She wants to make a bar and grill... with a kitchen, and storage room, and a full walk in cooler... into a salon. Does this girl have any idea how much work that would be?
"So like... for nails and hair?"
"It would be more than that but yeah, generally speaking. Half will be a salon and the other half would be a dress shop of sorts. Like for alterations, custom dresses, etc. The bar will be used as a coffee bar and waiting area, and it can have sodas and pastries as well, then the main dining area will be the salon like area with one station, and then the storage room in the back will be the dress area..."
She rambles on about it like she can already see it in her head. I have to admit it sounds amazing, and surprisingly like something that would be popular around here since we only have one café and that in when it comes to salons and boutiques and whatnot.
"So... this is what your dream is...?"Prez asks her with seriousness but also interest in the idea. My older brother rarely shows interest in anything but I bet his ol' lady would love this and he knows it.
"Yes."
"And you're trying to blackmail us into letting you just have the building to do it."
"Kinda?"
"Here's what'll happen. You can have the building. Rent free. But any members from the MC get a 20% discount on everything your services offer."
"10%"
"18"
"11"
"I went down two and you only went up one that isn't how bargains work."Prez laughs heartily at it then finally chokes out between laughter,"17%"
"12%"
My brother's eyes literally sparkle with his amusement."How is this... Charge everyone full price and pay the MC 15% of your profit after all the other bills every other month, but 10 of the 15 will be given to the local church."
She pauses trying to figure out if that is worse or better for her in terms of the deal. After a moment she nods.
"Sure. That'll be fine. Every other month I'll pay your precious MC 15% of my total profit after the other bills. However those bills include grocery bills, water bills, electricity, etc."
"The MC already pays all of that for the business buildings. All you'd have to worry about is grocery bills and whatever supplies you need to buy for your salon shop. Which if you give us a receipt for the materials we will pay for half the costs of them."
"Wait. What? Why would you do that? Wouldn't you just lose money doing that?"
"For the love of my life to be treated like a princess whenever she feels like she needs it? It's worth it."
She gives us a look like we lost our minds, but before anyone else says anything our little sister walks in, carrying the toddler she has been babysitting recently.
Rebecca's jaw drops in shock as she looks at the little boy and she rushes over looking at my sister like she is crazy.
"Have you lost your mind? I said you can take him anywhere you trust a baby would be safe... And you bring him to a Motorcycle Gang's hangout mansion place?"
My sister, brother, and I all laugh before I correct her."Clubhouse. It's called our clubhouse."
"You stay out of it! You kidnapped me, practically locked me in a bedroom against my will, and now you are correcting me?! This is my son and I will not let anyone tell me how to parent him!"
She has a kid?! She is 20... The boy is about 16 months, so she had to have had him when she was... 19 maybe... young 19 at least... dang.
"What the heck is that look for?"She asks defensively as she holds the boy close and my sister just stands there in shock.
My sister is 18, blonde, 5'8", blue eyed, and as innocent as a girl can get. This was the last thing any of us were expecting, that the baby she just started babysitting is the son of the girl who just moved into town and was hired by Al.
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Rebecca
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I hold my son close, which he doesn't seem scared at all, he just cuddles close and sucks his thumb since it's close to his nap time.
"What the heck is that look for, Caveman..?"I repeat myself when he just looks at me in shock, but a shock that looks like he is judging my age and my son.
"Nothing... no look... just..."
"Never seen a girl have a baby at 19?"I growl at him defensively.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to seem like I was judging you just... you're a single mom?"
Of course that is what he is hung up on!! Not that I have a kid, or my age... OH NO! IT HAS To be that I'm a girl doing it all by myself! Ugh!!!!
"Hey... you okay? Earth to Rebecca...."
"What?"
"You zoned out. Prez was just asking if,"
"No. I don't need help. I don't want help. I'm not a charity case. I don't need or want your pity."I snap, rudely interrupting him.
I know I shouldn't be this defensive but after I had to break up with Lucas I've not trusted guys since... especially guys who try to make me rely solely on them as if I'm helpless without them.
I shift my son to my other hip and pull out my wallet, I hand a 20 to Kelly, the girl I've been hiring to babysit and tell her, in a much softer tone than I used with Taz,"Look. I just got everything lined up so I won't need a babysitter anymore. Thank you so much for the help. Visit anytime, but I'll be able to watch my son by myself from now on."
She looks at me, still a little shocked by everything that has happened apparently, I really don't know what is so shocking to her. I pat her arm gently and walk right out the doors. I don't care that it's at least a solid 7 miles to town, or that I don't have a car with me, I just start walking while carrying my half asleep baby boy.
I can't believe he is already 18 months.
I ignore the blazing afternoon sun and keep walking along the side of the road until a truck pulls up from behind me and Taz rolls down the window.
"Get in."
"No"Why the heck would I listen to him?
"Get. In. The. Truck."He growls at me through clenched teeth.
"No. I'd rather walk."
"What about the boy? It's too hot out for him. I have AC in here."
I hate him. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him.I repeat over and over in my head as I walk around to the passenger side and climb in glaring at him as hard as I can.
"I talked Prez down to 13% instead of 15. 10 will still go to the church."He tells me softly, like offering an olive branch.
"Why?"
"You're raising a boy by yourself, flinch at fast movements, and try to hide your sassy side... You've probably gone through something to make you that cautious, why do you need a MC causing you stress also?"
My jaw drops. For the first time I look at this man beside me and don't see a caveman or a bad boy. Dang he shouldn't be that cute.I think to myself as the sun casts shadows on his stubble and his chocolate eyes focus on the road.
How in the world am I going to hide from my ex if this biker guy picked out everything about myself I try to hide? How am I going to run my own business and raise my son without attracting any attention to ourselves... I've always been good at hiding in plain sight. How much harder could it be to hide from one person for the next 18 to 20 years? right... totally not hard at all...I think almost helplessly as my son falls asleep against my chest and I settle back into the chair. Content to leave the ride in silence instead of reply to what Taz said, cuz honestly it was very considerate, and I don't know how to feel about that yet.