been obscured from view by cake.
Reading Stori’s name aloud from the small card that was attached to the present, he tore it open. His face said it all. He liked it a lot.
He raised it up so the room could see the silver skull and crossbones belt buckle. The upper teeth were set on top of the metal of the buckle, with the lower jaw missing. From each side of the skull was a metal bone that had engraved words that together said The Last Riders.
Train took off his belt and put it on, and then wrapped the belt around his lean waist again.
The men stared at it enviously. Rider and Razer were both asking Stori where she had bought it from.
“You like it?” Stori got out of her chair as Train approached her.
“I love it. Thank you.” He lifted her off her feet, giving her a bear hug.
Killyama watched as several women glanced her way while she thanked Lily for giving her a slice of cake, eating it without concern.
Train came back to where she was sitting, carrying the large slice he had cut himself. The men sitting around them complimented him on his gifts.
“You gonna share that steak dinner with me? I don’t have anything to do tomorrow night,” Moon shouted out from beside Winter.
“Depends on when Killyama wants to go.” Train winked, eating his cake.
“She going to share that massage Sasha promised you when she comes over next week—” Crash howled when Willa slammed his piece of cake down onto his hand.
“No, I gave that to Rider.”
“Why not me? I’m the one who … Fuck, that hurt. Willa, you could have just handed me the damn fork.”
“Brother, it might be safer for you to eat your cake in the kitchen.”
Killyama couldn’t see Lucky, but his stoic threat had Crash leaving the table with his dessert.
Crash’s comment hadn’t upset her. She was used to men teasing each other. She didn’t expect Train to watch every comment he made around her.
“You better insure that belt buckle. Some of the brothers look like they are eyeing it.”
Train tilted his head to the side, studying her. “The brothers always ask before they borrow anything.”
“You lend anyone that belt buckle, you won’t get it back.”
Train took a bite of his cake. The intensity of how he was watching her made her curious.
“It doesn’t bother you that Stori gave it to me?” he finally asked.
“The only thing I’m jealous about is how much better that belt buckle would look on me,” she answered candidly.
No matter how good or expensive a present was, it wouldn’t make a person care about the person giving it. A big diamond might get you a piece of tail, but when a woman walked out the door, she was taking the ring and leaving the husband behind. That was why she couldn’t understand why the women were upset over the men complimenting Stori on her dish. A woman could prepare a four course meal, and their man would still slip a donut when she wasn’t looking. If she was going to get jealous over her man, it was going to be because of something big, like Train finding happiness with the massage Sasha had offered.
“You want me to help you carry some shit upstairs?” she asked as they placed their plates in the kitchen sink.
“Can I trust you?” he teased as he went toward the dining room where the cake was all but demolished with only a fourth left, which Willa was carving into smaller pieces.
“Of course. I mean, you’re wearing the one I want.” She picked up the six-pack cooler and the beer pong set, careful not to break the shot glasses that had titties stenciled on them. What the man didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. She was just as envious of some of his gifts as the brothers were.
In his bedroom, he had to search for a place to set his gifts down. She found a spot for the beer pong on a wall shelf.
“Where do you want me to put this?”
Train set most of his things on his desk before reaching out to take the cozy cooler from her. She curled a finger through the opening, refusing to give it up.
“Did I ever tell you I hate to drink hot beer?”
Train laughed, leaning his hip against his desk. “No, you haven’t.”